Contemplations About Hajj - II
30/08/2018| IslamWeb
8 - While in Sa'y, contemplate on Hajar, the mother of Ismaa'eel, when she asked her husband Ibraaheem: "Did Allah order you to do this (leaving her and her baby Ismaa'eel in Makkah)? He said: "Yes." Her great response was: "Then He (Allah) will not neglect us!" Think about this great dependence upon Allah when you are in the Sa'y, walking the same path that Hajar took in search of water and sustenance around the mounts of Safa and Marwah. Think about her endurance, perseverance and true belief in Allah. The Sa'y exemplifies the strong belief that we must have in the One Who Sustains and Provides - Allah the Exalted.
9 - The standing on 'Arafat is the Hajj. The crowds should remind you of the Day of Resurrection. Humble yourself to Allah, manifest your 'Ubudiyyah (worship) to Him Alone through supplications, sincere intention and strong determination to free yourself from the sins of the past and to build up a commitment to rush toward doing what is good. Think of becoming a better person when you return. Rid yourself of false pride and showing off because it may ruin what you may gain on this day.
10 - You gathered the pebbles and you are about to embark on stoning the Jamarat. This is an act of obedience and remembrance of Allah, Most Magnificent. The Prophet 
said: "When you cast the small pebbles (i.e. at the Jamarat), it will be a light for you on the Day of Resurrection."
11 - When performing the sacrifice remember the saying of Allah, the Most High: {It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is your devotion that reaches him….} [Quran 22:37]
12 - When you have completed your Hajj, do not think that the remembrance of Allah has ended. Listen to what Allah Says (what means): {So when you have accomplished your Manasik (i.e. the rites of Hajj) remember Allah as you remember your forefathers or with a far more remembrance….} [Quran 2:200]
Special Note: If you go to Madinah then the objective of your visit should be according to the Sunnah and not Bid'ah (innovation). Your intention should be to visit the Prophet's mosque and not his grave. When you reach the mosque and you pray upon entering, then you may go to the grave and say, "As-Salaamu 'alayka ayyuhan-nabiyy." The same Salaam is also mentioned when you pass by Abu Bakr and 'Umar, without innovations like:
a) Visiting the grave of the Prophet before praying in the mosque.
b) Making supplication facing the grave.
c) Seeking nearness to Allah by means of the Prophet. This is a prohibited form of Tawassul.
d) Seeking intercession from the Prophet.
e) Placing the hands upon the grills around the room containing the Prophet's grave to seek blessings, etc. Remember the Prophet's sayings: "Do not make my grave an 'Eed (place of celebration)..." "May Allah's Curse be on the Jews and Christians for taking the graves of their Prophets as places of worship."
13 - Many scholars state that women visiting the Prophet's Mosque may pronounce their Salaam upon the Prophet away from the gravesite since it is confirmed by many Ahadeeth that the Salaam is related to the Prophet wherever the person may be. However, the position of the scholars regarding visiting the gravesites by women can be summarized as follows:
a) Allowable, if done infrequently. If a woman is known as being unable to behave herself within the limits of Sharee’ah at a gravesite, then she should be prevented from visiting the graves.
b) Disliked but not unlawful.
c) Forbidden.
14 - The Hajj journey is not meant to gain any material reward. It is a selfless sacrifice solely for Allah, Most Majestic. It demands true love and fear of Him. It should be performed with full consciousness of one's heart, with full humility and submission to Allah. It should not be thought of as a tourist-type excursion or be performed as mere physical rites. It develops sincerity, piety, humility, self-control, sacrifice, and true knowledge of the meaning of submission and obedience to Allah, Most High. It helps the pilgrim to be a better person who is devoted to Allah in every aspect of life.