Obligations on Pilgrim

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In order for pilgrimage to be accepted, there are firstly a number of preconditions that each pilgrim has to meet. They are briefly broken down as follows:

1. Repentance to Allah:

Once the muslim decided to perform hajj, he must repent to Allah. Allah says “O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance! It may be that your lord will expiate from you your sins, and admit you into gardens under which rivers flow, the day that Allah will not disgrace the prophet Muhammed (S.A.S.) and those who believe with him, their light will run forward before them and with their records(books of deeds) in their hands, they will say “Our Lord! Keep perfect our light for us, and grant us forgiveness, verily, you are able to do all things”.

The conditions of true repentance are:
1) Giving up sins.
2) Regretting it.
3) Firm determination not to repeat it again.
For repentance one must fulfill these conditions as long as only Allah’s prohibition is violated, but if man’s right is violated, he must, in addition to the above mentioned conditions, amend the wronged man or ask him for forgiveness.

2. Pure intention towards Allah:

The pilgrim must perform the rites for Allah and only Allah. The Prophet (S.A.S.) said “Actions are but by intention and every man shall have but that which he intends”. Pilgrims must be warned against dissemblance. The Prophet (S.A.S.) said “Allah (glorified and exalted be he) said “I am so self-sufficient that I am in no need of having associates with me”.

3. Halal (lawful) money:

Allah is good and accepts only that which is good. Abu Huraira narrated that the Prophet (S.A.S.) said “as soon as a pilgrim sets out for hajj with a provision which is lawful (halal) and puts his foot in the stirrup (rides his mount) and calls out “O Allah! Here I am in response to your call”, an announcer answers him from the heavens above saying: your call has been heard, you are a happy one, your provisions are lawful, your mount is lawful and your pilgrimage is free of sin and acceptable, but if his provisions are unlawfully gained and he puts his foot in the stirrup and call out “O Allah! Here I am in response to your call”, an announcer answers him from the heavens above saying: your call is not accepted, nor are you welcome, your food is unlawful, your provisions are unlawful and your pilgrimage is not free of sin and not acceptable”.

4. Learning the ceremonies of pilgrimage:

Anyone who intends to perform hajj must learn the rites of hajj, so as not to ‘ify his hajj and be unaware that he has. The Prophet (S.A.S.) said “learn from me the ceremonies, as I may not meet you after this year”. I saw some people staying in Namera valley, which is not part of Arafah, on the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah. Whoever stops on it all the time of the day of arafah, instead of stopping on Arafah, his hajj is ‘ified. The Prophet (S.A.S.) said “pilgrimage is stopping on Arafah”. Many people do such and other mistakes, and only Allah and learning his rites will stop these mistakes.

Parent page: Pilgrimage