Season of Hajj is approaching and Muslims are preparing for a rendezvous with their Lord by visiting His house in Makah to accomplish the obligatory ritual of performing pilgrimage. The ten days of Zil Hajj are the most celestial days in which a single act is rewarded with double virtues and becomes magnanimous. Mostly people prefer to perform Hajj and Umrah all together for atoning and alleviating sins:
“Islam has been built on five [pillars]: testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the Salah (prayer), paying the Zakat (obligatory charity), making the Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House, and fasting in Ramadan.” [Bukhari]
· Once in a life time duty
The practice of circumambulating around Kabah is a must duty of all Muslims to perform once in a lifetime. If a Muslim is blessed with fine health and is sound financially then the excuse of not visiting the sacred house of Kabah for pilgrimage is not accepted as stated:
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that one day the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) addressed people saying:
"O people! Allah has prescribed Hajj upon you, so perform it." [Muslim]
· Special rank and value
There are few deeds which are entitled with special deeds and ranks out of which Pilgrimage is one during which the Dua made with devotion and pure intentions are highly acceptable as narrated:
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet was asked, "Which deed is the best?" The Prophet said, "Belief in Allah and His Messenger." He was asked again, "What is next?" The Prophet said, "Jihad [striving] in the cause of Allah." He was further asked, "And what is next?" He said, "Hajj Mabrur 9Accepted Hajj.” [Bukhari]
· Best Jihad for women
Jihad is striving in path of Allah and in the Holy book of Quran Allah has clear commandments about Jihad to eradicate the evil doers and against those causing corruption on earth. Women being their fragile persona are not permissible for Jihad thereupon, for them Hajj is Jihad as Hadith narrates:
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) asked the Prophet, "As jihad is the best deed, shouldn't we [women] make jihad?" The Prophet replied, "The best jihad for you [women] is a Hajj mabroor."
‘Aisha later said, "I have been keen to regularly perform Hajj since I heard that from the Messenger of Allah.’” [Bukhari, Muslim]
· Alleviation from sins
Those will perform Pilgrimage and plead mercy from Allah then his/her all deeds until the date of Pilgrimage will be alleviated like a newly born infant:
"Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit any obscenity or transgression shall return [free from sins] as he was on the day his mother gave birth to him." [Bukhari]
· Honor delegation
The Hajj practice is a sacred delegation in which pilgrim will be treated as a guest of Allah as quoted in Hadith:
“The one striving in the cause of Allah and the one performing Hajj and the one performs `Umrah are all the delegation of Allah. He calls them and they respond to His call, and they ask Him and He answers their supplication.” [Ibn E Majah]
· Sacred days and deeds
The sacred days comes in the month of Zil Hajj in which special deeds like Fasting, Nawafil and supplications are highly recommended because no one knows which deed will be accepted and become source of redemption at the Day of Resurrection:
"There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days." [Bukhari]
“Islam has been built on five [pillars]: testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the Salah (prayer), paying the Zakat (obligatory charity), making the Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House, and fasting in Ramadan.” [Bukhari]
· Once in a life time duty
The practice of circumambulating around Kabah is a must duty of all Muslims to perform once in a lifetime. If a Muslim is blessed with fine health and is sound financially then the excuse of not visiting the sacred house of Kabah for pilgrimage is not accepted as stated:
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that one day the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) addressed people saying:
"O people! Allah has prescribed Hajj upon you, so perform it." [Muslim]
· Special rank and value
There are few deeds which are entitled with special deeds and ranks out of which Pilgrimage is one during which the Dua made with devotion and pure intentions are highly acceptable as narrated:
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet was asked, "Which deed is the best?" The Prophet said, "Belief in Allah and His Messenger." He was asked again, "What is next?" The Prophet said, "Jihad [striving] in the cause of Allah." He was further asked, "And what is next?" He said, "Hajj Mabrur 9Accepted Hajj.” [Bukhari]
· Best Jihad for women
Jihad is striving in path of Allah and in the Holy book of Quran Allah has clear commandments about Jihad to eradicate the evil doers and against those causing corruption on earth. Women being their fragile persona are not permissible for Jihad thereupon, for them Hajj is Jihad as Hadith narrates:
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) asked the Prophet, "As jihad is the best deed, shouldn't we [women] make jihad?" The Prophet replied, "The best jihad for you [women] is a Hajj mabroor."
‘Aisha later said, "I have been keen to regularly perform Hajj since I heard that from the Messenger of Allah.’” [Bukhari, Muslim]
· Alleviation from sins
Those will perform Pilgrimage and plead mercy from Allah then his/her all deeds until the date of Pilgrimage will be alleviated like a newly born infant:
"Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit any obscenity or transgression shall return [free from sins] as he was on the day his mother gave birth to him." [Bukhari]
· Honor delegation
The Hajj practice is a sacred delegation in which pilgrim will be treated as a guest of Allah as quoted in Hadith:
“The one striving in the cause of Allah and the one performing Hajj and the one performs `Umrah are all the delegation of Allah. He calls them and they respond to His call, and they ask Him and He answers their supplication.” [Ibn E Majah]
· Sacred days and deeds
The sacred days comes in the month of Zil Hajj in which special deeds like Fasting, Nawafil and supplications are highly recommended because no one knows which deed will be accepted and become source of redemption at the Day of Resurrection:
"There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days." [Bukhari]