Many people wonder why we perform the rituals of Hajj in the way that we do. We know that they were prescribed by the Prophet ﷺ, and that our worship is to follow what he taught us, exactly as he taught it. At the same time, scholars throughout Islamic history have reflected on the deeper…
Umrah is a highly rewarded act of worship performed by entering the state of ihram, completing tawaf around the Kaʿbah, praying two rakʿahs, performing saʿi between Safa and Marwah, and finally trimming or shaving the hair. This guide is written to be practical, simple to follow, and based on mainstream Sunni fiqh. The pillars and…
The ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the best days of the year The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated in a Hadith: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” (Bukhari) These ten days of Dhul Hijjah are very special. Scholars have even…
Is my slate wiped clean when I go for Umrah or Hajj? It is a common perception that going for ʿUmrah or Ḥajj erases one’s sins, and this is indeed true to a great extent. Both acts are immense opportunities for purification and renewal, but there are important nuances to understand. Hajj as a purifier…
The call to Hajj In Surat al-Hajj, Allah Almighty says: وَأَذِّن فِی ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلۡحَجِّ یَأۡتُوكَ رِجَالࣰا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرࣲ یَأۡتِینَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِیق And announce the pilgrimage to mankind—they will come to you on foot and on every lean mount; they will come from every distant pathway, لِّيَشْهَدُوا مَنَافِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ فِي…
Can you perform Umrah or Tawaf on behalf of someone else? Can you perform Umrah or Tawaf on behalf of a loved one who has passed away or someone unable to go themselves? The answer is: yes, you can. Here’s what you need to know. Performing Umrah for someone else (Umrah Badal) You can…
Surat at-Tawbah is a Madani surah in which Allah talks about Hajj. Hajj was the last of the five pillars of Islam that Allah made obligatory: it was only mandated in the year 9 AH, compared to fasting and zakat in 2 AH, salah being made obligatory 18 months before Hijrah, and of course the…
Can women go to the mosque during their period? The question of whether women can attend the mosque during their menstrual periods is a topic of discussion among scholars. Different schools of thought have varying perspectives on this matter, and understanding these can help provide clarity on the issue. The Islamic perspective on menstruation In…
In Surat Ali Imran, Allah Almighty talks about the obligation of Hajj: إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَیۡتࣲ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِی بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكࣰا وَهُدࣰى لِّلۡعَـٰلَمِینَ The first house set up for the people is surely the one in Makkah, blessed and a guidance for all the worlds. [Ali Imran, 3:96] فِیهِ ءَایَـٰتُۢ بَیِّنَـٰتࣱ مَّقَامُ إِبۡرَ ٰهِیمَۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُۥ كَانَ…
The history of Hajj Hajj was the last of the five pillars to be made an obligation, around the year 7 or 8AH. In the year 9AH, Abu Bakr led the Hajj, and in the tenth year, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ made his final Hajj with the whole Ummah, which at the time was around…
Although I recommend people to follow their local community when it comes to fasting in Ramadan and celebrating Eid, I would not recommend anyone to fast on the day the Hajjis are celebrating Eid. The Ummah should unite during the days of Dhul Hijjah. We should show solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are…
Uncover the spiritual essence of Hajj and take a journey within. Shaykh Haytham Tamim explores the hidden meanings behind the time, place, and rituals of Hajj. With insights into the spiritual treasures, from the tawaf around the Ka’bah to the poignant standing on the plains of Arafat, he guides you to see how each moment…
Imam Ghazali who was a great theologian and usuli has written brilliantly about usul al fiqh, says 99% of rulings come with ‘ila’ – the explanation of the wisdom behind them, but there is 1% where we do not have the explanation. One of these is why we perform 7 tawaf. Allah Almighty did not…
Allah Almighty swears in the Quran: والفجر . وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ By the dawn and the ten nights. (89:1-2) In another verse, Allah Almighty says: The months of Hajj are well known. (2:197) Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) commented that these ten nights were the nights of Dhul Hijjah and the months of…
Allah Almighty mentioned in the Quran that Hajj is ‘a well-known month’, ashurhum malumaat: “Remember Allah (God) during the well-known days.” (2:197) There are three months which are considered holy, because they are months of hajj. It used to take 1-2 months to travel to reach Makkah, therefore hajjis had to leave for hajj long…