Millions of pilgrims from all over the world will not be able to reach Makkah while reciting the hymn of Hajj (Labbaik)
ByDr. Mohammad Najeeb Qasmi
At the beginning of the month of Dhu al-Qaeda, the Saudi government has announced that only limited number of people from different countries living in Saudi Arabia will be allowed to perform Hajj this year (1441-2020) with all precautionary measures for their safety and integrity. The decision has come under the current pandemic situation. So, Zuyoof-ur-Rehman (Hajj Pilgrims) from all over the world will not be able to perform Hajj in 2020.
Like Salah, Fasting and Zakat, Hajj is an important pillar of Islam. It is obligatory once in a lifetime for every person to whom Allah has given so much wealth that he can travel from his home to Makkah and can bear the expenses of his family till his return. Allaah says: “Pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah,- those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of His creatures" (Surah Al-Imran 97)
The restriction on performing Umrah since March and the non-performance of Hajj by pilgrims from abroad this year would have cost the Saudi government and the Saudi people billions of riyals. For the past few years, about 2.5 to 3 million pilgrims have been performing the Hajj, and the number of those performing Umrah in Ramadan is much higher. The Saudi government has lifted the three-month lockdown across the country due to the corona epidemic, even lifted the ban on sports from June 21, although the Masjid Al-Haram (Mecca) has not yet been opened to the public.
The Ka'bah (House of Allah), located in the middle of the Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah, is the first house established by Allah on earth for mankind. “Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Makkah - bessing and guidance for the worlds.” (Surah Al-Imran, verse 96) And this is the Qiblah of Muslims till the Day of Judgment. It was first built by angels before the birth of Adam (peace be upon him). The construction by Hazrat Adam (PBUH) and Hazrat Sheesh (AS) is also mentioned in some books. About four thousand years ago, Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) along with his son Hazrat Ismail (AS) rebuilt the Kaaba. The construction of the house by Hazrat Ibrahim (peace be upon him) is of special importance which has been mentioned in the Holy Quran وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ (Surat al-Baqarah: 127) And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ismail, [saying], "Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing.
The greatness of this holy house can be gauged from the fact that Allah Almighty has made the Ka'bah, which is a very sacred house, a source of peace for the people, ie, as long as the Ka'bah remains honorable, the Hour will not come. Before the last hour, the House of Allah will be lifted, as the divine command says: جَعَلَ اللَّهُ الْكَعْبَةَ الْبَيْتَ الْحَرَامَ قِيَامًا لِلنَّاسِ (Allah has made the Ka'bah, the Sacred House, standing for the people.)
Just as Tawaaf of Bait-ul-Allah (House of Kaaba) is performed in the world, there is the house of Allah in the heavens which is called Bait-ul-Ma'mour, the angels do tawaaf it all the time. Concerning this house, Allaah says in the Holy Qur'aan: وَالْبَيْتِ الْمَعْمُورِ (Surat at-Tur, verse 4) And [by] the frequented House. When the Holy Prophet (SAW) was taken to Bait-ul-Ma'mour on the night of Ascension, the Holy Prophet (SAW) asked Gabriel (AS) what is this? Hazrat Gabriel said that this is Bait-ul-Ma’amour, everyday, seventy thousand angels do tawaaf it daily, then their turn will not come again till the Day of Resurrection. This hadith is found in the famous books of hadith. According to the narration of Tabari, Bait-ul-Ma'mour is in the sky just above Bait-ul-Allah (the Ka'bah).
The months of Hajj have been started. The whole month of Shawwal has come to an end and Dhu al-Qaeda has begun. But this year, millions of pilgrims from all over the world will not be able to reach Mecca while reciting the hymn of Hajj. Millions of pilgrims used to leave the worldly ornaments and adornments to pay homage to the fifth most important pillar of Islam and reach the holy shrines (Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah) in love of Allah. They used to associate themselves with the great sacrifices of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ishmael (AS). This is why Hajj is called romantic worship because every action of the Hajj drips madness and madness. Hajj is a very significant act of worship in the sense that it consists of three aspects at the same time, spiritual, financial and physical. This feature is not found in any other form of worship. The special importance of this fifth pillar of Islam "Hajj" has been mentioned in the Qur'an and Hadith. Thus, on one occasion, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: Whoever performs Hajj merely for the sake of Allaah and does not commit any vain thing or sin during it, he returns (cleansed) as on the day of birth from the womb. (pure). (Bukhari and Muslim)
Tawaf, Umrah and Hajj of this holy house have been performed since the existence of this world and this process will continue till the Baitullah is taken to the heavens before the Day of Resurrection. Of course, in some cases the performance of Hajj had been stopped. But it is clear from hadith mentioned in Sahih Bukhari and other books, that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The Hour will not come until the Hajj to the House of Allaah is stopped.” Stopping Hajj or stopping the pilgrims is not a good sign in any case, for whatever reason. May Allah protect us all, Amen.
[Dr. Mohammad Najeeb Qasmi is an Islamic scholar. He can be reached on his Mobile # 0091-7017905326 or contacted on his email at najeebqasmi@gmail.com. His WhatsApp No. is 00966-508237446]