Book: From the Teachings of Hajj

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Assalamu Alaikum.

If you’re like me and you:

1) Love learning about aqeedah (creed).

2) Love all these “lessons derived from…” sort of books.

3) Love learning about Hajj.

4) Love anything that is written by the Al-Badr family.

Then you’ll love this book.

Really.

Which book, you ask?

It’s called “From the teachings of Hajj” and it’s by Shaikh Abdur Razzaq Al-Abbad.

It’s divided into three sections:

a) Lessons in Aqeedah learned from Hajj

b) Hajj and Refining the Soul

c) Sermons and Admonitions from the Farewell Hajj

Each section contains thirteen lessons.

Here’s the book:

From the teachings of Hajj (2nd Edition) by Shaikh Abdur Razzaq Al-Abbad.

[Update June 2012: For those of you who may have downloaded this book earlier, please note that this is a NEW edition of the book.]

Article: The Hajj – A Poem

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Assalamu Alaikum.

Most of the planet seems rather fond of poems (not me though), so I thought I would post this Hajj poem I came across.

It’s by none other than Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah (rahimahullah).

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http://www.islaam.net/main/display.php?id=613&category=127

The Hajj – A Poem

by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah

The Hajj – The Journey

By Him whose House the loving pilgrims visit,
Responding with ihram at the appointed limit,
Uncovering their heads in total humility
Before One to Whom faces bow in servility.
They exclaim in the valleys, “We have responded to You –
All Praise is Yours, and Kingdom too!”
He invited and they answered, with love and pleasure;
When they called upon Him, nearer came the Divine treasure.
You see them on their mounts, hair dusty and dishevelled,
Yet never more content, never happier have they felt;
Leaving homelands and families due to holy yearning,
Unmoved are they by temptations of returning.
Through plains and valleys, from near and far,
Walking and riding, in submission to Allah.

Article: Hajj – Virtues and Contemplations

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Assalamu Alaikum.

Hajj is not just any journey. It’s meant to change us from the inside out.

In order for this to happen, one of the things that we need to do during Hajj is to contemplate over what we see around us. What is the wisdom behind the rites and what can we learn from them?

Here’s an excellent article that discusses some of the lessons that we can learn from Hajj*:

[*Some of them apply to Umrah as well.]

Hajj: Virtues and Contemplations by Shaikh Abdul Muhsin Al-Abbaad

Note: I’d advise everyone to read this article regardless of whether you are planning to go for Hajj or not.

Website: Al Baseerah

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Assalamu Alaikum.

Here’s a great website which has just about everything that a student of knowledge could want:

http://www.albaseerah.org/

It also contains some good information on Hajj (they’re offering a free Hajj workshop as well).

They have a nice forum as well. You can read the Hajj and Umrah related questions (answered by scholars) here and the sacrifice related questions here.

They also have newsletters. Here’s one issue that was solely dedicated to Hajj.

Lecture: The Call of Ibrahim (alaihissalam)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Assalamu Alaikum.

When we think of Ibrahim (alaihissalam), we think of Hajj. When we think of Hajj, we think of Ibrahim (alaihissalam).

The two are inseparable.

Why? Because Allah ordered him to proclaim the Hajj, and many of the rituals of Hajj trace back to his time.

Here’s a lecture that talks more about his call:

The Call of Ibrahim by Muhammad Alshareef (Download)

For those of you who prefer reading, you can find a transcript (sort of) here. It’s also been translated into French, German, Bosnian and Spanish.

Article: 50 Things to do in Hajj

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Assalamu Alaikum.

Many Muslims think of prayer, reading the Quran and performing the required rites when thinking of Hajj.

And that’s fine because we need to do all of these in Hajj.

However, is that all there is to it? Aren’t there other things to do in addition to these acts of worship?

Here’s a very nice list of things that you can do during Hajj. I’d advise those that are going for Hajj to take a printout with you so that you remember to do these things, insha-Allah.

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http://www.khutbah.com/en/ramadan_hajj/50hajj.php

50 Things to do in Hajj

Muhammad Alshareef

Many of those at Hajj may find themselves sitting in a tent thinking to themselves, “Now what do I do?” Some pick themselves up and go around doing things pleasing to Allah; others may not capture the moment due to inexperience.

So here is a list of beneficial things to do during your Hajj trip. If you are not going for Hajj, why not forward it to someone who might benefit from it on his or her journey. At least they can practice number 26.

May Allah ta’aala make it a safe journey for all the hujjaj, aameen.

1. Smile in another Muslim’s face
2. Say salaam to strangers
3. Shake someone’s hand and ask about his/her health
4. Buy tea for someone
5. Offer to get someone’s groceries
6. Sit with a Hajj group from another country and ask about Islam in their village
7. Carry someone’s bags for them
8. Guide someone ill to the infirmary
9. Shun vain talk
10. Recite talbiyah loudly, encouraging others
11. On the days of Eid, walk through the tents reciting talbiyah loudly reminding others
12. Gather stones for people
13. Offer to throw on behalf of unable hajjis
14. Guide people to the Jamarat
15. Lower your gaze
16. Remind people of the lives of the Sahaabaa
17. Read Qur’an with the tafseer
18. Do the authentic dhikr of the morning and evening
19. Make du’a during your sajdah
20. Stand to the side of a gate and offer people water/tea as they leave
21. Give major attention to shy people in your group
22. Remind people of patience, why they came here, and the example of our ‘ulama in Hajj
23. Explain a Hajj khutbah you may have heard to those around you
24. Explain the importance of purifying ones actions for the sake of Allah
25. Phone relatives (from Makkah) on Eid day
26. Make du’a for forgotten friends (and the author of this list)
27. Don’t allow Muslims to fight during Hajj
28. Help people find a place to sleep
29. During the heat, remember the unending torment of the Hellfire
30. Say Laa ilaaha illAllah, wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul mulk wa lahul hamd, wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shay’in qadeer 100 times
31. Say the du’a of entering the market place when you go there
32. Give charity to those who sell meager things (i.e. sandals, eggs, etc.)
33. Attend the halaqas that are given in Mina
34. Stay for the 13th of Dhul Hijjah
35. Remind people to go home as better Muslims
36. Forgive people who wrong you
37. Talk to 10 different people from 10 different countries
38. Compliment someone sincerely
39. Visit the hospital and thank Allah for all that He has given you
41. Take young Muslims and invite them to sit with the elders. Make them the center of attention.
41. Give a tafseer class after salah / ask someone knowledgeable to deliver the class
42. On the days of Eid, offer perfume to those around you (for men only)
43. Ask about the health of senior women in your group. Make sure they are attended to.
44. Focus hard on helping those immediately near you
45. Take people to the slaughter house and help them or assist them in purchasing their slaughter coupons
46. Remember specific blessings Allah has bestowed upon you and say alhamdulillah
47. Pray to Allah using His 99 Most Beautiful Names (Al-Asmaa’ Al-Husna)
48. Use a miswak
49. Fill your pockets with candies and give some to the children you meet
50. Always hope for rewards from Allah for everything you go through during Hajj

Article: Hajj – Its Virtues and Benefits

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Assalamu Alaikum.

Still struggling to get pumped up for Hajj?

Here’s an iman-boosting article that may help, insha-Allah:

Hajj: Its Virtues and Benefitsby Shaikh Muhammad Salih Al-Munajjid

If you wish to read it online, you can do so here.