SUPPLICATION IN HAJJ
Allaah The Exalted commands His slaves to supplicate to Him and promises to answer and reward them for their Du‘aa’. Numerous texts of the Islamic Sharee‘ah have underlined the greatness, virtue, significance, and status of Du‘aa’ in Islam. In fact,Du‘aa’ is
the essence of worship, and it is one of the effective ways to prevent
the trials or misfortunes that had been decreed to befall the servant
before they befall him or to remove them after they have befallen him.
Furthermore, Du‘aa’ is
the most important key to open the hearts so that they may find rest
and relief of anxiety. It is the refuge for those who are helpless,
oppressed and weak. Indeed, the most helpless of people is he who is
unable to beseech Allaah in supplication.
If the virtue of Du‘aa‘ in general is as such, then that virtue becomes much greater and more confirmed in Hajj; as Du‘aa’ is more likely to be answered during these blessed times and in these blessed places. The pilgrim is a traveler, and the righteous traveler’s supplication is answered, since the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:“Three supplications are definitely answered, and there is no doubt about them: that of a father, that of a traveler, and that of one who has been wronged.” [Abu Daawood and others]
Moreover, the pilgrim’s Du‘aa’ is accepted; as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “The delegation [guests] of Allaah The Exalted are three: one who is performing Jihaad [i.e. fighting in the cause of Allaah], one who is performing ‘Umrah [lesser pilgrimage], and one who is performing Hajj; He called upon them and they responded, and they ask Him and He gives them.” [Ibn Maajah]
In Hajj, the pilgrims’ need for Allaah The Exalted and His help is more intense than at any other time, so they are more sincere in worshipping Allaah The Almighty, and these are among the fundamental reasons for the acceptance of their Du‘aa’. It was narrated in the story of the three men who were trapped in a cave when a big rock blocked its entrance that the men in crisis started beseeching Allaah sincerely and humbly in supplication until the rock was removed and they were freed.
Furthermore, there are various times and places where and when Du‘aa’ is recommended and is most likely to be answered such as:
1- Du‘aa’ during Tawaaf (circumambulation):
There is no specific Du‘aa’ that should be recited during Tawaaf. The pilgrim may recite whatever supplication that he prefers asking Allaah The Exalted to grant him all that is good in this life and the afterlife. However, a reported supplication that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would recite between the two corners of the Ka‘bah, i.e. while circumambulating between the Yemeni Corner (Ar-Rukn Al-Yamaani) and the Black Stone, reads: “Rabbanaa aatinaa fid-dunyaa hasanah wa fil-aakhirati hasanah, wa qinaa ‘athaab an-naar.” [Abu Daawood] (Which means: “Our Lord, grant us in this world [all that is] good and in the Hereafter [all that is] good, and protect us from the torture of the Fire.”)
2- Du‘aa’ on Mounts Safa and Marwah:
In the detailed account that Jaabir, may Allah be pleasedwith him) gave of the Hajj of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, he said: “…He first mounted As-Safaa until he saw the House [Al-Masjid Al-Ḥaraam]. Facing the Qiblah, he started his Du‘aa’ by saying: ‘Laa
illaah illa Allaah, Allaahu Akbar,’ then he said: ‘Laa ilaaha illa
Allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa ‘ala
kulli shay’in qadeer, laa ilaaha illaa Allaah wahdahu, anjaza wa‘dahu,
wa nasara ‘abdahu, wa hazam al-ahzaba wahdah.’”[Muslim]
(which means: there is no god but Allaah, He is One and has no partner.
His is the sovereignty, to Him praise is due, and He is Powerful over
everything. There is no God but Allaah alone, He fulfilled His promise,
made victorious His servant and defeated the confederates alone.)
Jaabir, may Allah be pleased with him, added, “… The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said
these words three times making supplications in between. He then
descended and walked towards [Mount] Marwah. When his feet touched the
bottom of the valley, he walked with a fast pace; and when he began to
ascend, he returned to his normal walking pace until he reached [Mount]
Marwah. There he did as he had done at As-Safa….” [Muslim]
3- Du‘aa’ on the Day of ‘Arafah:
It was reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:“The best supplication is what is made on the day of ‘Arafah, and the best thing that I have ever said as well as all the previous prophets is ‘Laa ilaaha illa Allaah wahdahu la shareeka lah, lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer.” [At-Tirmithii] (which means: ‘There is no god but Allaah alone, He has no partners. All sovereignty and praise belong to Him, and He is over all things Omnipotent.’)
The
Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, spent that day of ‘Arafah on
top of his camel raising his hands and reciting this supplication from
sunrise until sunset.
4- Du‘aa’ at Al-Mash‘ar Al-Haraam in Muzdalifah:
In the previously cited Hadeeth in which Jaabir, may Allah be upon him, gave a detailed account of the Hajj of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, he said, “…He [the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him] remounted [his camel] Al-Qaswaa’. On arriving at Al-Mash‘ar Al-Haraam, he faced the Qiblah and started his Du‘aa’ by beseeching Allaah The Exalted, declaring the Oneness of Allaah and glorifying Him, and remained standing until daylight was very clear...” [Muslim]
5- Du‘aa’ in the days of Tashreeq (the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Thul-Hijjah) while casting the Sughra Jamrah and the Wusta Jamrah (Small and Medium Pillars):
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would stand and face the Qiblah (direction of prayer) after throwing the pebbles, raising his hands to supplicate Allaah The Exalted for a long time.
6- Du‘aa’ when drinking from Zamzam water:
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “The water of Zamzam serves the purpose for which it was drunk.” [Ibn Maajah]
The Best Supplication is on the Day of ‘Arafa
Hajj
is ‘Arafa. There is no day when Allah sets free more servants from
Hellfire than on the Day of ‘Arafa. He draws near, and then praises them
to the angels, saying, “What do these seek?” All praise is due to
Allah, Lord of the worlds, and prayer and peace be on the best of
Prophets and the leader of Messengers. Hajj is ‘Arafa. There is no day
when Allah sets free more servants from Hellfire than on the Day of
‘Arafa. He draws near, and then praises them to the angels, saying,
“What do these seek?” The best supplication is supplication on the Day
of ‘Arafa, and the best thing that was said by the Prophet and the
Prophets before him was, “There is no God except Allah alone, He has no
partners.” [Declared good by Al-Albani]
«أفضل الدعاء دعاء يوم عرفة، و أفضل ما قلت أنا و النبيون من قبلي: لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له»حسنه الألباني
Transliteration:
La Ilah Ila Allah, Wahdahu La Sharieka Lah, Lahu-l- Mulk, Wa
Lahu-l-Hamd Wa Huwa ‘Ala Kuli shay`in Qadeer The Day of ‘Arafa is the
main day of Hajj. It witnesses the greatest congregation in the world on
annual basis. There, tears are pouring down, the ones who have stumbled
are raised, hopes are cherished and sins are forgiven. By Allah, it
is such a magnificent scene; tongues fall short of describing it. They
are truly fortunate those who witness this graceful occurrence. The
burdensome weight of their sins is granted forgiveness, and their good
deeds are raised up to be shown to Allah.
That
being said, the Muslim must not let go of these priceless moments and
should utilize them for striving hard in worship, showing keenness in
acts of obedience, much supplication, remembrance of Allah’s name,
asking for Allah’s forgiveness, wholehearted imploration, repeating
Talbiya “The supplication recited on hajj days: Here I am at your
service, oh Lord, here I am . Here I am; there is no partner do you
have, here I am. Truly, praise and favor are yours, and dominion. No
partner do you have”,
«لبيك اللهم لبيك، لبيك لا شريك لك لبيك، إن الحمد والنعمة لك والملك، لا شريك لك»
Transliteration:
Labayk Allâhuma Labayk, Labayk Lâ shareeka Laka Labyk, Ina Alhamda
Wani’mata Laka wal Mulk La shareeka Lak Reading the Qur’an and
invoking Allah’s Prayer and peace upon the Prophet, prayer and peace of
Allah be upon him, as this is the task of the day, which occupies most
of ritual of Hajj, as Hajj is ‘Arafa. It is essential for the pilgrim
to guard himself from slackening in worship on that great day. It only
lasts for a few hours. If he succeeds in benefiting from it, he has
surely prospered.
How
many a slave will be set free from hellfire on that splendid event!
What would a servant have left to worry about after this? All good has
come to him and all evil is warded off from him. The oblivious ones will
suffer a huge loss if they leave this day unheeded. The Muslim should
remember Allah much on the Day of ‘Arafa so that he wins precedence
over others. The Prophet, prayer and peace of Allah be upon him, said
that “the Mufarradun have truly gone ahead.” [Reported by Muslim] «سبق
المفردون» رواه مسلم
The
Mufarradun are, {the men and the women who remember Allah much with
their hearts and tongues (while sitting, standing, lying, etc. for more
than 300 times extra over the remembrance of Allah during the five
compulsory congregational prayers, or praying extra additional nawafil
prayers of night in the last part of night, etc.)} [Surat al-Ahzâb
33:35]
{وَالذَّاكِرِينَ اللَّهَ كَثِيراً وَالذَّاكِرَاتِ} الأحزاب: 35
Transliteration:
Wa Adh-Dhākirīna Al-Laha Kathīrāan Wa Adh-Dhākirāti And let him
repeat much, “Glory be to Allah, praise be to Allah, there is no God
except Allah, Allah is Great, and there is no power and no strength
except in Allah, the Exalted, the Almighty.”
«سبحان الله، والحمد لله، ولا إله إلا الله، والله أكبر»
Transliteration: Subhana Allah, Wal-Hamdu Lilah, Wa La Ilaha Ila Allah,
Wa Allahu Akbar These lauds are better than all that upon which the
sun rises. They shake off sins as a tree shakes off its withered leaves.
These lauds are the seedlings of Jannah; for every utterance of them
the Muslim is rewarded with a tree planted for him in Paradise. They
bring salvation. They are al-baqueyat ul-salehat “the good righteous
deeds that remain.” Let the Muslim be on his guard against unlawful
food, drink, clothing and mounts, etc. Let him keep away from quarrels,
swearing, discord, and foul language.
The
prophet, peace be upon him, said, “I guarantee a house in the
surroundings of Jannah for a man who avoids quarreling even if he were
right, a house in the middle of Jannah for a man who avoids lying even
if he were joking, and a house in the upper part of Jannah for a man who
refined his manners.” [Declared good by Al-Albani] ..
«أنا زعيم ببيت في ربض الجنة لمن ترك المراء وإن كان محقا، وببيت في وسط
الجنة لمن ترك الكذب وإن كان مازحا، وببيت في أعلى الجنة لمن حسن خلقه»
حسنه الألباني
The
Muslim must be careful not to look scornfully upon those whom he finds
slackening in doing their duties or shabby in appearance. Many a people
are dusty with disheveled hair and clad in a couple of rags, who if they
swear an oath to Allah, He will fulfill it. In addition, the Muslim
should refrain from chiding the ones who asks from people. He should
supplicate to Allah with every effort, remember Allah’s Name much
whether standing or lying, sensing in his heart reverence of Allah, the
Glorious, the Exalted. He will devotedly do dhikr, exert himself in it
and peruse it steadily.
At
all times he will keep his tongue wet with the remembrance of Allah,
the Exalted. Nothing is more capable of salvaging a human from the
torment of the hereafter more than remembrance of Allah. It is of the
best acts which raise the grades to the highest. It is better than
spending gold and silver, and better than meeting the enemies in the
battlefield where the righteous strike at their necks and they at
theirs. A Muslim will repeat as much as he can, “There is no God
except Allah alone, He has no partners. Dominion and praise belong to
Him, and He is, over everything, Omnipotent.”
It
is the good word. It is the steadfast word. It is the word that lasts,
the urwah wuthkah “firmest handhold”, the word that will remain, the
word of taqwa. It is the best of acts, the best thing that was said by
the Prophets and the best word of dhikr “remembrance.” The pilgrim
must humble himself to his Lord in submission, while being fully aware
of his weakness and need. The pilgrim has to cleanse his interior self
and exterior limbs from blemish, think of the flaws of his soul, its
ignorance and injustice. Let him ponder on the abounding favors of
Allah, the abundant mercies and the benevolence He bestowed upon His
servants.
This
is the situation where the awe of the Lord should be at its climax, the
tears rolling down the face, the soul trembling in fear of the Most
High. The pilgrim will stand in meekness and submission before His Lord
as if he has been shattered into pieces. He is sincere in his need for
mercy and forgiveness from Allah; sincere in his fear of His punishment
and wrath. He takes himself fully into account for his past sins and
then renews his repentance toward Allah. The shed tears will be evidence
of its truthfulness, and an inner shiver proof. His lowered gaze and
sobbing heart are indicative of his deep shame over his previous
transgressions. He is coming back to Allah.
On
that day, as a helpless servant the pilgrim stands before his Lord,
broke and poverty-stricken at soul. A rift has found its way across his
being due to this state. He discloses his needs to Allah, expresses his
insufficiency, admits his worthlessness, concedes his dependence on his
Lord, the Gracious, the Exalted. He conveys to his Lord his awareness of
that if He abandons him; he will be at ruin, at unrecompensed loss. He
will only have one way out: that Allah turns back to him with His mercy.
Now
that the heart is rid of its deficiencies, the limbs are purified of
their wrong actions, determination is strengthened; now that hearts are
coming together, expectations are becoming greater and the crowd is
massive in number, repentance is apt to be accepted. All these are
causes which if met, good and mercy will surely ensue. The tears one
exerts himself to shed are a sign of acceptance and of a heard
supplication. Rigidity of tears, on the other hand, is a sign of
ill-being. If the tears do not fall voluntarily, the Muslim should
provoke them through humbly imploring Allah. Allah, the Exalted, says,
{And whosoever honors the symbols of Allah, then it is truly from the
piety of the heart.} [Surat Al-Hajj 22:32]
{وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ} الحج: 32
Transliteration:
Wa Man Yu`ažžim Sha`ā’ira Al-Lahi Fa’innahā Min Taqwa; Al-Qulūbi Ubay
ibn Kaa’b, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “Adhere to the path and
the Sunnah. If one who adheres to the path and the Sunnah remembers
Allah so that his skin trembles in fear of Him, his sins will fall like
dead dry leaves drop off a tree.” If one who adheres to the path and
the Sunnah remembers Allah while alone then his tears flow in fear of
Allah, the Hellfire will never touch him. Commitment to the proved
heritage of the path of the Sunnah is better than endeavoring to
encompass issues which do not pertain to them.”
The
Day of ‘Arafa is a day when supplications are heard. That is why the
Muslim should not slacken in supplication. He should secretly and humbly
supplicate to his Lord. Secrecy is more courteous when asking of Allah,
more becoming to the glory of Allah, closer to sincerity and more
encouraging of attaining a state of humble submission. This is the day
when remembrance and supplication should be of highest precedence. Iblis
has never been smaller, more despicable, more infuriated and more
driven away in a day than he becomes on the afternoon of the Day of
‘Arafa. He becomes so due to the huge extent of mercies and forgiveness
of sins which Allah bestows on His servants.
They
are enormous to such an extent that has never before been on another
day except on the Day of Badr. It is incumbent on the Muslim to bring
out the best person he could be to Allah, degrade his enemy by doing
much remembrance and supplication and by asking for Allah’s forgiveness
of all his wrong doings. The next step is to think well of Allah and
grow more confident of Allah’s acceptance and forgiveness. Why not? For
the Most Merciful of all those who have mercy, the Most Generous of all
those who can show generosity, the Most Rich, the Absolver Who loves to
absolve is Allah the Exalted. Boredom might creep into one’s heart if
he sticks to one fashion of worship only. That is why he should
diversify the acts of worship he performs and move from one state to
another.
At
times he is seen reading the Qur’an, at other times reciting the
shahadah “Islamic testimony of faith”, some other times glorifying
Allah, praising Him, asking Him for forgiveness, supplicating to Him,
studying the Qur’an or any other pertinent branch of knowledge with his
mates, or discussing the ahadith which concern mercy, hope, resurrection
and reckoning. In short, he should be doing the various acts which
soften the heart. Meanwhile, he can have his share of sleep or other
forms of relaxation. This is especially sought after if it will energize
him.
Every
individual will be able to judge how to achieve this better. All the
same, he should spend the end of day in supplication, giving it his
undivided attention. ‘Atâ’ ibn abi-Muslim al-Khurasani said, “If you
can isolate yourself that day, so do it.” O Lord, Accept our deeds,
You are the Hearing, the Knowing, and accept our repentance, You are the
Acceptor of repentance, the Merciful. May Allah send His prayer and
peace upon Prophet Muhammad, and upon all of his family and companions.
No comments:
Post a Comment