ADVICE TO INTENDING PLIGRIMS
1) Remember that you are on a blessed journey. This journey, which is a migration toward Allah, is based on belief in His Unity (Tawheed), on sincerity toward Him, on responding to His call, and on obedience to His commands. There is no greater reward than that of Hajj, which is acceptable to Allah, the reward of the Garden of Paradise.
2) Be on your guard against the mischief of Satan, who intends to cause dissention among you. Love each other as brothers and avoid disputes and disobedience to Allah. Know that the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) said: “None of you have truly believed unless he likes for his brother what he likes for himself”.
3) Whenever you have a question concerning religious matters or concerning the Hajj, ask knowledgeable Muslims until you receive a satisfactory answer. This is in accordance with what Allah has said: “so ask the people who remember Allah if you do not know”, as well as being in accordance with what the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said: “when Allah intends good for someone, He gives him understanding of the religion”.
4) Know that Allah has made certain acts Fard (obligatory) and other acts Sunnah (according to the practice of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) Allah does not accept a Sunnah, which violates some Fard. Some pilgrims ignore this fact when they harm believing men and women in their zeal to Kiss the Black Stone, to hasten in their circuits around the Kaabah, to make Salat behind the Station of Prophet Ibrahim, to drink from Zamzam, and similar practices. These practices are Sunnah. To harm any believer in doing them is haram (prohibited). How is it possible to carry out a Sunnah observance while doing a haram deed? Therefore, avoid hurting each other, and Allah will grant you His mercy and will increase Your reward. We would also like to emphasize the following:
- a) It is not fitting that a Muslim man perform his Salah near or behind a woman in the Sacred Mosque or at any other place if it is at all possible to avoid doing so. Women should pray behind men.
- b) The doors and entrances to the sacred Mosque are for traffic and should not be blocked by people praying there, even though the congregational prayer may be in progress.
- c) It is not permissible to block the flow of people around the Kaabah by sitting or by praying near it, or by standing near the Black Stone or at the Station of Ibraheem, especially when the place is crowded, as this is a source of harm to other people.
- d) While safeguarding the dignity of Muslims is a Farad, kissing the Black Stone is a Sunnah. A Farad cannot be sacrificed for a Sunnah. When the area is crowded, it is sufficient to point to the Black Stone, saying “Allahu Akbar” and to continue to move with the flow of people without causing a break in the lines. Indeed, Keeping an easy flow during circuits is the most commendable thing.
- e) It is not a Sunnah to kiss the stone at the Yemen side of the Kaabah (Ruknal-Yamani). Even when the area is not crowded, you are merely to touch it with the right hand and say, “Bismillah wa Allahu Akbar”.
Finally the best advice we can give you is that you follow the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (S.A.W.) in all you do. “Obey Allah and the Messenger in order that you may receive grace”.
Additionally, you must be aware that there are manners, which nullify your Islam. We will mention here the ten most common violations. Please be mindful of them:
First, associating partners with Allah (Shirk). Allah Most High Says: “Truly if anyone associates partners with Allah, He will forbid him the Garden and his abode will be the Fire; The wrongdoers will have no helpers.” Praying to the dead, asking their help, or offering them gifts or sacrifices are all forms of Shirk.
Second, setting up intermediaries between oneself and Allah, making supplication to them, asking their intercession with Allah, and placing one’s trust in them is unbelief (Kufr).
Third, anyone who does not consider polytheists (mushriken) to be unbelievers, or who has doubts concerning their belief, is himself an unbeliever.
Fourth, anyone who believes any guidance other than the Prophet’s guidance to be more perfect, or a decision other than the Prophet’s decision to be better, is an unbeliever. This applies to those who prefer the judgement of misguided individuals to the prophet’s judgement. Some examples of this are
(a) To believe that systems and laws made by human beings are better than the Shariah of Islam. That is, the Islamic system is not applicable in the present century; that Islam is the cause of the backwardness of Muslims; that the relationships of an individual with Allah is a private matter which should not be brought into the public domain.
(b) To Say that enforcing the punishments prescribed by Allah is not advisable in this day and age.
(c) To believe that it is permissible to give a ruling without taking into consideration what Allah has revealed in matters of law, punishment or other affairs. Although one may not believe such rulings to be superior to the Shariah, he in effect affirms such a stand by declaring a thing which Allah has totally prohibited, such as adultery, drinking alcohol or usury, to be permissible. According to the consensus of Muslims, one who declares such things to be permissible is an unbeliever.
(Fifth) Anyone who hates any part of what the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) has declared to be lawful has nullified his Islamic faith, even though he may act in accordance with it. Allah the Most High says: “Because they disliked what Allah has revealed, their deeds are brought to nothing”.
Sixth, anyone who ridicules any aspect of the religion of the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.), or any of its rewards or punishments, becomes an unbeliever. Allah the Most High says: “Say: Do you ridicule Allah, His revelations and His Messenger? Make no excuse: you have disbelieved after your (profession of) faith:
Seventh, the practice of magic, causing a rift between a husband and wife by turning his love for her into hatred, or tempting a person to do things he dislikes by using black arts. One who engages in such a thing or is pleased with it is outside the pale of Islam. Allah the Most High says: “The two (angels, Harut and Marut) did not teach anyone (magic) without warning them. Indeed, we are a trial; then do not disbelieve”.
Eights, supporting and aiding polytheists against the Muslims. Allah the Most High Says; The one from among you who supports them belongs to them. Truly, Allah does not guide the people who do wrong”.
Ninth, anyone who believes that some people are permitted to deviate from the Shariah of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) is an unbeliever by the word of Allah Most High: “If anyone seeks a religion other than Islam, it will not be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.”
Tenth, to turn completely away from the religion of Allah, neither learning its percepts nor acting upon it. Allah the Most High says: “Who does greater wrong than the one, who is reminded of the revelations of his Lord and turns away from them. Truly, We shall recompense the guilty, “and He also says: “But those who disbelieve turn away from that about which they are warned”.
It makes no difference whether such violations are committed as a joke, in seriousness or out of fear, except when done under compulsion. We seek refuge in Allah from such deeds.