Ayat Hakim’s advises to Hajj pilgrims in light of ahadith

By: Abu Redha

Grand Ayatullah Muhammad Saeed al Tabatabai Al-Hakim said there are some important facts that the pilgrim to Mecca should know them so they can finish the Hajj with righteousness, so always remember them:

1.Before anything else we ought to endeavor to know and learn the Ahkam-ul-Hajj i.e. laws of performing Hajj. Either these Ahkam could be learnt by reading some related books to this topic or by consulting the people who know about the subject. And some Islamic missions might also be consulted for better comprehension. And this labor now will make easy a lot of difficulties and complications, which may come across a person because of his ignorance about that.

If one of you doubts about any of the rites he did by him whether it was correct or not, he should straightaway ask it to those who know about that and take precaution in performing it till it becomes clears to him.

Moreover, if he found any mistakes or defect in any rites performed by him, he should not leave it without recompensing it as long as it is easy for him and time has not passed away. Because the negligence may make it more complicated to solve.

2. One of the most important things in Islamic vision is good behavior with people and meeting with heart and soul.

The Holy Prophet Hazrat Prophet Mohammad (s.a.w.w) and his Household (a.s.) have greatly stressed on this topic. In one of his traditions from Abdullah Bin Sinan Imam Zainul Abideen (a.s.) says: The Holy Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (s.a.w.w) said: "Nothing better than good manners to put in the scale of a person on the Day of Judgment".

In another Hadith from Imam Abu Jafar al-Baqir (a.s.) in which he says: "The ultemate in I,man among people is the one who have the best manners among them."

And in the Hadith narrated by Rabiee Al – Shami from Imam Abu Abdullah Al-Sadiq (A.S.), the narrator says, in a congregation Imam (a.s.) was surrounded with people and said: "O' followers of the prophet's progeny, he who doesn't control his anger He, who is not a good companion to his companions, He who has not a good behavior, he who is not a good friend to his friends, he who is not a good neighbor to his neighbor, is not from us. O' people try to be afraid of Allah, and there is nothing greater than Allah."

There are hundreds of different hadiths about this subject, which cannot be all described here.

In a nutshell, we can say when good manners plays an essential and significant role in ordinary human life; it is tremendously and extremely needed in Hajj time. Because a pilgrim is in the obedience of Allah, so it is more proper for him to comply with Allah's commandments. And this all is because of the situation in which a person finds himself in so it is not impossible for someone to become angry or harsh but the reason is that the Hajj comprises many actions, its performing period which is long, the place is crowded and there are a lot of other problems which sometimes turn a person in an exceptional condition like nervousness and tension.

Therefore, if a person from the very beginning wasn't well prepared and have patience to face these types of difficulties, or will not accustom himself for the coming problems, with passion and good manners, he may loses his self control as well as may fall prey to Satan, and we invoke the protection of Allah from this condition.

On account of this, our Imam (A.S.) (the great twelve spiritual leaders) stressed on this matter in the Hajj.

In a Hadith, narrated by Safwan, according to Imam Sadiq (A.S.):

"My father would say: no good deeds of a person would be accepted unless he possessed these three qualities: good manners with his companions, forbearance with which he curb his anger, piety with which he could abstain from Haram (illegal actions according to Shariah).

3. Possibly, as a consequence of the above-mentioned problems any of our Momin brothers may be in the urgent materialistic or non-materialistic need and there is no one after Allah except their fellow Brother to help him in this critical condition.

Hence, it is the duty of every true Momin to feel and consider the relationship and oneness of the goal among themselves. Because they all are the delegation of the Great Allah and they are His slaves. Thus the person, who loves His creatures most, is the most lovable and beneficial person in His sight as it is clear from Holy Qur'an and hadith. Consequently, our target should be to establish brotherhood and mutual relationship amid us. As a result of that the rich ought to help the poor, the strong should co- operate with the weak and the learned must teach the ignorant and so………

Since, helping to a Momin brother and each other is service to Allah, who made a Momin respected. The believers are Allah's delegation, and their reward is with Him.

In a Hadith narrated by Abu Ham, zah Thumali, Imam Zainul Abideen (a.s.) says: "One who fulfills a wish of his (Momin) brother as though, he attained Allah's wish, thus He will fulfill hundred of his wishes, one of them is paradise". (The Hadith is longer).

And in another Hadith narrated by Aban Bin Taghlab, Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) says: "Attaining a wish of Momin is better than weeks of doing Tawaf round (the Ka, ba)".

In a Hadith from Imam Abu Abdullah (a.s.), narrated by Isma, el Khusaimi: "he says I asked Imam (a.s.) when we visited Mecca my fellow companions left me alone for guarding their belongings and then went to perform Tawaf round (The Ka,ba). Imam (a.s.) answered: "Your reward is greater than theirs".

And in the Hadith of Murazim, he says I accompanied Mohammad Bin Musadif, when we entered Medina I became ill, at that time he used to go to mosque for prayer and left me alone. So, I complained about it to Musadif who told it to Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.). Then Imam (a.s.) sent his message to him (in which he said): "sitting there with him is better than offering prayer in mosque".

There are many other examples of these types of traditions but here we cannot mention all of them because of the shortness of the booklet.

In short, we say that who encounters these types of situations must not neglect it and let go the chance of being in the service of others.

4. It is obvious that there is an opportunity to visit The Holy shrine of The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) and his progeny (a.s.) when performing Hajj. Thus, there are some hadith mentioning importance of visiting The Holy Shrines of Prophet and His progeny (a.s.).

From those hadiths we will mention but a few:

In a Hadith from Aslami according to Imam Sadiq (a.s.): "The Holy Prophet Hazrat Prophet Mohammad (s.a.w.w.) said anyone who perform pilgrimage to Mecca and did not visit me in Medina ( as if ) and avoided (and neglected) me, I would avoid him on the day of judgment. And whoever called me, it is obligatory on me to intercede with Allah on behalf of him and whoever found my intercession he will be in heaven".

And commander of faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) In his famous Hadith Arba,meah(four hundreds) says: "Visit the (place of) Prophet (s.a.w.w.) if you perform pilgrimage to the house of Allah, because it is cruelty not visiting him and you are ordered to do so , and so are the other graves; ask for your sustenance there.".

And in the Hadith of Isma,el Bin Mehran, from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) he says: "If someone from you went for pilgrimage (to the house of Allah) he should end it with our holy shrine ".

And this {pilgrimage to tombs of Aimma (a.s.)} is the most valuable thing that cannot be estimated in numbers and with which a Momin fulfills the right of The Prophet (Peace be upon him and his progeny) and his honorable progeny (a.s.) and remains faithful to them and strengthens their allegiance.

In relation to this, subject Imam (a.s.) Reza (a.s.) says: "Every Imam has a right on his followers, visiting their tombs is the fulfillment of that right".

The reason is that the favor of Allah are sought through them, and ones needs are placed before them, thus, they are the most trustworthy means to Him (Allah), the best and the fine ways to Him. With them, the intercession of Allah is sought.

Hence, take the full advantage of this opportunity and do your best to perform it as told by the imam (a.s.) and do as much of it as you can.

Allah is your helper and giver of the reward as it is transmitted from some of the hadith of Ahl-ul-Bayt (a.s.) that one of the purposes of Hajj is to be acquainted and be aware of the effects of the Prophet (s.a.w.w.) so that he be remembered and not forgotten.

Likewise, there are some hadith, which asserts on following his {The Prophet (s.a.w.w.)} actions and standings. Now, it is your duty to perform what you are allowed to. In this way visit the places where he lived and moved and try to recall his difficulties and struggles.

As it will increase your love in him (s.a.w.w.) in your hearts and gives strength to the relationship with him. He is so kind to believers and merciful and interceder to them.

May Allah rewards him of His most precious rewards to him (s.a.w.w.) among your messenger and give our salutations and greetings to him. And household (a.s.) of the Prophet (s.a.w.w.) are like him in greatness etc., because they are a part of him and he is a part of them. Ahl-ul-Bayt (A.S.) are created from the light of the Prophet Mohammed (s.a.w.w). Therefore, he who is devoted to them then he is devoted to him, he who respected them then he respected him. Therefore don't forget to visit there tombs, and likewise don't forget their contributions and sacrifices to Islam and they did so much to protect the privilege of the Prophet (s.a.w.w.).

May Allah endure our relationship with them, and resurrect us with them on the day of resurrection and he is the best listener and answerer.

5.According to some traditions, one of the advantages of Hajj is to understand the religion and propagating its teachings to all corners of the world. And this work is worthy of attention and importance, because some groups of us live in different and far away regions of the world, far from Islamic culture and environment, surrounded with infected and malice atheist thinking.

In this why, Hajj period plays an important rose in this regard. Although there are no any Islamic seminaries in that Holy part of the earth, yet many Islamic scholars go there in this very time individually or as a missionary of Islamic organizations.

In this Holy Hajj period a lot of people with different creeds and casts and from all over the world came to Mecca for Hajj, they can carry the Islamic culture to those spots round the world which are deprived of it, after taking it from Islamic missionaries. In this way they can not only carry Islamic culture and thought to those areas but also they can propagate Islam and protect it.

In this manner, this Holy gathering may be a period of negotiation, circulation of Islamic thoughts and preaching of it, thus prove to be a means of goodness and mercy to true believers.

6. Presently, Islam is passing through difficult and hard times when satanic forces united to destroy and distort it. As they are trying to light the fire of differences, hatred and prejudice among Muslims from inside and creating hurdles before them from outside, moreover exploiting their rights etc.

And this season of the pilgrimage is like a general meeting for Muslims in which Muslims from different parts of the world, with their diversities, gather on a place over the solutions of these problems and exchange of the views. Whereupon, consolidate to one another by rendering them the sources and powers they have, for destroying the enemies missions and treachery with the help and support from Allah.

It goes without saying that their (Muslims) respect lies in obeying Allah and their goodness in following and acting upon their religion's teachings and adopting the way of Allah. And this is the biggest requirement, which Allah has delegated upon them, for they protect His path and answer His call. As he says in this Holy verse of Qur'an: "Then anyone who violates his oaths, does so to the harm of his own soul, and anyone who fulfills what he has covenanted with Allah-Allah will soon grant him a great reward".(Holy Qur'an 48:10)

7. According to numerous evidences and divine proofs that The Holy Messenger of Allah and his progeny (a.s.) said: "Pilgrim (to Mecca) is forgiven", and we mentioned some of them.

There is a Hadith from Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) in which he says pilgrim (to Mecca) is forgiven until he commits sins again so this is a great time that possibly doesn't come again.

Therefore, know its value, perform it as its best and be grateful to Allah for His this favor. Thereafter, weigh your hearts, which are the dearest hearts for you. Follow the light of Allah, stick to his kindness as he is one who has removed the dirt of sins form your hearts and recompensed for your mistakes, resultly, control your emotions and be pious to Allah and for this reason obey the commandments of Allah, abstain from sins and seek the protection of Allah from Satan and from being influenced by the rampant corruption.

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