why Muslims should visit Mecca once in a lifetime

It is a general knowledge among Muslims all over the world that going to the holy land, Mecca, which is located in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is the 5th pillar of Islam. Reason why every Muslim rich or poor, always nurses the ambition of visiting the sacred place of worship at least once in their lifetime is to perform a pilgrimage also called Hajj (worship Allah).

In Islamic tradition, pilgrimage was introduced during the time of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). According to tradition, by God’s command, Abraham left his wife Hagar (Hajar) and his son Ishmael (Ismail) alone in the desert of ancient Mecca with little food and water that they soon used up. Mecca was then an uninhabited place. In search of water, Hagar desperately ran seven times between the two hills of Safa and Marwah but found none. Back in despair to Ishmael, she saw the baby scratching the ground with his leg and a water fountain sprang up underneath. Because of the presence of water, tribes started to settle in Mecca, Jurhum being the first such tribe to arrive. When grown up, Ishmael married in the tribe and started living with them.

The Quran states that Ibrahim, along with his son Ishmael, raised the foundations of a house that is identified by most commentators as the Kaaba. After the placing of the Black Stone in the Eastern corner of the Kaaba, Ibrahim received a revelation in which Allah told the aged prophet that he should now go and proclaim the pilgrimage to mankind. The Quran refers to these incidents in Q 2:124-127 and Q22:27-30.

Performing Hajj is a noble act and one of the best deeds a person can do. It comes with many blessings and the ultimate of them is Paradise. The Prophet (SAW) said, “Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit any obscenity and wrongdoing, he, or she, will come out as the day he, or she, was born – pure and sinless.” (Bukhari) The reward of performing Hajj with increased Taqwa (being God-conscious) and to a high standard of perfection, is Paradise.

(5) MAJOR CONDITION THAT MAKE HAJJ COMPULSORY

The scholars of great repute have carefully stated the conditions that make it compulsory for a person to perform Hajj, and without them Hajj is not.

(1) BEING MUSLIM

This applies to all acts of worship, because worship done by a disbeliever is not valid. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And nothing prevents their contributions from being accepted from them except that they disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger.” [al-Tawbah 9:54]

So the disbeliever is commanded first of all to enter Islam. If he becomes Muslim, then we tell him to pray, give zakah, fast, perform Hajj and all the other duties of Islam.

(2) BEING OF SOUND MIND AND BEING AN ADULT

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The pen is lifted from three [and does not record their deeds]: from one who is sleeping, until he wakes up; from a child until he reaches puberty, and from one who is insane until he comes to his senses.”

So a child is not obliged to perform Hajj, but if his parents take him for Hajj, his Hajj is valid; the child will have the reward of Hajj and his parents will also have a reward. When a woman lifted up a child and asked, “Is there Hajj for this one?” the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Yes, and you will have the reward.” (Narrated by Muslim).

(3)   BEING FREE

Hajj is not obligatory for a slave, because he is distracted by his duties towards his master.

(4) BEING ABLE

TO DO IT

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) to the House (Ka‘bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence).” [Aal ‘Imran 3:97]

This includes being able both physically and financially. What is meant by being physically able is that one is sound in body and can bear the hardship of travelling to the sacred House of Allah.

Being financially able means that one has enough funds to get to the sacred House of Allah and back again. Being able to do Hajj means that one is sound in body and has means of transportation to reach the sacred House of Allah whether by plane, car or riding animal, or by renting such means, according to his situation, and that he has sufficient provisions to get there and back. That should be surplus to what he needs to spend on those on whom he is obliged to spend, until he returns from Hajj. A woman should also have a husband or mahram with whom to travel to Hajj or ‘Umrah.

The money that he uses to reach the sacred House should be surplus to his basic needs, the spending enjoined on him by Shari’ah, and what he needs to pay off his debts. What is meant by debts here is things that he owes to Allah, such as expiations, and what he owes to other people.

HAJJ OF ONE WHO IS IN DEBT

If a person has a debt, and he does not have enough money to both do Hajj and pay off the debt, then he should pay off the debt first and he does not have to go for Hajj.

If the debtor who did not go for Hajj because of his debt dies, then he will meet Allah with his Islam complete and not lacking, because Hajj was not obligatory for him, just as zakah and also Hajj are not obligatory for one who is poor.

But if he does Hajj before paying off his debt and then dies before paying it off, then he is in danger, because even the martyr is forgiven for everything except debt, so what about anyone else?

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE FINANCIALLY ABLE

This means that someone should have enough for his family until he returns, and he should have an income after he returns to take care of himself and those on whom he spends, such as rent from property, salary and business earnings, etc.

If a person is physically and financially able to do Hajj, then he is obliged to hasten to do Hajj. If he is not physically and financially able, or if he is physically able but he is poor and has no wealth, then he is not obliged to do Hajj. If a person is financially able but he is not physically able, then we look at the matter further.

If his problem is something that he hopes will disappear, such as a sickness from which he hopes to recover, then he should wait until Allah heals him, then do Hajj. If his problem is one for which there is no hope that it will disappear, such as a person with cancer or an old person who cannot do Hajj, then he has to appoint someone to do Hajj on his behalf, and the duty to perform Hajj is not waived because of his physical inability if he is financially able. The evidence for that is the report narrated by al-Bukhari (1513) according to which a woman said: “O Messenger of Allah, Allah’s command to the people to perform Hajj has come when my father is an old man and cannot sit firmly in the saddle. Can I perform Hajj on his behalf?” He said: “Yes.”

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) agreed with her comment that Hajj was obligatory for her father even though he was physically unable to perform Hajj.

JAMIU ABUBAKAR (08085185886)

with additional information from online