The Definition of Hajj, Its Ruling, and the Wisdom of Its Legislation

The First Topic

The Definition of Hajj, Its Ruling, and the Wisdom of Its Legislation

Hajj in the language: intention.

In Islamic law: going to Makkah and the sacred sites to perform a specific act at a specific time.

Its ruling: an obligation once in a lifetime, due immediately. Whoever meets its conditions of obligation and has no impediment, then delays it beyond the first year in which he was able, sins by delaying.

The evidence for its obligation: The obligation of Hajj is established by the Book, the Sunnah, and consensus.

From the Qur’an: His saying, exalted be He: ﴿وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ حِجُّ ٱلۡبَيۡتِ مَنِ ٱسۡتَطَاعَ إِلَيۡهِ سَبِيلٗاۚ﴾ [And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House—for whoever is able to find a way to it. And whoever disbelieves—then indeed, Allah is free of need of the worlds.] (Aal 'Imran 97)

From the Sunnah: the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) addressed us

and said: “O people, Allah has prescribed Hajj upon you, so perform Hajj.” A man said, “Every year, O Messenger of Allah?” He remained silent until the man had said it three times; then the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Had I said yes, it would have become obligatory, and you would not have been able.” Then he said, “Leave me as long as I leave you; those before you perished only because of their excessive questioning and their disagreement with their prophets. If I command you to do something, do whatever you are able to do, and if I forbid you from something, leave it.” (1)

And the ummah has reached consensus: on the obligation of Hajj upon whoever is able, once in a lifetime. (2) The wisdom behind Allah's creating the creation, sending the messengers, revealing the books, and legislating the laws is: the tawhid of Allah and sincerely worshipping Him alone, without partner. This is manifest and evident in the worship of Hajj; the purpose of legislating Hajj upon the servants is the tawhid of Allah and sincerely worshipping Him, without associating anything with Him, glorified be He. The motto of Hajj is: [Here I am, O Allah, here I am; here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Indeed, all praise, grace, and dominion belong to You; You have no partner.]

—worshipping Him alone, who has no partner. Whoever directs worship to other than Allah has associated a partner with Allah; all humans and jinn must therefore direct every act of worship to Allah.

Allah Most High said: ﴿وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ﴾ [And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.] (Adh-Dhariyat 56) and His saying, exalted be He: ﴿إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغۡفِرُ أَن يُشۡرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغۡفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُۚ وَمَن يُشۡرِكۡ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱفۡتَرَىٰٓ إِثۡمًا عَظِيمًا﴾ [Indeed, Allah does not forgive that partners be associated with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And whoever associates partners with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.] (An-Nisa 48) and His saying, glorified be He: ﴿وَقَالَ ٱلۡمَسِيحُ يَٰبَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمۡۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يُشۡرِكۡ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدۡ حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ وَمَأۡوَىٰهُ ٱلنَّارُۖ وَمَا لِلظَّٰلِمِينَ مِنۡ أَنصَارٖ﴾ [They have certainly disbelieved who say, “Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary,” while the Messiah said, “O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.” Indeed, whoever associates partners with Allah—Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are no helpers for the wrongdoers.] (Al-Ma'idah 72)

Worship (‘ibadah): an inclusive name for everything Allah loves and is pleased with, of outward and inward words and deeds, such as prayer, zakah, fasting, Hajj, supplication, reverence, fear, hope, turning to Him in repentance, reliance upon Him, seeking aid and provision, and other forms of worship.