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Ibn Bazz: ( Part No : 5, Page No: 130) Unity of Muslims as one of the goals of Hajj Praise is due to Allah Who has made Al¬Bayt (the House: another name for the Ka`bah) a resort for mankind, a place of safety, and a guidance and blessing for all beings. Allah (Exalted be He) ordered His Servant and Messenger Ibrahim, the leader of those who worship none but Him and the father of all the prophets, to guide the people to Al¬Haqq (the Truth) and proclaim Hajj to them after designating for him the site of Al-Bayt so that they will come from every distant place to witness benefits for themselves and mention the Name of Allah on known days. I testify that there is no deity but Allah Alone Who has no partner, the Deity of earlier and later generations, Who has sent His Messengers and revealed His Books to establish proof and clarify that Allah (Glorified be He) is the Only One deserving worship and obedience, and that His Shari`ah (Islamic law) must be followed and anything which opposes it must be avoided. I testify that Muhammad is the Servant and Messenger of Allah, who was sent as a mercy to all beings and a proof against them. Allah (Exalted be He) sent him with guidance and the religion of truth to make it superior over all religions and ordered him to inform the people about their religious duties. The Prophet (peace be upon him), indeed, carried out his mission by word and deed; may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. The Prophet (peace be upon him) performed the Farewell Hajj and informed the people of the rituals of Hajj by what he did and said during it. He said to the people: Take your (Hajj) rituals from me, for perhaps I might not meet you after this year. Thus, he (peace be upon him) explained all the rituals of Hajj; its words and actions, by what he said and did. He (peace be upon him) conveyed the Message, fulfilled the trust, and engaged in Jihad (striving in the Cause of Allah) sincerely. When he died, his Rightly¬Guided Caliphs and Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet ¬ may Allah be pleased with them) ( Part No : 5, Page No: 131) followed his right path and clarified to the people this great Message by their words and deeds. They honestly conveyed to the people the Prophet's sayings and deeds; may Allah be pleased with them and grant them the best abode. One of the most wonderful goals of Hajj is to unite Muslims upon Al-Haqq (the Truth) and guide them to it so they will hold fast to the Din (religion) of Allah, worship Him Alone, and follow His Shar` (Law). For this reason, I thought of entitling this lecture "Uniting the word of Muslims upon Al¬Haqq is one of the goals of Hajj". There are several other goals of Hajj, and we will explain many of them In sha’a¬Allah (if Allah wills). To proceed: I thank Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) for this meeting with my brothers in Islam in the Literary Cultural Club of Makkah to cooperate in good and clarify many of the goals of Hajj to Al¬ Bayt so that the pilgrims would benefit from what Allah (Exalted be He) has ordained and know many of the rituals which they are unaware of. I thank those in charge of the Club, at the head of whom is the honorable brother Dr. Rashid Al¬ Rajih, the head of the Club, and the Director of Umm Al¬Qura University for inviting me to this event. I ask Allah to guide us all to that which pleases Him, to help those in charge of the Club to do all that is good and to make their efforts beneficial to Muslims, and to make us all among those guiding others and being guided by Allah and among the supporters of Al¬Haqq wherever we are. O brothers in Islam! Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) has prescribed Hajj for His Servants and made it the fifth Rukn (Pillar) of Islam for wisdom and several secrets and benefits. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) has referred to this in the following Ayah (Qur'anic verse), by saying: ( Part No : 5, Page No: 132) Say (O Muhammad صلى االله عليه وسلم): "Allâh has spoken the truth; follow the religion of Ibrâhîm (Abraham) Hanîfa (Islâmic Monotheism, i.e. he used to worship Allâh Alone), and he was not of Al¬Mushrikûn " (See V.2:105) Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing, and a guidance for Al¬‘Alamîn (mankind and jinn). In it are manifest signs (for example), the Maqâm (place) of Ibrâhîm (Abraham); whosoever enters it, he attains security. And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka‘bah ) is a duty that mankind owes to Allâh, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence); and whoever disbelieves [i.e. denies Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah), then he is a disbeliever of Allâh], then Allâh stands not in need of any of the ‘ Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists). Thus, Allah (Exalted be He) has shown that Al¬Bayt was the first place appointed on earth to worship Him and draw closer to Him by doing that which pleases Him. It was authentically reported inthe Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al¬Bukhari and Muslim)¬ as narrated by Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: I said: O Messenger of Allah! Tell me about the first Masjid (mosque) that was constructed on earth. He replied: Al¬Masjid Al¬Haram (the Sacred Mosque in Makkah). I said: Then which was next? He answered: Al¬Masjid Al¬Aqsa (the Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem). I asked: How long was the space of time between them (i.e. between their construction)? He answered: Forty years. I asked: Then which was next? He said: Wherever you may be and the Salah (Prayer) time becomes due, perform Salah there, for it (the earth) is a Masjid for you. The Prophet (peace be upon him) has shown that the first place of worship appointed to mankind was Al¬Masjid Al¬Haram, which has been constructed for the purpose of worshipping Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) and drawing closer to Him as stated by scholars. In fact, there were other places that were designated for habitation, not for worship, obedience, and drawing closer to Allah by the sayings and deeds which please Him. The next place of worship was Al¬Masjid Al¬Aqsa, which was built by the grandson of Prophet Ibrahim, that is, Ya`qub ibn Ishaq ibn Ibrahim (peace be upon them). The Masjid was reconstructed after a long period of time by Prophet Sulayman (peace be upon him). After this, all the earth was declared to be a place of worship. The third Masjid was Al¬Masjid Al¬Nabawy (the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah), which was constructed by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) when he immigrated to Madinah with his Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) and said that it is the best Masjid after Al¬Masjid A l-Haram. Thus, there are three superior Masjids, the greatest and best of which is Al¬Masjid Al¬Haram, then Al¬Masjid Al¬Nabawy, and finally ( Part No : 5, Page No: 133) Al¬Masjid Al¬Aqsa. Offering Salah in these three Masjids gives double rewards. It is reported in a Sahih (authentic) Hadith: Offering Salah in Al¬Masjid Al-Haram is equal to (offering) a hundred thousand Salah. It is also reported about Al¬Masjid Al¬Nabawy: Salah in the Prophet's Masjid is better than one thousand Salah in any other Masjid. It is also reported that Salah in Al¬Masjid Al¬Aqsa is equal to five hundred Salah. These are the greatest and best Masjids; the Masjids of the prophets (peace be upon them). Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) has prescribed Hajj for His Servants because of its great benefits. The Prophet (peace be upon him) told us that Hajj is obligatory for the Servants who are Mukallaf (meeting the conditions to be held legally accountable for their actions) and can afford its expenses. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka‘bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allâh, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence) The Prophet (peace be upon him) delivered a Khutbah (sermon), saying: O people, Allah has made Hajj obligatory for you; so perform Hajj. He was asked: O Messenger of Allah! (Is it to be performed) every year? He (peace be upon him) said: The obligatory Hajj is (to be performed) only once. If anyone performs it more (than once after the first obligatory one), they perform a supererogatory act. Thus, Hajj is a Faridah (obligatory act) that must be performed only once during one's lifetime. It is obligatory for Muslims, males and females, who are Mukallaf and can afford its expenses. It is considered a Nafilah (a supererogatory act of worship) and an act of drawing closer to Allah (Exalted be He) for whoever has performed it once and performs it more times. The honorable Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The (performance of) `Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) is a Kaffarah (expiation) of the sins committed (between it and the previous one). And the reward of Hajj, which is Mabrur (accepted), is nothing except Jannah (Paradise). This applies to Hajj and `Umrah which are Faridah and Nafilah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Whoever comes to this Bayt (i.e. to perform Hajj) and does not approach his wife for sexual relations nor commits sins (while performing Hajj) will return as sinless as a newborn baby. In another narration, he said: Whoever performs Hajj to this Bayt and does not approach his wife for sexual relations nor commits sins (while performing Hajj) will return as sinless as a newborn baby. This indicates the great merit of Hajj and `Umrah, for the performance of `Umrah is a Kaffarah of the sins committed between it and the previous one and the reward of Hajj, which is Mabrur, is nothing except Jannah. Believers must hasten to perform this Faridah of Hajj ( Part No : 5, Page No: 134) wherever they are and whenever they are able to afford its expenses. If they perform Hajj one time or more, then it is to be counted as a Nafilah and not as a Faridah, but it still has a great merit. It is reported in a Sahih Hadith: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was asked: What is the best deed? He replied: To believe in Allah and His Messenger. He was asked: What is the next (in goodness)? He (peace be upon him) replied: To participate in Jihad. He was then asked: What is the next (in goodness)? He replied: To perform Hajj which is Mabrur. (Agreed upon by Al¬Bukhari and Muslim) The Prophet (peace be upon him) performed the Farewell Hajj and prescribed for the people the rituals of Hajj by what he said and did. He (peace be upon him) also delivered a wonderful Khutbah on the Day of `Arafah (9th of Dhul¬Hijjah) in which he reminded the people of Allah's Rights and of Tawhid (monotheism). He told them that everything pertaining to Jahiliyyah (pre¬Islamic time of ignorance) was abolished, that Riba (usury) was abolished, and that revenge of Jahiliyyah was abolished. He advised them to hold fast to the Qur'an and the Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet), assuring them that they would never be led astray if they hold fast to them. He explained many other issues, among which were husbands' and wives' rights. He, then, said: You are going to be asked about me, so what shall you say? They said: We testify that you have advised us, fulfilled (the trust), and conveyed (the Message). Whereupon he (peace be upon him) kept raising his finger to the sky then pointing to the earth, saying: O Allah! Bear witness to this. O Allah! Bear witness to this. Peace be upon him! Definitely, the Prophet (peace be upon him) conveyed the Message and fulfilled the trust perfectly and completely. We testify to this as the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) testified to this. He (peace be upon him) explained the rituals of Hajj by what he did and said while performing the Farewell Hajj. He left Madinah at the end of Dhul-Qi`dah, 10 A.H. and assumed Ihram (ritual state for Hajj and `Umrah) to perform Qiran Hajj (combining Hajj and `Umrah simultaneously) from Dhul¬Hulayfah. He took the Hady (sacrificial animal offered by pilgrims) with him and arrived at Makkah in the morning of the fourth day of Dhul¬Hijjah. He kept saying Talbiyah (devotional expressions chanted at certain times during Hajj and `Umrah) from the Miqat (site for entering the ritual state for Hajj and `Umrah) in Dhul¬Hulayfah as follows: Here I am at Your service O Allah, Here I am. Here I am at Your service, You have no partner, Here I am. Yours alone is all praise and all bounty, and Yours alone is the Sovereignty. You have no partner after declaring the intention of performing Hajj and `Umrah. He (peace be upon him) gave his Sahabah in Dhul¬Hulayfah the option to choose between the three rites; some of them ( Part No : 5, Page No: 135) said Talbiyah for `Umrah and some others said Talbiyah for both Hajj and `Umrah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to say Talbiyah out loud and so did his Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them). He kept saying the Talbiyah until he reached the Ka`bah. He showed the people the Adhkar (invocations and Remembrances) and Du`a' (supplication) which they must say while performing Tawaf (circumambulation around Al¬Ka`bah) and Sa`y (going between Safa and Marwah during Hajj and `Umrah) and while being in `Arafat, Muzdalifah, and Mina. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) pointed this out in the Qur'an by saying: There is no sin on you if you seek the Bounty of your Lord (during pilgrimage by trading). Then when you leave ‘ Arafât, remember Allâh (by glorifying His Praises, i.e. prayers and invocations) at the Mash‘ar¬il¬Harâm . And remember Him (by invoking Allâh for all good.) as He has guided you, and verily, you were, before, of those who were astray. Then depart from the place whence all the people depart and ask Allâh for His Forgiveness. Truly, Allâh is Oft¬Forgiving, Most-Merciful. until His Saying: And remember Allâh 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 Hence, Adhkar is one of the benefits mentioned in the following Ayah: That they may witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e. reward of Hajj in the Hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade), and mention the Name of Allâh on appointed days (i.e. 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th day of Dhul¬Hijjah) Referring to Adhkar after the benefits is a way of specifying the general. It is reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said: Verily, Tawaf around the Ka`bah, Sa`y between Safa and Marwah, and throwing Jamrat (stone pillars at which pebbles are thrown during Hajj, Jamrat¬ul¬`Aqabah being the closest to Makkah) are all ordained to remember Allah. It has been prescribed for people to mention the Name of Allah when slaughtering Hady ¬ as stated in the Qur'an ¬ and also to say Adhkar when throwing the Jamrat. Hence, all the rituals of Hajj are remembrances of Allah, whether by words or actions. Hajj is remembrance of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) and an invitation to adhere to Tawhid and to hold fast to Allah's Religion and to what He revealed to His Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him). Thus, the greatest goal of Hajj is to guide the people to Tawhid, to be sincere to Allah, and to follow A l¬Haqq and guidance as revealed to His Messenger (peace be upon him), not only during Hajj but at all times and in all places. Talbiyah is the first ritual a person performs during Hajj and ( Part No : 5, Page No: 136) `Umrah saying: O Allah, here I am at Your service! Here I am. Here I am at Your service, You have no partner, Here I am. This Talbiyah declares one's belief in Tawhid and sincerity to Allah Who has no partner. In Tawaf, Allah (Exalted be He) is remembered, glorified, and worshipped by performing Tawaf only for His Sake. The same applies to performing Sa`y, shaving the head, shortening the hair, and slaughtering Hady and Ud¬hiyah (sacrificial animal offered by non¬pilgrims), which are all performed for the Sake of Allah Alone. Also, Adhkar said in `Arafat, Muzdalifah, and Mina are all remembrances of Allah, Tawhid, an invitation to Al¬Haqq, and a way of guiding the servants to the obligation of worshipping Allah Alone and cooperating and enjoining one another to do so, since they come from every distant place to witness benefits for themselves. There are many benefits but Allah (Exalted be He) mentioned them collectively in the Ayah and detailed them in many situations. One of these benefits is Tawaf, which is a great act of `Ibadah (worship) and one of the means for the expiation of sins and atonement for misdeeds. Other benefits are the Adhkar and Du`a' which are said while performing Sa`y, in `Arafat, as well as in Muzdalifah. Also, slaughtering Hady and throwing Jamrat entail saying Adhkar and Takbir (saying: "Allahu Akbar [Allah is the Greatest]") and glorifying Allah. All the rituals of Hajj entail remembering Allah and invite Muslims to be one body and structure following Al¬ Haqq and adhering and inviting to it sincerely to Allah (Glorified be He) in all their sayings and actions. They come to these blessed lands just for the sake of drawing closer to Allah, worshipping Him, and seeking His Forgiveness and deliverance from the Fire. Definitely, Hajj unites hearts and gathers them to obey Allah (Exalted be He), be sincere to Him, follow His Shari`ah, and abide by His orders and prohibitions. That is why Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing, and a guidance for Al¬‘Alamîn (mankind and jinn). Allah (Exalted be He) has told us that Al¬Bayt is full of blessings as evidenced by the great good and rewards granted to its visitors when they perform Tawaf, Sa`y and other rituals of Hajj and `Umrah and by the fact that sins are expiated, rewards are doubled, and ranks are raised. Furthermore, Allah (Exalted be He) forgives the sins of the sincere and truthful visitors ( Part No : 5, Page No: 137) and admits them into Jannah as a grace and a bounty from Him, if they are sincere to Him, adhere to His Commands, and abstain from having sexual relations (with their wives) and committing sins. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Whoever performs Hajj and does not have sexual relations (with their wives) nor commits sins (during Hajj) will return (as sinless) as a newborn baby. This denotes that it is not permissible to have sexual relations before Tahallul (removal of the ritual state for Hajj and `Umrah) or to say or commit anything calling to this as it is not permissible to commit sins, whether verbally or practically. Also, one must refrain from engaging in disputes except for the sake of achieving goodness. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: The Hajj (pilgrimage) is (in) the well¬known (lunar year) months (i.e. the 10th month, the 11th month and the first ten days of the 12th month of the Islâmic calendar, i.e. two months and ten days). So whosoever intends to perform Hajj therein (by assuming Ihrâm), then he should not have sexual relations (with his wife), nor commit sin, nor dispute unjustly during the Hajj. In fact, all the rituals of Hajj represent an invitation to obey Allah (Exalted be He) and His Messenger (peace be upon him), to glorify and remember Allah, to abstain from committing sins, and to refrain from engaging in disputes which cause enmity and division among the Muslims. Disputing gently for the sake of achieving goodness is required in every place and at all times. Allah (Exalted be He) says: Invite (mankind, O Muhammad صلى االله عليه و سلم) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islâm) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Revelation and the Qur’ân) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. This is how Da`wah (calling to Islam) should be approached at all times and in all places, whether in the Ka`bah or elsewhere. When calling others, a Da`y (caller to Islam) must use wisdom, which is knowledge of what Allah (Exalted be He) and His Messenger has ordained, and fair preaching; and must not be harsh or hurt people. It is permissible to engage in a dispute in a way that is better whenever it is necessary to remove doubts and explain Al¬Haqq. However, one must engage in a dispute using kind words and useful good techniques, which remove doubts and guide to Al¬Haqq without any aggression. In fact, pilgrims are in dire need to receive Da`wah and to be guided to what is good and helped to adhere to Al¬Haqq. Coming from all over the world, meeting with others, and discussing religious duties and what Allah has prescribed, definitely, represent a wonderful means to achieve unity, adhere to the Din of Allah, come to know others, and cooperate in righteousness and piety. Thus, Hajj has great benefits ( Part No : 5, Page No: 138) and much good; it includes calling to Allah (Exalted be He), teaching, guiding, meeting others, and cooperating in righteousness and piety by words or actions. It is prescribed for those who perform Hajj and `Umrah to cooperate with each other in righteousness and piety, advise each other, be keen on obeying Allah (Exalted be He) and His Messenger (peace be upon him), and exert themselves in doing all that brings them closer to Allah (Exalted be He) and takes them away from what He has prohibited. The greatest duties which Allah (Exalted be He) has ordained are Tawhid and sincere worship of Him everywhere and at all times, especially in this blessed place. Accordingly, it is obligatory to worship Allah Alone at all times and in all places and it is more obligatory to worship Him Alone in this blessed place. All sayings and deeds in Tawaf, Sa`y, Du`a' and other rituals of Hajj must be dedicated to Allah Alone. Special care should be taken with regard to refraining from disobeying Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) and being unjust to people and harming them either by words or actions. A believer cares about helping his brothers in Islam, treating them kindly, guiding them to what is good, and explaining to them the matters which they might be unaware of regarding Allah's Shar`. They must beware of harming others or wronging their lives, property, and honor. Muslims are brothers and must not wrong, despise, or let each other down; rather, they must love what is good and hate what is bad for each other, wherever they are, especially in the Ka`bah and its safe Haram (all areas within the Sacred Sanctuary of Makkah) and the city of the Messenger (peace be upon him). Allah has, indeed, made the Haram safe from everything which may evoke the people's fear. Therefore, Muslims must be keen on being sincere and honest with each other by exchanging advice and guidance, and must not cheat, deceive, or hurt each other whether by sayings or actions. Allah (Exalted be He) says: And (remember) when We made the House (the Ka‘bah at Makkah) a place of resort for mankind and a place of safety. He (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: Have We not established for them a secure sanctuary (Makkah), to which are brought fruits of all kinds, a provision from Ourselves ( Part No : 5, Page No: 139) The Believers should be keen to have this safety and be kind to each other, guiding and helping each other in that which benefits their lives and Din, and assisting each other to perform the rituals of Hajj. They should be keen on avoiding all sins which Allah (Exalted be He) has prohibited like hurting others, which is a grievous sin and is more grievous and more deserving of punishment and bad end when it is committed with those who perform Hajj or `Umrah in the Ka`bah. In short, Hajj and `Umrah are two great rituals and acts of worship, which render much good, several benefits, and good consequences for all Muslims worldwide. Muslims are gathered to offer the Five Obligatory Daily Prayers in congregation, each in their country, to know and advise each other and cooperate in righteousness and piety, but during Hajj Muslims from all over the world are gathered in one place. If there is much good in the Five Obligatory Daily Prayers in which the Muslims gather five times a day, we will find much good in Hajj which takes place once every year. Accordingly, calling people to goodness is more obligatory during Hajj, because pilgrims come from distant places and it might be the first and only time to meet their brothers. Likewise, women are required to exert themselves to guide their Muslim sisters to what Allah (Exalted be He) has taught them. Hence, men must guide pilgrims who come to Al¬Bayt and to visit the Messenger's Masjid. Women should guide her brothers and sisters performing Hajj and `Umrah by telling them what she knows. This is what Muslims should do during Hajj and `Umrah; they should cooperate with each other, recommend one another to hold fast to Al-Haqq, guide to all that is good, and prevent harm wherever those performing Hajj or `Umrah are present, whether in Al¬Masjid Al¬ Haram or outside it, and during Tawaf, Sa`y, throwing Jamrat, and all rituals of Hajj. Each person should be keen on bringing all that benefits their brothers and keeping harm away from them all over the country and during all rituals of Hajj, hoping for Allah's reward. They must be aware of the consequences of being unjust and harmful to others. This is implied by the following Ayah: Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing, and a guidance for Al¬‘Alamîn (mankind and jinn). ( Part No : 5, Page No: 140) It is full of blessings and guidance to all beings because of the much good granted to the visitors of Al¬Bayt when they perform Tawaf and Sa`y and say Talbiyah and Adhkar, which guide them to Tawhid and obedience of Allah (Exalted be He). Thus, they are guided to Al¬Haqq by virtue of the fact that they come to know each other and meet and advise each other. That is why it is described as full of blessings and guidance because it brings blessings and much good to its visitors by means of Talbiyah, Adhkar, and acts of obedience that inform the Servants of their Lord and Tawhid and remind them of their duties towards Him and His Messenger (peace be upon him) and towards those performing Hajj and `Umrah, regarding advising them, cooperating with them, recommending them to hold fast to Al¬Haqq, comforting the poor, supporting those who have been wronged, suppressing the oppressors, and offering help in all charitable ways of disposition. Those performing Hajj and `Umrah must prepare themselves to be useful to their brothers and be keen on doing good and preventing evil. Each of them is responsible for carrying out what Allah (Exalted be He) has entrusted them with, each according to their means. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: So keep your duty to Allâh and fear Him as much as you can I ask Allah (Exalted be He) with His Most Beautiful Names and Attributes to guide all Muslims to that which pleases Him and benefits His Servants and to guide those performing Hajj and `Umrah to beneficial matters and salvation! May Allah guide them to what makes their Hajj and `Umrah accepted and to all good for their Religion and life! I also ask Allah to grant all pilgrims safe return to their homelands, being guided and having benefited from their Hajj in a way that saves them from the Fire, admits them into Jannah, and urges them to hold fast to Al¬Haqq wherever they are. I ask Allah to guide our rulers ( Part No : 5, Page No: 141) to all that is good and to help pilgrims to carry out the rituals of Hajj in a way that pleases Him. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has indeed carried out many projects that help pilgrims to perform their rituals and feel secure in the Haram. May Allah reward the concerned authorities the best and double their rewards. Definitely, pilgrims must avoid all harm or disturbing things such as engaging in demonstrations and misleading calls that annoy and harm other pilgrims, in addition to other kinds of harms from which pilgrims must beware of. We already explained that a pilgrim is obligated to benefit their brothers and to be keen on facilitating the rituals of Hajj for them by not harming them whether they are on the way or elsewhere. I also ask Him to grant the Saudi government success and to help it to provide all that benefits pilgrims and facilitates carrying out their rituals and to bless its efforts. May Allah guide those in charge of Hajj to provide all that facilitates pilgrims' affairs and help them to carry out the rituals of Hajj perfectly! I ask Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) to guide all Muslim rulers everywhere to whatever pleases Him, to set right their hearts and deeds, to guide their retinue, and to help them to rule according to Shari`ah. We seek refuge with Allah from following whims and delusive temptations, for He is indeed All Bountiful and Generous. May peace and blessings of Allah be upon His Servant and Messenger, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family, Companions, and those who followed them rightfully!
Ibn Bazz: ( Part No : 7, Page No: 213) Responsibilities of the Seekers of Knowledge All praise is due to Allah. We praise Allah, seek His Help, ask Him for forgiveness, and seek refuge with Allah from the evil of ourselves and the wickedness of our misdeeds. Whoever Allah guides, none can mislead, and whoever Allah leaves astray, none can guide. I testify that there is no deity but Allah Alone, with no partner or associate, and I testify that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger. Peace and blessings be upon him, his family and Companions, and those who rightly follow him. O you who believe! Fear Allâh (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islâm [as Muslims (with complete submission to Allâh)]. O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwâ (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women; and fear Allâh through Whom you demand (your mutual rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allâh is Ever an All¬Watcher over you. O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allâh and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth. He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allâh and His Messenger (صلى االله عليه وسلم), he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e. he will be saved from the Hell¬fire and will be admitted to Paradise). My brothers in Islam and honorable sons, I thank Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) for allowing me to attend this meeting and ask Him (Glorified be He) to ( Part No : 7, Page No: 214) make it a blessed meeting, benefit us all from it, correct our deeds and hearts, and to guide us all to the Right Path. Allah’s Blessings are countless and His Favor is endless, as He is the Giver of every blessing. Allah (may He be Praised) says: And whatever of blessings and good things you have, it is from Allâh. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) also says: and if you count the Blessings of Allâh, never will you be able to count them. We thank Allah (Glorified be He) and ask Him to bestow more of His Favor upon us, you, and all Muslims everywhere. Dear brothers in Islam and dear sons, you have heard the title of this talk: "The Responsibility of the Seekers of Knowledge towards Society." This is an important matter, as the responsibility of the seekers of knowledge is great, and it varies according to the amount of knowledge, the need of people for it, and their ability and capacity. The seekers of knowledge have a responsibility towards themselves; to prepare themselves for education, Da‘wah (calling to Islam), and fulfillment of obligations. As to knowledge, they must pay attention it, comprehend the Din (religion of Islam), review the Shar‘y (Islamic legal) proofs, and dedicate attention to them. Seekers of knowledge need to have a vast stock of Shar‘y proofs and knowledge of the scholars’ opinions, their points of difference, and the preponderant views on controversial issues, supported by evidence from Allah’s Book and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), without Taqlid (strictly following a specific School of Jurisprudence). Taqlid is something anyone can do, it does not take scholarship. Imam Abu ‘Umar ibn‘Abdul¬Bar, the well¬known scholar and the author of: "Al¬Tamhid" and other books, said, ( Part No : 7, Page No: 215) "There is Ijma‘ (consensus of scholars) that those who adhere to Taqlid are not considered as being scholars." Seekers of knowledge have a big supposed responsibility. They have to pay attention to the juristic proofs and struggle to learn the relevant evidence on the issues and rulings from the Qur’an and the Purified Sunnah; and be conversant with the founded principles. They should rely on clear evidence closely related to scholarly views. This knowledge of scholarly views will help them to understand the proofs, extract rulings, and distinguish between the preponderant and the unlikely opinions. They also have a responsibility to be sincere to Allah (Glorified be He) and always mindful of Him. Their sought¬after goal must be to please Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He), to discharge their obligations and to benefit people without seeking worldly gain or reward. These are only the pursuits of the hypocrites and their like. Their aim should not be Riya’ (showing¬off) or reputation, but to benefit Allah’s Servants and please Allah above all. They should be sure of the evidence on which they base their words, actions and Fatwa (legal opinion issued by a qualified Muslim scholar). It is not permissible for them to be lax, because people follow their examples in their behavior and actions. If they are teachers, their students will imitate them; if they are Muftis (Islamic scholars qualified to issue legal opinions), the people will act upon their Fatwas; if they are Du‘ah (callers to Islam), the matter will be very serious; and if they are judges, the matter will be even more serious. It is obligatory on seekers of knowledge to have a position that is well pleasing to their Lord; a position that is characterized by sincerity to Allah, true pursuit of His Pleasure, and unlimited care to learn the Shar‘y evidence, and search after them until they find them. ( Part No : 7, Page No: 216) In this way, the world will be open to them and they will be able to issue Fatwa, invite people to Islam, and teach people, and enjoin the good and forbid the wrong with insight. As Allah (Exalted be He) says: Say (O Muhammad صلى االله عليه و سلم): "This is my way; I invite unto Allâh (i.e. to the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism) with sure knowledge Insightherehasbeeninterpretedasknowledge. Those who do not have insight cannot be considered among the people of knowledge and they do not benefit the people by their Da‘wah or other matters related to the Din; I mean with real fruitful benefits. Although they may benefit people with the advice that they give, an issue that they have learned, or by providing a material benefit. The real benefit from the seekers of knowledge is conditional upon their truthfulness, sincerity, amount of knowledge, depth of understanding, and their patience and perseverance. Another important issue is the responsibility of seekers of knowledge to convey their knowledge and teach people, as the scholars are the heirs and successors of the Messengers. The Messengers enjoyed a high rank; they were the leaders who guided Ummah (nation based on one creed), and they were the reasons for its happiness and success. The scholars took over this duty after the Messengers and assumed their role in conveying the Message and teaching. The Seal of the Messengers was Muhammad (peace be upon him), and so it only remains now for the scholars to convey and explain the Shari‘ah that Muhammad (peace be upon him) brought and to spread it among people. But this is only confined to those scholars whom Allah has qualified for this role. They are callers to good and leader to the people through their words, deeds, and their outward and inner behavior. Their duty is serious and they are exposed to great danger. They are responsible for the Ummah, and ( Part No : 7, Page No: 217) it is in great need of receiving the Message and having it clarified by all possible ways. There are many ways available nowadays, including written, verbal, and visual media, which all have enormous effect on misguidance or guidance of people, as do the Khutbahs (sermons) on Fridays, ‘Eid (feast day), occasions, seminars, various festivals. They can all have a serious effect, as can independent articles, books, and letters. All praise be to Allah, there are many easy ways that can be utilized today, but the problem is that the students are weak, inactive, avoiding, and negligent; this is the great calamity. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allâh (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands firm (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allâh’s (Islâmic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims." There is no one in the world whose speech is better than theirs; at their head are the noble Messengers and Prophets (peace be upon them all) and then scholars after them. The more they have of the knowledge, Taqwa (fearing Allah as He should be feared), awe, and sincerity to Allah (may He be Praised), the greater is the benefit, and the more perfect is their conveyance of the Message from Allah and His Messenger. The weaker is the Taqwa, knowledge, fear of Allah, or preoccupation with worldly concerns and desires, the less is the knowledge attained and the good achieved. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: Say (O Muhammad صلى االله عليه و سلم): "This is my way; I invite unto Allâh (i.e. to the Oneness of Allâh ¬ Islâmic Monotheism) with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (also must invite others to Allâh i.e. totheOnenessofAllâh¬IslâmicMonotheismwithsureknowledge). Allah(mayHebePraised)explainsthatthemission of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was Da‘wah to Allah with insight and sure knowledge. ( Part No : 7, Page No: 218) Allah commanded the Prophet (peace be upon him) to inform this to the people, telling him what means: Say O Messenger to the people: This is my way i.e. the way I follow, the Shari‘ah; this way of my speaking and acting is my path, my Manhaj (methodology) and way to Allah. It is obligatory on scholars to follow the way of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), which is Da‘wah to Allah with insight and sure knowledge, as that was his way and that of his followers. A Servant cannot be considered as a true follower of the Prophet unless they follow his way completely. If anyone invites people to Islam with sure knowledge and insight, refutes Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship), abides by the truth, they will be considered as a follower of the Prophet (peace be upon him). This is why Allah afterwards says: And Glorified and Exalted be Allâh (above all that they associate as partners with Him). And I am not of the Mushrikûn (polytheists, pagans, idolaters and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh; those who worship others along with Allâh or set up rivals or partners to Allâh)." A Da‘y (caller to Islam) who is truthful in their Da‘wah is someone who follows the Messenger with insight and sure knowledge and does not lie or speak about Allah (Exalted be He) without knowledge or describe Him with qualities that do not become Him (may He be Praised). They describe Allah with His Perfect Attributes, show that He is unlike any of His Creation, and testify sincerely to Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allah/ monotheism), and refute Shirk and those who practice it. It is obligatory on a Da‘y to be a sincere believer in Tawhid, abide by Allah’s Shari‘ah, and not compare Allah to His Creation, but to describe Him (may He be Praised) with the Attributes that He and His Prophet (peace be upon him) attributed to Him. They should declare Him to be far exalted above any imperfection or inability, and confirm the Divine Names and Lofty Attributes that He (Glorified and Exalted be He) mentioned in His Glorious Book or reported through the Sunnah of His Truth-Telling Prophet ( Part No : 7, Page No: 219) (peace be upon him) in a way that befits His Majesty, without Tamthil (likening Allah’s Attributes to those of His Creation), and exalting Him far above everything without Ta‘til (denial of Allah’s Attributes). True Servants fully confirm all Allah’s Names and Attributes, without Tamthil or Tashbih (comparison), and declare Him to be non¬comparable to any of His creatures in all His Attributes without any Ta‘til. They describe Allah with the Divine Names and Attributes mentioned in the Book and the authentic Sunnah, without Tahrif (distortion of the meaning), Ta‘til, Takyif (questioning Allah’s Attributes), Tamthil, or any addition or deletion. These are the true followers of the Messengers, not the Mubtadi‘ (those who introduce innovations in religion). They follow the upright Manhaj that was pursued by the Messengers and their followers in righteousness, at the head of whom was Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), his Sahabah (Companions, may Allah be pleased with them), and their followers in righteousness, at the head of whom were the well¬known Imams (initiators of the Schools of Jurisprudence) after the Sahabah, such as Imam Malik ibn Anas, Imam Muhammad ibn Idris Al¬Shafi‘y, Imam Abu Hanifah Al-Nu‘man ibn Thabit, Imam Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hanbal, Imam Al¬Awza‘y, Imam Sufyan Al¬Thawry, Imam Ishaq ibn Rahawyah, and other the Imams of knowledge and guidance who followed the upright course of confirming the Names and Attributes of Allah and describing Allah as being unlike His Creatures. Students of knowledge should be very careful not to conceal anything that they learn; they should be careful to explain the truth and answer back the opponents of Islam. They should not show laxity or seclude themselves; they should always be conspicuous in public, as much far as they can, so whenever the opponents of Islam appear, casting doubts and claims, they step forward to refute them in writing or in speaking, or by other means. ( Part No : 7, Page No: 220) They should not be indifferent or simply view it as other people’s responsibility, but rather say, "I am the one to do it." They should deal with issues themselves, even if there are other Imams, for fear that the issue would be neglected. They are always ready and do not seclude themselves. They appear at the appropriate moment to defend Al¬Haqq (the Truth) and answer the opponents of Islam in writing or others means, such as through the radio, newspapers, television, or other possible ways. They should not conceal their knowledge, instead they should write, give Khutbahs and talks, and reply to the Mubtadi‘ and other opponents of Islam, with the strength that Allah gave them, according to their knowledge and the means that Allah provides. Allah (Exalted be He) says: Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidence and the guidance, which We have sent down, after We have made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allâh and cursed by the cursers. Except those who repent and do righteous deeds, and openly declare (the truth which they concealed). These, I will accept their repentance. And I am the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful. We should pause to contemplate these two great Ayahs (Qur’anic verses). Allah warns us against concealing knowledge, and threatens and curses anyone who does so. He then shows that there is no escape from this threat and this curse, except through Tawbah (repentance to Allah) for past negligence and sins, correction of the wrong that can be corrected in and by oneself, and declaring the knowledge they have concealed for worldly gain or as a false interpretation. When guidance is given, no Tawbah shall be accepted except by this declaration, and no deliverance secured except by this Tawbah which comprises regret for any past negligence ( Part No : 7, Page No: 221) or sins that were committed, and the sin to be avoided through fear of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) and His Punishment. The third condition is that there should be a true determination never to do it again. This should be declared along with correction, otherwise they may repent and people may not know that they have repented. But when they make it known to people, they will have acquitted their responsibility and their Tawbah will be valid. There is another duty on the part of the students of knowledge first before Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He), and then before their bothers, colleagues, and society; that they must be mindful and fearful of Allah in all their actions. As soon as they learn anything, they should hasten and apply it at once; they should not be lax, but must put into practice what they learn. Learning is a must and practicing what we learn is also a must. The seekers of knowledge call themselves to account for their actions all the time, and exert their best to apply Allah’s Rulings to themselves. They regard the Wajib (obligatory) as obligatory for them to do and the Mustahab (desirable) as desirable for them to do, to be a living example of the knowledge they have in their morals, deeds, life, studying circles, sermons, travels, and residence, on land, sea or air; in fact everywhere. This is important not only for themselves, but to others, such as their brothers, colleagues, and students, to impart their knowledge to them through words and actions. This was the way of our Prophet’s Da‘wah; perfect preaching through words and actions. His life was the best of all lives, his words were the best after those of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He), and his manners were the best of all manners. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: And Verily, you (O Muhammad صلى االله عليه وسلم) are on an exalted (standard of) character. His manners were those of the Qur’an, as‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) described him. The Prophet (peace be upon him) complied with the Qur’anic commands and prohibitions, practiced the morals it preaches, and took warning from its parables, great stories, and he (peace be upon him) invited the people to the same. ( Part No : 7, Page No: 222) The scholars have to emulate Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in his great morals and be faithful to Allah in their words and deeds. They have to convey Allah’s Commands and Prohibitions, and enjoin the good and forbid the evil as far as they can. They should also advise the rulers and guide them. Similarly, they should also advise their families, neighbors, the rest of their society, and all people by all possible means, as far as they can. It is not permissible for them to be lax in these matters, especially in our time, due to the lack of scholars, and the spread of evil, depravity, and Munkar (that which is unacceptable or disapproved of by Islamic law and Muslims of sound intellect) all over the world, in Islamic countries and others. Every one endowed with insight can discern the great evils spread in this time through the radio, television, newspapers, and books that invite people to the Fire. These diverse armies that are inviting people to the Fire need to be resisted by equally powerful armies; in fact they need to be stronger than the armies that are driven by the enemies of Islam. All these various dangerous means are driven and spread by the enemies of Islam against Muslims and non¬Muslims, to destroy and lead them to the Fire. They aim to draw them into their hateful way of life and bad morals, so that they together become the dwellers of the Fire, because this is what their leader wants. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: Surely, Shaitân (Satan) is an enemy to you, so take (treat) him as an enemy. He only invites his Hizb (followers) that they may become the dwellers of the blazing Fire. ( Part No : 7, Page No: 223) So the seekers of knowledge should not withdraw, saying, "I refer all matters to Allah," no, they have duties to perform, for they must convey the Message, explain it and invite people to it. Our Lord (Exalted be He) says: Invite (mankind, O Muhammad صلى االله عليه و سلم) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islâm) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine RevelationandtheQur’ân)andfairpreaching,andarguewiththeminawaythatisbetter. AndAllah(GlorifiedandExalted be He) says: but invite them to your Lord Allah (may He be Praised) commanded the Messenger (peace be upon him) to invite people to His Way. This command is addressed to us all, and not only to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Any command addressed to the Prophet (peace be upon him), is not only for him, but for all of us and for all the scholars, except when it is specified by evidence that it was confined to him alone. O Servant of Allah! You should shun laziness and seclusion. You have to convey Allah’s Command to His Servants. You also have to advise those that you can, anywhere you can. You should advise the leader, scholar, judge, and authorities in your village, town, tribe, and everywhere you can; you should contact people in a good manner and advise and direct them to the good in the best ways. Cooperate with them in righteousness and piety through sermons and reminders, using good words, gently and not aggressively. You should also cooperate with the leaders of the country and ministers in discharging their responsibilities, and with judges, Du‘ah, and with all your brothers in Islam. This is the way that the seekers of knowledge must act, according to the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him), ( Part No : 7, Page No: 224) “The Din is sincerity.” They said, “To whom, O Messenger of Allah?” He (peace be upon him) answered, “To Allah, His Book, His Messenger, and the Imams (leaders) of Muslims and their common people.” (Related by Muslim in his "Sahih [Book of Authentic Hadith]")It is also reported in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al¬Bukhari and Muslim)on the authority of Jarir ibn ‘Abdullah Al¬Bajaly (may Allah be pleased with him) who said, “I gave the pledge of allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) to perform Salah (Prayer), pay Zakah (obligatory charity), and be sincere to every Muslim.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said, “May Allah give splendor and bliss to a person who hears something from us (i.e. the Prophet) and conveys it exactly as they have heard it. Maybe the recipient will understand it better than the one who heard it.” According to another narration, “Maybe the bearer of knowledge is not versed in it.” And in another narration, “Maybethebearerofknowledgeconveysittoonewhoismoreknowledgeablethantheyare.” ItisreportedthattheProphet (peace be upon him) said in a Khutbah, “Let those present inform those who are absent; maybe the recipient will understanditbetterthantheonewhoheardit.” Peoplewillremaingoodaslongastheycooperatewithoneanother in righteousness and piety ¬ with their kings, Emirs, judges, Du‘ah, and with all Muslims ¬ but must take good care to do it kindly, gently, and wisely. It is narrated in the Sahih that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Anyone who is deprived of kindness is deprived of all good.” (Related the Sahihon the authority of Jarir ibn ‘ Abdullah and ‘ Aishah [may Allah be pleased with them both]) According to another narration on the authority of ‘ Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) in a Hadith Marfu‘ (a Hadith narrated from the Prophet with a connected or disconnected chain of narration), the Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to say, “Allah is Kind and loves kindness, and He grants (reward) for kindness what He does not grant for hardness and what He does not grant for anything else.” The Messenger (peace be upon him) is reported to sayin the Sahih, “Kindness does not become a part of anything without adorning it, and is not withdrawn from anything without marring it.” It is enough in this regard to quote Allah’s Saying: ( Part No : 7, Page No: 225) Invite (mankind, O Muhammad صلى االله عليه و سلم) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islâm) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Revelation andtheQur’ân)andfairpreaching,andarguewiththeminawaythatisbetter. Allah(GlorifiedandExaltedbeHe)says: And by the Mercy of Allâh, you dealt with them gently. And had you been severe and harsh¬hearted, they would have broken away from about you In the story of Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) and Harun (Aaron, peace be upon him), when Allah sent them to Firawn (Pharoah), He (may He be Praised) instructed them saying: "And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear (Allâh)." I ask Allah, by His Divine Names and Attributes, to guide us, you, and all Muslims to what pleases Him, and to guide us all to His Straight Path. May He provide us all with beneficial knowledge and help us act upon it and follow the proprieties of the Shari‘ah and the great morals that Allah praised His Prophet (peace be upon him) for having. Let us remember the Prophet’s words: “Anyone who pursues a path seeking knowledge, Allah will thereby make easy for them a path to Paradise.” Seeking knowledge and comprehension of the Din are both great matters. We should also remember the Messenger’ words: “If Allah wants good for a person, He makes them comprehendtheDin.” (RelatedbytheTwoShaykhs,i.e.Al-BukhariandMuslim,fromtheHadithnarratedonthe authority of Mu‘awiyah [may Allah be pleased with him]) This great Hadith guides us to understand that comprehension of the Din is a sign indicative of Allah wanting good for a Servant, while those who do not comprehend the Din are forsaken and Allah does not want good for them. There is no might or power except with Allah! May Allah (Glorified be He) guide us all to what pleases Him and make us die as Muslims. ( Part No : 7, Page No: 226) May Allah reform all the conditions of the Muslims everywhere, make those in charge of them the best of them, correct their leaders, increase the number of Du‘ah to guidance, bless them all and everywhere with comprehension of the Din and to abide by the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). And Allah knows best! May Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon Prophet Muhammad!
( Part No : 7, Page No: 213) Responsibilities of the Seekers of Knowledge