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My Umrah brought me peace

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I’d seen images of the Kaaba with Muslims of all nationalities circumambulating it – images which resembled the planets orbiting the sun.If had to summarise what I felt in a word, My Umrah brought me peace

Earlier this year, I felt a sense of urgency to do the Umrah – a lesser (but still significant) pilgrimage than the obligatory Hajj, which is one of the pillars of the Muslim faith. I didn’t know much about what I had to do and I had always contemplated putting it off until I was “ready,” but then I concluded that there was no time like the present!

I remember feeling excited, nervous and also quite scared as I boarded the Jeddah-bound plane, which in typical Saudi-style, departed over 40 minutes late.

I saw men dressed in the two white pieces of cloth which they are required to wear from the miqaat (the point at which Muslims performing the Hajj or Umra must enter into the correct spiritual and physical state i.e. ihram). The simplicity of it, I thought, was quite beautiful; basic clothing, no makeup, nothing fancy, just back to basics.

The colourful bustle of Jeddah was a welcome change from the monotony and stagnancy of the Saudi capital Riyadh, where I’d been living for the past year. The array of new faces, different languages and vibrant personalities from around the world really brought this port city to life.

There was a sense of deep-rooted history and soul in Jeddah, which was in stark contrast to the sterile and somewhat soulless Riyadh – home to the al Sauds (as well as an increasing number of pointless skyscrapers). From Jeddah, I would make my way to Islam’s holiest site.

Mecca

A 60-riyal taxi ride later, I was in Mecca, another metropolitan city with a rich history of trade – something that was quite obvious from the moment I arrived. But when I walked from the point the taxi dropped me off, to Al-Masjid Al-Haram (“the Grand Mosque”), the atmosphere transformed from bustle and noise, to tranquillity.

As I looked up and saw the mosque, the feeling was surreal. This could have been a dream. I just couldn’t believe I was there, in a land where past Prophets had live and died and where history had been written.

untitled (11)Now, I would love to say that this was going to be an entirely positive experience, but the sight of cranes, scaffoldings and the grotesquely imposing and bafflingly misplaced clock tower was disappointing. Nonetheless, I refused to let it cast much more than a physical shadow over me, as I continued on my way to perform Umrah.

I fulfilled the rituals; circumambulating the Kaaba which was reconstructed by the prophet Ibrahim, walking between the two hills where Hajar, the wife of Ibrahim, once ran, frantically searching for water to quench her baby’s thirst. Throughout my life, I’d seen images of the Kaaba with Muslims of all nationalities circumambulating it – images which resembled the planets orbiting the sun. There was a sense of unity and harmony in the motions, which I was now part of. If had to summarise what I felt in a word, it would be peace.

On my way home, I found myself reflecting on the true meaning of Islam and what it means to be a follower of the faith. I thought about the excellent examples of etiquette and conduct in speech and actions demonstrated by all the Prophets of the past; their messages were about justice, unity, equality, humility.

This made me sad, as I knew that many people had forgotten, ignored or were ignorant of these examples. However, the experience also renewed my resolve to strive to be better, to do the right thing no matter what the consequences, and ultimately, to live the way that God intended.

As the plane departed from Jeddah, I took out a pocket-sized Quran from my bag and opened it. My eyes were drawn to a particular verse, which seemed to be the best and most fitting end to my Umrah experience:

“Oh you who believe, be persistently standing firm for justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow not personal inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort your testimony or refuse to give it, then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted.” (Quran 4:135)

5 Star Hajj Packages & 5 star Umrah Packages: For over a period of 20 years, British Hajj Travel is consistently offering top quality Hajj and Umrah tour packages.

Source: 5pillarsuk.com

Merits of Umrah

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Merits of Umrah

Allah made the outcome of performing this act of worship the great reward that stimulates the Muslim’s zeal, whets his will power and makes him proceed to it with an expanded chest and energetic determination in the hope of the reward and forgiveness of Allah and what has been prepared of good by Allah to the pilgrims of His honorable House. There are many texts about the merits of Umrah (lesser pilgrimage), of which mention may be made of the following:

Ever since Allah The Almighty commanded His Khaleel (intimate friend) Ibraaheem (Abraham), may Allah exalt his mention, to proclaim Hajj to the people, hearts have been in longing for this House and location, and crowds of visitors come to it from every distant pass in response to the call of Allah The Almighty. In this respect, Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, said,
When Ibraaheem finished building the House, it was said to him (by Allah): “Proclaim (Hajj) to the people.” He said, “O Lord, to what extent would my voice reach?” He said: “It is your duty to proclaim, and it is incumbent upon Me to convey (your voice to everywhere in the world).” Ibraaheem then called, “O people, (the obligatory duty of) Hajj has been enjoined upon you to the ancient House, so come to perform Hajj.” All that is between heaven and earth heard his voice. Do you not see the people coming from the farthest ends of the earth announcing (with Talbiyah (the Hajj-related chant)) their response (to the call)?

The obligatory duty of Hajj was made obligatory by Allah The Almighty upon the capable among His salves once in a lifetime, as He States (what means): {And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House – for whoever is able to find thereto a way. But whoever disbelieves – then indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds.} [Quran 3:97] The obligation of Hajj is among the indisputably established facts of Islam.

Hajj effaces sins and misdeeds that are committed before it

Hajj is among the greatest means of the forgiveness removal of sins and misdeeds. If one performs Hajj Mabroor (which is a Hajj that is accepted by Allah), he would return from Hajj (as pure from sins) as a newborn on the day his mother gave birth to him, that is, purity from all sins and mistakes. It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said that he heard the Prophet, Sallallahu `Alayhi wa Sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), say: “Whoever performs Hajj, during which he neither has sexual activity (with his wife) nor commits sins, he will return (as sinless) as a newborn child on the very day his mother delivered him.”[Al-Bukhari] The Hadeeth very clearly confirms the forgiveness of sins, be they minor or major, according to Al-Haafith Ibn Hajar may Allaah have mercy upon him.

However, this forgiveness is, according to the Hadeeth, conditional on abstention from having sexual activity (intercourse and foreplay with one’s wife) and disobedience to Allah during the Hajj.

It was narrated in an authentic Hadeeth that ‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas, may Allah be pleased with him, came to the Prophet, Sallallahu `Alayhi wa Sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), to embrace Islam and he put a condition that his previous sins should be forgiven for him, whereupon the Prophet, Sallallahu `Alayhi wa Sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), mentioned to him three things, each of which removes the sins and mistakes prior to it. Thus, it was narrated on the authority of ‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said,

When Allah placed the love of Islam in my heart, I went to the Prophet Sallallahu `Alayhi wa Sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) and said, “Stretch out your hand so that I can give you the pledge of allegiance.” However, when he stretched out his hand, I withdrew mine. He said: “What is the matter with you, O ‘Amr?” I replied, “I want to place a certain condition on this.” He asked: “What condition do you wish to place?” I said, “That I should be granted forgiveness.” He said: “Do you not know that (embracing) Islam effaces all the previous misdeeds committed before it as does the Hijrah (emigration) and Hajj?”[Muslim]

Thus, Hajj was made among the acts of worship that remove all sins previously committed.

The reward of a Hajj Mabroor is Paradise

Allah The Almighty promises His slaves reward for their obedience to Him and made for Hajj no reward other than Paradise. It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, Sallallahu `Alayhi Wa Sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said: “The performance of two ‘Umrah expiates the sins that are committed in the interval between them; and the Hajj Mabroor (that is accepted by Allah as being performed with sincerity and according to the rules of Sharee‘ah) has no reward other than Paradise.”[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] However, this reward is contingent on the condition of its being accepted, as not every Hajj will be rewarded with Paradise. That reward is restricted only to the Hajj Mabroor, and a Hajj Mabroor is that which complies with the teachings and principles of Sharee‘ah indeed and belief and is not contaminated with anything of Shirk, (polytheism) sin, sexual relations or disobedience.

Among the signs of Hajj Mabroor is that the Muslim’s condition after Hajj becomes better than before it. The evidence for that is the statement of Allah The Almighty (which means): {And those who are guided – He increases them in guidance and gives them their righteousness.} [Quran 47:17] Al-Hasan Al-Basri may Allaah have mercy upon him said, “(The sign of) a Hajj Mabroor is that the pilgrim returns (from it) having no desire for this world and seeking the Hereafter.” Overall, Hajj Mabroor, as Al-Qurtubi may Allaah have mercy upon him put it, “Is that whose rulings are fulfilled and which is performed perfectly according to what is required from the one competent for religious assignment.”

Hajj is among the best righteous deeds

Righteous deeds are numerous and vary in rank and degree of reward and excellence. Since one’s lifetime is very short, the deeds are numerous and he may not know which of them should be given priority, it is incumbent upon the slave to be eager to understand the ranks of deeds to get closer to Allah with the dearest of deeds to Him, and give it priority over what is lesser in rank and excellence. The Prophet, Sallallahu `Alayhi wa Sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), put the deeds in order (according to their ranks) in the Hadeeth narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, when the Messenger of Allah, Sallallahu `Alayhi wa Sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), was asked about the best deed, he replied: “To believe in Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad).” The questioner then asked, “What comes next (in goodness)?” He replied: “To participate in Jihaad (religious fighting) in the cause of Allah.” The questioner then asked, “What comes next (in goodness)?” He replied: “To perform a Hajj Mabroor.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

In clarification of why Hajj was given such preference and rank, one of the righteous predecessors said, “I have reflected on all the righteous deeds and found that the prayers exhaust only the body and not wealth, as does fasting, and found that charity exhausts only wealth but not the body, whereas Hajj exhausts both; thus, I saw it as the best.” Hajj then is a financial as well as physical worship.

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Source: islamweb.net

Best time to book Umrah packages

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The best time to book  Umrah package is after the Hajj season ends. In the months of Moharram and Saffar, most of the Pilgrims who want to go for Umrah in coming to Ramadhan or any time of the coming yearbook their packages with their agents.

Every devoted Muslim knows that Hajj is obligatory for every capable Muslim once in his lifetime. Hajj is performed every year in the month of Dhul Hajj. The bookings of Hajj are made well in advance because of the very large number of people going to Hajj every year and each year the number of pilgrims increases. Umrah, on the other hand, is different because it can be performed at any time of the year. The peak Umrah season is during the months of Rabi-ul-Awal and Sha’aban. In the months of Ramadhan, every Muslim wants to do Umrah because as narrated by this Hadith:

Narrated by Ibn Abbas, The Prophet of Allah (SAWS) said, “Perform Umrah in the month of Ramadhan, as its (reward) is equivalent to having performed Hajj with me.” Sahih Albukhari.

According to the recent Saudi Government rules, anyone who wishes to perform Umrah must book their Umrah with authorized and licensed Umrah agents in their local countries. This gives the pilgrim an opportunity to book their complete package including flight bookings, accommodation, and transportation, etc. The new rules forbid any pilgrim from going to Umrah without booking with an Umrah agent. There are several Hajj and Umrah packages offered by a number of agents around the world. These packages range from budget-friendly packages to five-star luxury packages. During the Umrah season, the agents usually get overbooked especially for the month of Ramadhan. These bookings are
made well in advance to avoid congestion of flights, hotel and accommodation bookings in Makkah. Some hotels which are near the Holy Mosque in Makkah are booked months in advance.

The best time to book  Umrah package is after the Hajj season ends. In the months of Moharram and Saffar, most of the Pilgrims who want to go for Umrah in coming to Ramadhan or any time of the coming year book their packages with their agents. This gives them a very good opportunity to book hotels, flights, and transport in Makkah and Madinah. A reputable agent can book your complete package for individuals or groups. It is always preferable to book your package with a reputable and registered Umrah agent to avoid certain hassles of high prices of accommodation and flights. The Saudi Government has imposed new rules for Umrah and Hajj service providers to meet the standards set by the Government.

Umrah and Hajj should always be performed with complete concentration and devotion to Allah (SWT) and booking well in advance will give you the chance to have a hassle-free sacred journey to Makkah and Madinah, and you can concentrate more on your prayers rather than worrying about the hotel or return flights. Responsible booking agents always advise their clients to book their Umrah packages during the months of Moharram and Saffar, but they can get last minute bookings as well which may cost a bit more in flights and accommodation, but you will be able to perform your obligation with full devotion to Allah (SWT).

Source: umrahpackagesuk.co.uk

Is it permissible to perform umrah repeatedly?

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Shaykh Ibn Baaz was asked in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (17/432): Is it permissible to perform umrah repeatedly in Ramadaan, seeking the reward for that?

There is nothing wrong with repeating ‘umrah. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) encouraged us to perform Umrah and he did not define the time period that should elapse between two umrahs.

Ibn Qudaamah said in al-Mughni:

There is nothing wrong with doing ‘umrah several times in the year. That was narrated from ‘Ali, Ibn ‘Umar, Ibn ‘Abbaas, Anas, ‘Aa’ishah, ‘Ata’, Tawoos, ‘Ikrimah and al-Shaafa’i, because ‘Aa’ishah did ‘umrah twice in one month on the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “From one ‘umrah to another is an expiation for whatever (sins) come between them.” Agreed upon.

He replied:

There is nothing wrong with that. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “From one ‘umrah to another is an expiation for whatever (sins) come between them, and an accepted Hajj brings no less a reward than Paradise.” Narrated by al-Bukhari, 1773; Muslim, 1349.

If a person does ‘umrah three or four times, there is nothing wrong with that. At the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), at the Farewell Pilgrimage, ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) did ‘umrah twice within a space of fewer than twenty days.

And the Standing Committee was asked (11/337):

I live in a town 100 kilometers away from Makkah. In Ramadaan every year I go to Makkah for ‘umrah, and I pray Jumu’ah and ‘Asr there, then I go back to my town. I discussed that with some of my brothers and they said that it is not permissible to do ‘umrah every week in Ramadaan.

They replied:

If the situation is as you describe, that is permissible, because there is no text that specifies the length of time that should elapse between one ‘umrah and the next.

Some scholars are of the view that time should be allowed between two ‘umrahs for hair to grow that the pilgrim can shave in the second ‘umrah. This time period is approximately one week or ten days.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said in al-Sharh al-Mumti’ (7/242):

Imam Ahmad said: he should not do ‘umrah until his head has turned black with hair.

Based on this, what many people do nowadays of performing ‘umrah repeatedly, especially in the month of Ramadaan every day, or once each day and once each night, is contrary to what the Salaf used to do.

Ibn Qudaamah said in al-Mughni:

‘Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him) said (‘umrah may be done) once each month. When his hair had grown back, Anas would go out and do ‘umrah again. Both reports were narrated by al-Shaafa’i in his Musnad. ‘Ikrimah said: He should do ‘umrah when his hair can be shaved by the razor. ‘Ata’ said: If he wishes he can do ‘umrah twice each month. Ahmad said: If he does ‘umrah, then he has to shave his head or cut his hair. In ten days he can shave his head.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 26/45:

What Ahmad stated is that it is not recommended to repeat ‘umrah often from Mecca or elsewhere, rather one should allow time in between for the hair to grow back so that it can be shaved.

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Source: go-makkah.com

Preparations for Umrah

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Jeddah — Preparations for the Umrah season have already begun with the successful completion of this year’s Haj.

Announcing this Minister of Haj and Umrah Muhammad Saleh Bentan said the outstanding success of Haj won applause and appreciation of those who came for the pilgrimage from around the world.

Benten was addressing the heads and members of offices of Haj affairs and the guests of Haj Grand Symposium as well as the winners of the ministry’s prize for media work at a reception on Saturday evening.

This is still below the ministry’s ambitious plan of receiving about eight million Umrah pilgrims.

The revenues to be generated by the Umrah season are expected to soar over SR200 billion by the year 2020.Preparations for the Umrah 2020 will be started soon.

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Source: saudigazette.com.sa

Returning Home from the Hajj Trip

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It is sunnah for the pilgrim who completed the Hajj and is Returning Home from the Hajj Trip to his hometown to say: No one is God except Allah, Who has no partner.

He is the One attributed with Dominion. He is the One Who deserves to be thanked and praised. He has Power over everything.

لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شىء قدير

We are going back to our hometown worshipping Allah after performing hajj, prostrating to Him, and thanking Him.

آيبون عابدون ساجدون لربنا حامدون،

He is the One Who fulfilled His promise and gave victory to His slaves,

صدق وعده، ونصر عبده

and He alone defeated the allied blasphemers.

وهزم الأحزاب وحده

Returning Home from the Hajj Trip our soul become fresh and get so much blessing.

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Source:darulfatwa.org.au

Tent city ready to welcome the guests of Allah

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Tent city ready to welcome the guests of Allah

MAKKAH — On Saturday (Dhul Hijjah 8), pilgrims will start moving to Mina, a tent city 5 kilometers to the east of Makkah, for the Day of Tarwiyah.

The Day of Tarwiyah, which marks the beginning of Haj rituals, means the day of fetching water and quenching the thirst.

The day traces its name to the fact that in the past when there was a scarcity of water in Mina, pilgrims used to fetch water and fill containers and feed their animals and make sure their camels had enough water.
About 30 government and private departments will be receiving the guests of Allah in Mina.

The tent city is ready to receive the pilgrims who will stay for three nights during which they will stone the Satan (devil) at the Jamrat area, shave their heads, change their ihrams and slaughter sacrificial animals.

Mina has 25 hospitals and health centers manned by about 26,000 medical cadres of doctors, nurses, technicians, and administrators to extend medical services to pilgrims.

Civil Defense units, the security forces, the Red Crescent Authority are also stationed in Mina to serve the pilgrims.

The last batch of the 717,000 pilgrims who visited Madinah before Haj arrived in Makkah on Thursday on board 119 buses.

According to the General Authority for Statistics, the exact number of pilgrims who came from abroad and inside would be announced on Monday evening.

The Ministry of Health has prevented buses carrying pilgrims from stopping at camel enclosures along the roads because of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

A number of pilgrims usually ask bus drivers to stop to take memorial photographs with the camels which have been tainted to be the main carriers of coronavirus.Tent city ready to welcome the guests of Allah.

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Source: saudigazette.com.sa

British Muslims gear up for Hajj

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ASPIRING British Muslims embarking on the upcoming Haj pilgrimage were given training on how to perform the rituals for the Journey of a Lifetime hosted by the Council of British Hajjis (CBHUK) in partnership with the London Central Mosque & Islamic Cultural Centre. The training was delivered by qualified scholars over a series of events hosted in towns and cities across the United Kingdom. Hundreds attended eagerly to learn about Haj with doctors and travel industry experts delivering health & safety advice too.

Dr. Ahmad Al Dubayan, director general of the London Central Mosque, urged pilgrims to learn the rituals of Haj so that they can gain maximum benefit from this act of worship as Haj touches peoples hearts and changes them for the better. He thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for hosting the pilgrims and services provided to them and the commitment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the development of the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah and Masjid Al Haram to accommodate the faithful. He lauded efforts by Lord Adam Patel in leading the British Haj delegations and welcomed a new era of support for British pilgrims in partnership with CBHUK.

Rashid Mogradia, CEO of the Council of British Hajjis (CBHUK), offered travel advice and how to stay safe during Haj. With millions performing various rituals of Haj at the same time at the same place, he stressed the importance of following instructions from the Tour Operators and Saudi officials on the ground for a smooth journey. The Council also offered health and safety advice preparing pilgrims for the Journey of a Lifetime. Mogradia thanked the Saudi Embassy in London for their continued help and support to British pilgrims and the Islamic Cultural Centre for a fruitful partnership in educating pilgrims.

The City of London Police offered Haj fraud prevention advice to pilgrims to book with reputable and licensed tour operators and asked the community to report unscrupulous tour operators and fraudsters to Action Fraud and Trading Standards so that the authorities could take action against them.
Haj is a journey of faith and one that every abled Muslim male and female, who has the financial means, is mature and sane must perform at least once in their lifetime. Around 19,000 British pilgrims are expected to travel to Makkah for Haj.

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Source: saudigazette.com.sa

No entry into Makkah without Haj permits

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No entry into Makkah without Haj permitssaudigazette.com.sa

No entry into Makkah without Haj permits

MAKKAH – The Haj Security Forces Command, represented by Road Security Forces Command, have started carrying out arrangements on use of vehicles in Makkah Province and the holy sites. They have also begun preventing people without Haj permits from entering Makkah. Such violators are turned away, apart from imposing penalties on those who try to circumvent the regulations and directives, Saudi Press Agency reported Sunday.

Statistics issued until last Friday (the day before yesterday) by the Road Security Forces Command showed that 70,000 people coming to Makkah without Haj permits were turned away. The Command confirmed that over 28,000 vehicles were sent back and impounded, as they violated the conditions for transporting pilgrims. These vehicles had a load of fewer than 25 passengers. Other vehicles fulfilled the load requirements, but the owners did not carry special permits for transporting pilgrims as required by the regulations. The Command stressed that penalties will be imposed on violating vehicles and their drivers, in line with the regulations and directives.

The Haj Security Forces Command stressed to all who have come to perform Haj that it is necessary to obtain the required permits. The Command will not be lenient with anyone. It emphasized that all must comply with the directives for transporting pilgrims by obtaining the necessary permits. It called on them to cooperate with the security men and enable them to carry out their duties. The Command said anyone who violates the directives would be liable to penalties, as stipulated by the regulations.

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The virtues of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah

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Dhul-Hijjah is the month of Hajj and it is the 12th month of the Islamic lunar year. It is during this month that the Hajj occurs. This month has got various virtues and particularly its first ten days.

“And remember Allah during the appointed Days. But whosoever hastens to leave in two days, there is no sin on him and whosoever stays on, there is no sin on him if his aim is to do good and obey Allah (fear Him), and know that you will surely be gathered unto Him.” (Al-Baqara: 203)

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are a special time for devotion. During these ten days, most of the Hajj rites occur. The 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah is the Day of Arafah, and the 10th day is Eid Al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice). Even for those who are not undertaking Hajj, the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are a special time to remember Allah and increase the worship and persist in doing good deeds. They are the days of virtue and righteous deeds. It is the opportunity to correct one’s faults and ask Allah for forgiveness.

Hadith:

The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah have been preferred by Allah over all the other days of the whole year. Moreover, Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” The people asked, “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah?” He said, “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing.” (Bukhari).

Quranic verses and Hadeeth indicate that the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are better than all the other days of the year. However,  the last ten days of Ramadan are considered better than them for they include Laylat al-Qadr (“the Night of Power”), which is better than a thousand months.
The virtue of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijja is based on many things. Allah himself swears an oath by them: “By the dawn; by the ten nights” (Al-Fajr 1,2)

Further, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) encouraged people to do righteous deeds due to the virtue of these days and the season during which they are situated (Hajj season). He commanded Muslims to recite a lot of Tasbeeh (“Subhan-Allaah”), Tahmeed (“Al-hamdu Lillaah”) and Takbeer (“Allahu akbar”) during these days.

Abdullah ibn Umar reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There are no days greater in the sight of Allah and in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so during this time recite a great deal of Tahleel (“La ilaaha ill-Allah”), Takbeer and Tahmeed.” (Reported by Ahmad, 7/224; Ahmad Shaakir stated that it is saheeh).

These ten days include the Day of Arafah (Yawm Arafaah), on which Allah perfected His Religion. Fasting on this day expiates the sins of two years. These days also include the Day of Sacrifice (Yawm al-Nahar).

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Source: go-makkah.com

Importance of Mina In Hajj

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Importance of Mina In Hajj

This question also relates to how to perform Hajj. As every Muslim who has a desire and ability to perform the hajj should know how to perform hajj, consequently must know the importance of staying at Mina.

This is really an important thing to know why Mina has got importance regarding performing the Hajj and what Hajjis (Pilgrims) do at Mina while performing Hajj. Here we have tried to sum up the story behind this and the covered some actual reality Muslims face in Mina from around the world.

Mina is the best-known place for the role it plays during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. More than a Hundred Thousand air-conditioned and Teflon-coated tents are provided for accommodation to Hujjaj (Pilgrims). The tents are constructed to withstand temperatures of up to 700 degrees Celsius. In the valley of Mina, there is a Jamarat Bridge, where Muslims perform the ritual of stoning the Devil i.e. Shaitan (Iblees).

The story behind stoning the Devil go backs to Prophet Ibrahim A.S when He A.S was going to slaughter his son Hazrat Ismail A.S to fulfill the order of Allah, the Iblees came in his way to make him convince not to scarify his son. However, Hazrat Ibrahim A.S didn’t bother the Devil and stoned him until the Iblees ran away.

Today Muslims of entire world practice the same in Mina, following the Prophet Hazrat Ibrahim A.S. He (A.S) tried to slaughter his son but Allah replace Ismail A.S neck with a sheep, Muslim also slaughter animals like sheep or goat to memorize His A.S scarifying in the way of Allah at the place of Mina, as it is one of the most important parts of the Hajj.

Usually, Muslims spends their first night in the Valley of Mina during the Hajj days. This ritual occurs from the eighth to the twelfth day of the Hajj i.e. Muslim must stay at least two days in Mina. However, at Mina, men and women are not allowed to sleep together.

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Source: hajjguides.com

Conditions for the person performing Hajj Badal

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There are conditions without which Hajj Badal might not be accepted:

The person appointed to perform Hajj Badal must be a sane Muslim.

While entering into Ihram, he should make intention on behalf of the person for whom he/she will perform Hajj Badal.

Hajj Badal must be performed by the appointed person only unless he has been authorized to get it done by another person. In this case, he/she can send some else in his/her place.

The appointed person who performs Hajj Badal should perform Hajj according to the desire of the person who sent him (Hajj Al-Tamattu, Hajj Al-Qiran).

He must put on Ihram only on behalf of the person who sent him and not for himself.

The person appointed for Hajj should not miss any imperative (Fard) part of it as no type of compensation renders Hajj Badal validly performed.

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Source: go-makkah.com