Hajj 2018 Lessons and values from Surah Al Hajj 16 th August 2018 Introduction Magnification of Allah To Fear Allah means our top priority is to remember Allah. When the tongue is not busy in remembering Allah then it will remember other than Allah which then leads us to shirk. Hajj is a training which tells us how to live in this world with all the changes around us. After the training of hajj is the start of the dawn and we have to make sure we do not turn back to our old self. We need to magnify Allah and His symbols. When you remember Allah, you will try to do the best of worship. Hajj tells us about the importance of sacrifice because our life we have trials of all sorts and we have enemies all around us. This is why there is mention of Jihaad right after Hajj. After the struggle of Jihad is the establishment. One of the scholars was asked if he would prefer to be established or to go through trials. He replied It is not possible for anyone to be establish without tests. If someone gets established without tests then he will be tyrant. A person who goes through trial and then gets a position/money is different than the person who gets a position/money without trials. We need to respect the symbols of Allah e.g Kabaah, the people who came for Hajj etc in order to benefit from Hajj. We are the one to benefit from the journey of Hajj. Allah tells us the ones who come out of hajj successfully will be mukhbiteen and muhsineen. Allah is giving the glad tidings of the success of wiping away their sins and starting anew are the Mukhbiteen and Muhsineen. The Mukhbiteen are the humble ones and the Muhsineen are the ones who do more than what is required.
Surah Hajj Ayah 34 to 41 Ayah 34 Every nation has some rituals that are recognized and these rituals have a fixed time or place e.g. Tawaf, celebration of Eid, sacrifice etc. The main purpose of the Hajj is to remember Allah. When you remember Allah, you are grateful to Him for all the blessing. When you are grateful to Allah you will worship Him. Then Allah tells us it is very important to sacrifice. The sacrifice and the cutting of the hair enables the person performing the hajj to come out of Ihram. Hajj is jihad against the Nafs and the wealth. A person going to Hajj is the one who benefits in the end. A person should not be miserly when spending in the way of Allah. Allah tells us your Lord in one Lord. This means we should submit to Allah and not complain under any circumstances. Allah is the one to have complete control over us and He is the one to provide us. When one person complains or argues because of decree then he is actually arguing with Allah because it is Allah who placed the decree. 2
Then Allah gives glad tidings to the Mukhbiteen who submit to Allah at all times and completed the rituals. Who are the Mukhbiteen? They are submitting to Allah, Humble, Silent and Discreet. They don t want to be recognized or known. Those who are arguing and are not happy are the ones who want their presence to be known. We will learn about the actions of the Mukhbiteen in the next ayah. Ayah 35 When Allah s name is mentioned then their hearts are filled with fear. Even if they make a mistake but as soon as Allah s name is mentioned they stop arguing out of respect for the names of Allah. If a person takes the name of Allah and even if you are on the right then we must stop arguing out of respect They are patient and do not complain about any calamity that befalls us. They establish the prayer and spend for the sake of Allah. 3
Ayah 36 We should spend in the way of Allah. There are people who will spend luxuriously in life but will be stingy when it comes to spending in the way of Allah. When a person spends more in the way of Allah then it is from the taqwa and magnification of hearts. When offering a sacrifice more than what is required Allah then the person should remember the names of Allah. We can eat from the slaughtered animal and also give to the needy. When slaughtering a goat then give to those who are really in need and when sacrificing larger animals you can give to well off people as well. 4
Ayah 37 When It is not the flesh or meat that reaches Allah but the state of heart when offering the sacrifice. A person should magnify Allah for being guided. The sacrifice of the animal teaches us total submission without any resistance. Ayah 38 and 39 5
The struggle for the sake of Allah is not for power but it is to bring peace and to invite them to the religion of Allah. The struggle is for spreading the good and to stop the evil. In Islam, the goal for struggle, fighting, punishment is peace. There is Jihad because after the struggle there is peace and one can be established. The houses of worship need to very safe. If one sins in the places of worship then the sins are magnified. For example, it's not allowed to ask for money in mosques. If anyone goes to mosques with the intention of asking money, and starts to ask for money there, then it will stop others from coming to the mosques When a person believes in Allah then Allah will defend him and this is a glad tiding. Every thing belongs to Allah and He will defend us from all evils. Allah will even defend us from the bad consequence of our deeds. Betraying the trust is the worst characteristic. When we are entrusted with any matter and we have all the information related to it, then we should not betray the secrets even to defend ourselves. We should have faith that Allah will defend us and should not betray even to defend ourselves We cannot pardon a criminal because there is no benefit for anyone. If you pardon someone who takes the rights of others then you are causing more harm than good. The Prophet ى ل ص م ل س و ھ ی ل ع الله said if my daughter would steal I will still cut her hand. You can pardon when something is at individual level but not when it is at the level of the society. After Hajj, you go through challenges in life and you will face trials and enemies. The Prophet م ل س و ھ ی ل ع الله ى ل ص said give victory to your brother whether he is oppressor or oppressed. You help the oppressor by stopping him. Any individual cannot make decisions but he needs to go to the authorities. 6
Ayah 40 Allah ordained the rules of Jihad to stop the evil. If there are no rules and penalties from Allah then no one can feel secure and the places of worship will be demolished. The places of worship need to be safe and secure and if anyone tries to terrify people there then there is severe punishment from Allah. When a person gives victory to Allah by following his rules of Allah then Allah will give him victory. Ayah 41 7
The signs of those to whom Allah gives victory is that they will be established in the land and they will establish the prayer, give zakat, enjoin good and forbid munkar. A community needs to enjoin good and forbid munkar. Betrayal Betrayal is the opposite of trust, to betray a trust is worse than stealing because a person is misusing the trust, position and authority that s been entrusted with him.. Surah Anfal Ayah 12 Surah An Nisa Ayah 105 8
Surah Anfal Ayah 71 Surah Yousuf Ayah 52 Surah Hajj Ayah 38 9
HADITH "Whoever has the following four (characteristics) will be a pure hypocrite and whoever has one of the following four characteristics will have one characteristic of hypocrisy unless and until he gives it up: 1. Whenever he is entrusted, he betrays. 2. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie. 3. Whenever he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous. 4. Whenever he quarrels, he behaves in a very imprudent, evil and insulting manner.") - Sahih al-bukhari 34 The one who has the above 4 characteristics is a pure hypocrite Messenger ( م ل س و ھ ی ل ع الله ى ل ص ) said, 'The best of my followers are those living in my generation (i.e. my contemporaries). and then those who will follow the latter" `Imran added, "I do not remember whether he mentioned two or three generations after his generation, then the Prophet ھ ی ل ع الله ى ل ص م ل س و added, 'There will come after you, people who will bear witness without being asked to do so, and will be treacherous and untrustworthy, and they will vow and never fulfill their vows, and fatness will appear among them.") - Sahih al-bukhari 3650 There will be more betrayal in the later generations (The Messenger of Allah ( م ل س و ھ ی ل ع الله ى ل ص ) forbade that a man should come to his family like (an unexpected) night visitor doubting their fidelity and spying into their lapses.) - Sahih Muslim 715 It is forbidden for the husband to not informing his wife of his arrival when he is gone for travelling. IMPACTS of BETRAYAL Wrath of Allah upon the one who betrays Signs of hypocrisy Similar of beast Level of shame Worst thing to hide is betrayal Spreading of betrayal brings down a community At work, betrayal includes bribery and using work resources for personal use Loss of trust in the society 10
Breaks up a community Cause for humiliation and disgrace Ruling of betrayal It is a major sin Types of betrayal 1. To betray Allah and His messenger 2. Betray yourself 3. Betray other people by money or revealing secrets or misuse of Authority or adultery in marriage 4. Giving wrong advise 11