Points of Caution for Pilgrims - V

06/11/2009| IslamWeb

72)    According to the preponderant view, the rulings regarding the Sutrah are the same whether in Al-Masjid Al-Haraam or any other place. If passing before a praying person in other places is forbidden, then the prohibition is worthier to be applied in this Holy Mosque. It has also been proven that using the Sutrah there is the tradition of the Companions . Yahya ibn Katheer recounts: “I saw Anas ibn Maalik entering Al-Masjid Al-Haraam and he put something before him to perform prayer behind it.” [Ibn Sa‘d]

Similarly, Saalih ibn Kaysaan relates: “I saw Ibn ‘Umar performing prayer in the Ka’bah and he did not let anyone pass in front of him.” [Abu Zur‘ah and Ibn ‘Asaakir] Al-Albaani judged these two reported citations as authentic.

There is a report by Al-Muttalib ibn Abu Wadaa‘ah who said: “I saw the Messenger of Allah performing prayer while people were passing before him and there was no Sutrah between him and the Ka’bah.” [Ahmad, Abu Daawood, An-Nasaa’i and Ibn Maajah] The Isnaad (chain of transmission) of this Hadeeth, however, is Dha’eef (weak), as characterized by Al-Albaani . Ibn Hajar also opined that it is defective.

73)    Some people perform ‘Umrah more than once during their stay in Makkah. This is wrong and does not conform to the guidance of the Prophet or the Companions . Had it been good, they would have preceded us in doing it.

74)    Some pilgrims make sure to go to the Cave of Hiraa’, seek its blessing and supplicate to Allah The Almighty and perform prayer there. This is an innovated act in the religion.

Furthermore, they seek blessing in the library [of Makkah], which is located before the yard of Sa’y, and perform prayer or supplicate there; and some even stand facing it [as if it were the Qiblah] and give their back to the Ka’bah. They do all this believing that the Prophet was born there, when these are but innovated acts in religion. If we suppose it is true that is the birthplace of the Prophet this does not mean that we must specify this place with any act of worship, for even when he himself and the Companions performed ‘Umrah, they neither visited it nor the Cave of Hiraa’. Had there been any good in going to these places, they would have preceded us in that act. But, as narrated by ‘Aa’ishah the Prophet said: “Whoever introduced something in our matter [i.e., religion] that does not belong to it will have it rejected.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The wording of another narration reads: “Whoever did something that does not belong to our matter [i.e., religion], it is rejected.” [Muslim] Thus, whoever loves the Prophet should follow him, not invent new things in his religion.

75)    It is permissible for the traveler for Hajj or ‘Umrah to shorten and combine prayers during the journey. As for the duration of the stay in Makkah, it is only allowed to shorten the prayers. It may be okay to join them, but it is better to avoid that. In any case, it is prescribed for a man to perform the five obligatory prayers in congregation in the Masjid. Thus, when he offers the prayer there, he is required to complete the whole four Rak’ah prayer [in Thuhr, ‘Asr, and ‘Ishaa’], in compliance with the Imam, even if he joined the congregation in the last Rak’ah. This is validated by the account of Moosa ibn Salamah who said: “We were with Ibn ‘Abbaas in Makkah and I said, 'When we are with you, we complete the four Rak’ah prayer and when we are [praying] alone, we shorten it to two.' He said, 'This is the Sunnah of Abu Al-Qaasim .’” [Ahmad, Hasan]

A more explicit proof in this respect is the narration of Abu Mijlaz who related: “I said to Ibn ‘Umar, 'I joined the congregational prayer of the residents [of the area] in the last Rak’ah, while I myself was a traveler; [what should I have done]?' He said, 'Pray as they pray.’” [‘Abdul-Razzaaq]     

76)    From the most distressing violations [in Hajj] are the phenomena of flirtation by some youth, non-adherence to Hijaab by some women, frequent shopping, male and female pilgrims crowding together, as well as fathers and mothers' negligence of their daughters in terms of them veiling in a manner disapproved by the Sharee’ah and going to market without a Mahram (relative whom she is forbidden to marry). Due to this carelessness, many major sins and acts of mischief have occurred. As the Prophet said: “I have not left behind a more harmful temptation to men than women.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The Muslim woman is urged to stay at home; if and when she needs to go out, she must cover herself from non-Mahram men by wearing a wide gown that reveals nothing of her body or adornment – neither the face or hands, nor the feet. In a Hadeeth, the Prophet said: “The woman is ‘Awrah (something private that must be covered); and when she goes out, the devil entices her and uses her to tempt others.” [At-Tirmithi, Saheeh]

77)    Sadly, sometimes, we notice men performing prayers beside or behind women in Al-Masjid Al-Haraam. This is a grave mistake. The Sharee’ah-approved manner is for men to pray together and all women to pray together. When the Iqaamah (immediate call to prayer) is made while a woman is among men and she is unable to find a path to the female section, she is not to perform the prayer with them. Rather, she has to wait until the end of the prayer and then proceed to that portion [of the Masjid].

78)    From the other violations that we observe in Al-Masjid Al-Haraam is that people hold their shoes with the right hand and then shake hands with others and eat with it. The correct manner, however, is to hold it in the left hand. ‘Aa’ishah said: “The Messenger of Allah used his right hand for purifying and eating; and his left hand for cleaning after himself and removing other filths.” [Abu Daawood, Saheeh]

79)    Funeral prayers are frequent in Al-Masjid Al-Haraam. What follows is the manner of performing them in brief: This prayer consists of saying Takbeer four times while standing and then ending the prayer with Tasleem (the phrase ‘As-salaamu `Alaykum wa Rahmatullaah’ – may the peace and mercy of Allah be upon you). One raises his hands the first time he says Takbeer and then recites the Chapter Al-Faatihah (The Opening). Then, he or she utters the Takbeer and asks Allah The Almighty to confer blessings and peace on the Prophet . The best wordings for this supplication are what the Prophet taught his Companions including: "Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhammad kama sallayta ‘ala Ibraaheem wa ‘ala aali Ibraaheem innaka Hameedun Majeed, wa baarik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhammad kama baarakta ‘ala Ibraaheem wa ‘ala aali Ibraaheem innaka Hameedun Majeed; (O Allah, confer prayers on Muhammad and the household of Muhammad as You conferred on Ibraaheem and the household of Ibraaheem; You are The Praiseworthy, The Honorable. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibraaheem and the family of Ibraaheem. Verily, You are The Praiseworthy, The Honorable).”

A person is to then say Takbeer for the third time and sincerely supplicate for forgiveness and clemency for the deceased. It is better to say the same supplication as that of the Prophet which Abu Hurayrah narrates: “Allahumma ighfir lee-hayyina wa mayyitina, wa shaahidina wa ghaa’ibina, wa sagheerina wa kabeerina, wa thakarina wa unthaana. Allahumma man ahyaytahu minna fa-ahyihi ‘ala al-Islam, wa man tawafayytahu minna fatawwafahu ‘ala al-Eamaan. Allahumma la tahrimna ajrahu wa la tudhillana ba‘dahu (O Allah, forgive the living and dead among us, the present and the absent, the young and the old, the male and the female. O Allah, whomsoever You have kept alive among us, let him live on Islam; and whoever You caused to die, let his demise be in [a state of] faith. O Allah, deprive us not of [the deceased’s] reward and do not lead us astray after him.” [Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi and Ibn Maajah, Saheeh]

‘Awf ibn Maalik reports another supplication said by the Prophet : “Allahumma ighfir lahu warhamhu, wa ‘aafihi wa‘fu ‘anhu, wa akrim nuzulah, wa wassi‘ mudkhalah, waghsilhu bilmaa’i wath-thalji wal-barad, wanaqqihi min alkhataaya kama yunaqqa ath-thawbu al-abyadhu min ad-danas, wa abdilhu daaran khayran min daarih, wa ahlan khayran min ahlih, wa zawjan khayran min zawjih, wa adkhilhu al-Jannah, wa a‘ith-hu min ‘athaab al-Qabr wa min ‘athaab an-Naar (O Allah! Forgive him, have mercy upon him, grant him serenity, pardon him, receive him with honor and make his grave spacious; wash him with water, snow and hail, and cleanse him from faults as a white garment is cleaned from impurity. Requite him with an abode more excellent than his abode, with a family better than his one, and with a spouse better than his [current] partner. Save him from the trial of the grave and torment of Hell).” [Muslim] Then, a person says Takbeer for the fourth time and ends the prayer with Tasleem [done by turning his head] only to the right side.

80)    I advise the seekers of religious knowledge, when they go to perform Hajj or ‘Umrah, to be active in Da‘wah (calling people to Islam) as well as other deeds which are rewarded by Allah The Almighty. Here, I would suggest the following techniques:

     a)  Increasing the distribution of Islamic audio lectures, booklets and leaflets; each person should have with him or her many of these materials.

     b)  Socializing with others, establishing relations with them, talking with them, calling them to good, alerting them to matters that contradict the Sharee’ah, such as wearing an engagement ring, shaving beards and lowering garments beyond the ankles, etc. One may then note down their contact addresses in order to communicate with them afterwards. Whilst meeting with them, one can give them a beneficial booklet or leaflet as a present. Likewise, women should do the same among women. They must go to Al-Masjid Al-Haraam with a big number of leaflets, booklets and audio materials. After the prayer ends, they should talk to their sisters [in faith] and gift them these pamphlets and guides.

     c)  There should also be a bag containing the Islamic dress – the veil, gloves and dark socks – along with a leaflet about the Hijaab, translated into different languages. These bags should be distributed in huge numbers among women. I advise charitable organizations to adopt this idea.

     d)  Seekers of knowledge should practice in the field of enjoining good and forbidding evil, and addressing innovated acts in religion, Sharee’ah violations, neglecting the Hijaab, unveiling the face, molestations, smoking, as well as other such actions in the sacred places, roads and markets. This should be done with gentleness and good words.

This is the end of this topic.

Praise be to Allah The Almighty.