Hajj: Difference between revisions
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It is narrated from Imam al-Sadiq (a): "If a person dies and does not perform hajj while there was no pressing need, severe illness, or any cruel ruler which may prevent him from performing it, he will die as a Jew or a Christian".<ref>Tahzib | It is narrated from Imam al-Sadiq (a): "If a person dies and does not perform hajj while there was no pressing need, severe illness, or any cruel ruler which may prevent him from performing it, he will die as a Jew or a Christian".<ref>''Tahzib al-ahkam'', vol. 5, p. 17.</ref> | ||
==Hajj on Bahalf== | |||
Hajj on behalf is the hajj performed on behalf of another person, whereas hajj for oneself is hajj accomplished for oneself. | |||
==Recommended Hajj== | |||
Hajj for oneself is further classified into two forms: obligatory hajj and recommended hajj. | |||
==Obligatory Hajj== | |||
The obligatory hajj becomes an obligation in itself according to the Islamic law, or it becomes obligatory because of nadhr or invalidation of previous hajj. | |||
==Types== | |||
For every kind of hajj, that is, ḥajjat al-Islam and hajj on behalf there are rulings and conditions. | |||
Obligatory hajj is further classified into three forms: | |||
* Al-Tamattu': is obligatory for a person whose homeland is located at a distance more than 90 km from the holy city of Mecca | |||
* Al-Ifrād, | |||
* Al-Qirān. | |||
Hajj al-ifrād and hajj al-qirān are obligatory for people who reside within the holy city of Mecca or those who are settled at a distance less than the aforementioned one. | |||
===Hajj al-Tamattu'=== | |||
Hajj al-tamattu' differs from hajj al-ifrād and hajj al-qirān with regard to rituals. | |||
The basic feature that distinguishes hajj al-tamattu' from hajj al-ifrād and hajj al-qirān is 'umra. Hajj al-tamattu' comprises two parts: 'umra and hajj. It starts with 'umra. A gap exists between 'umra and hajj during which the pilgrim comes out of [[iḥrām]] state and is allowed to [[al-tamattu']] (literally enjoy) things which are prohibited for a muḥrim (a person who is in state of iḥrām). Both 'umra al-tamattu' and hajj al-tamattu' should be performed in the same year. | |||
Hajj al-ifrād and al-qirān comprise only hajj rituals, and 'umra in these cases is considered an independent worship termed as 'umra al-mufrada. So, a person may perform 'umra al-mufrada in one year and hajj al-ifrād/al-qirān in another year. | |||
'Umra al-tamattu' and al-'umra al-mufrada have common rites and differences. | |||
Similar to hajj, 'umra is sometimes obligatory and other times it is mustaḥabb. | |||
In Islamic jurisprudential rulings, 'umra is obligatory once in life. If a person fulfills the required conditions of 'umra, he should perform it. Like hajj, it is obligatory for those who are mustaṭī' to perform 'umra as soon as possible. For those who reside in Mecca or its vicinity (not further than ninety km from Mecca), being mustaṭī' for hajj is separable from being mustaṭī' for 'umra. Therefore, if a person is mustaṭī' only for one of them, he should perform it as soon as possible. | |||
It is noteworthy to mention here that this rule is specific only for those who live in the holy city of Mecca or reside at a distance of less than ninety kilometers from the holy city of Mecca. With regard to the people living far from Mecca and their duty is to perform hajj al-tamattu', ability and qualification for hajj and 'umra is not separate from each other because hajj al-tamattu' includes 'umra al-tamattu' and hajj and both of them should be performed in the same year. | |||
It is not lawful for a person intending to perform hajj or 'umra to enter the Holy City of Mecca without iḥrām. And if he wants to enter in the Holy city of Mecca in days other than hajj season, it is obligatory for him to enter the Holy City with iḥrām of al-'umra al-mufrada. However, the following two groups are exempted from this commandment: | |||
* Those who frequently visit the holy city of Mecca for job/occupational purposes. | |||
* Those who have exited the Holy city of Mecca after performing the rites and acts of hajj/'umra and want to re-enter the holy city of Mecca during the same [lunar] month. | |||
The repetition of 'umra is recommended similar to repetition of hajj and there lies no particular gap limit between two 'umras. But, on cautionary terms one can perform only one 'umra for himself within a month. If he performs two 'umras on behalf of others or he performs one 'umra for himself and the second for another person, this caution is not necessary. Therefore, if he performs the second 'umra on behalf of another person, it is permissible for him to receive the wages of performing 'umra and 'umra al-mufrada will be sufficient for the performer whether it is obligatory or not. | |||
Revision as of 15:31, 28 October 2019
Importance
Hajj is one of the most integral pillars of Islam upon which Islam has been established. Imam Baqir (a) says "Islam has been established on the following five elements: prayer, zakat, fast, hajj and wilaya".[1]
Hajj holds immense virtue and abundant reward. Many traditions have been narrated from the Holy Prophet (s) and Ahl al-Bayt (a) on the merits of hajj. Imam al-Sadiq (a) says: "Those who perform hajj and 'umra form the delegation of Allah; if they beg Him, He will grant them; if they call upon Him, He will answer them; if they want to intercede for others, He will accept it; and if they keep quiet, He will speak on their behalf, and they will be compensated with a reward of one million dirhams for the expense of one dirham".[2]
In the light of many verses and hadiths, a person who has qualified for Hajj and is well aware that hajj is obligatory upon him and yet does not perform it has committed a major sin.
Allah Almighty says in the Holy Qur'an:
| “ | وَلِلّهِ علَیَ النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً وَ مَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ الله غَنِيّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ
Pilgrimage to the House is a duty imposed upon mankind by God for everyone who can afford a way to it. Anyone who disbelieves will find that God is Transcendent beyond any need of the Universe".[3] |
” |
It is narrated from Imam al-Sadiq (a): "If a person dies and does not perform hajj while there was no pressing need, severe illness, or any cruel ruler which may prevent him from performing it, he will die as a Jew or a Christian".[4]
Hajj on Bahalf
Hajj on behalf is the hajj performed on behalf of another person, whereas hajj for oneself is hajj accomplished for oneself.
Recommended Hajj
Hajj for oneself is further classified into two forms: obligatory hajj and recommended hajj.
Obligatory Hajj
The obligatory hajj becomes an obligation in itself according to the Islamic law, or it becomes obligatory because of nadhr or invalidation of previous hajj.
Types
For every kind of hajj, that is, ḥajjat al-Islam and hajj on behalf there are rulings and conditions.
Obligatory hajj is further classified into three forms:
- Al-Tamattu': is obligatory for a person whose homeland is located at a distance more than 90 km from the holy city of Mecca
- Al-Ifrād,
- Al-Qirān.
Hajj al-ifrād and hajj al-qirān are obligatory for people who reside within the holy city of Mecca or those who are settled at a distance less than the aforementioned one.
Hajj al-Tamattu'
Hajj al-tamattu' differs from hajj al-ifrād and hajj al-qirān with regard to rituals.
The basic feature that distinguishes hajj al-tamattu' from hajj al-ifrād and hajj al-qirān is 'umra. Hajj al-tamattu' comprises two parts: 'umra and hajj. It starts with 'umra. A gap exists between 'umra and hajj during which the pilgrim comes out of iḥrām state and is allowed to al-tamattu' (literally enjoy) things which are prohibited for a muḥrim (a person who is in state of iḥrām). Both 'umra al-tamattu' and hajj al-tamattu' should be performed in the same year.
Hajj al-ifrād and al-qirān comprise only hajj rituals, and 'umra in these cases is considered an independent worship termed as 'umra al-mufrada. So, a person may perform 'umra al-mufrada in one year and hajj al-ifrād/al-qirān in another year.
'Umra al-tamattu' and al-'umra al-mufrada have common rites and differences.
Similar to hajj, 'umra is sometimes obligatory and other times it is mustaḥabb.
In Islamic jurisprudential rulings, 'umra is obligatory once in life. If a person fulfills the required conditions of 'umra, he should perform it. Like hajj, it is obligatory for those who are mustaṭī' to perform 'umra as soon as possible. For those who reside in Mecca or its vicinity (not further than ninety km from Mecca), being mustaṭī' for hajj is separable from being mustaṭī' for 'umra. Therefore, if a person is mustaṭī' only for one of them, he should perform it as soon as possible.
It is noteworthy to mention here that this rule is specific only for those who live in the holy city of Mecca or reside at a distance of less than ninety kilometers from the holy city of Mecca. With regard to the people living far from Mecca and their duty is to perform hajj al-tamattu', ability and qualification for hajj and 'umra is not separate from each other because hajj al-tamattu' includes 'umra al-tamattu' and hajj and both of them should be performed in the same year.
It is not lawful for a person intending to perform hajj or 'umra to enter the Holy City of Mecca without iḥrām. And if he wants to enter in the Holy city of Mecca in days other than hajj season, it is obligatory for him to enter the Holy City with iḥrām of al-'umra al-mufrada. However, the following two groups are exempted from this commandment:
- Those who frequently visit the holy city of Mecca for job/occupational purposes.
- Those who have exited the Holy city of Mecca after performing the rites and acts of hajj/'umra and want to re-enter the holy city of Mecca during the same [lunar] month.
The repetition of 'umra is recommended similar to repetition of hajj and there lies no particular gap limit between two 'umras. But, on cautionary terms one can perform only one 'umra for himself within a month. If he performs two 'umras on behalf of others or he performs one 'umra for himself and the second for another person, this caution is not necessary. Therefore, if he performs the second 'umra on behalf of another person, it is permissible for him to receive the wages of performing 'umra and 'umra al-mufrada will be sufficient for the performer whether it is obligatory or not.