The Rites of Pilgrimage

Abu Huraira told that God's messenger addressed them saying, “Pilgrimage (In what follows I have used the word "pilgrimage” where only the <i>hajj</i> is intended; but when reference is made to both <i>hajj</i> and <i>’umra</i> the Arabic words are used without translation to avoid misunderstanding.) has been ordained for you people, so perform it.” A man asked whether it should be performed annually, but God’s messenger gave no reply till he had asked the question three times. Then he said, “If I were to say that it should, it would be obligatory and you would not be able to perform it,” after which he said, “Leave me alone as long as I have said nothing to you, for your predecessors perished simply on account of their much questioning and their disagreement with their prophets. But when I command you to do anything, obey it as much as you can; and when I forbid you to do anything, leave it alone.” Muslim transmitted it.

He said that God’s messenger was asked what action was most excellent and replied that it was faith in God and His messenger. He was asked what came next and replied that it was jihad in God’s path. He was asked what came next and replied that it was a pilgrimage which was accepted. Bukhari and Muslim.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone performs the pilgrimage for God’s sake without talking immodestly or acting wickedly, he will return [free from sin] as on the day his mother bore him.” Bukhari and Muslim.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “An <i>'umra</i> is an expiation for sins committed between it and the next, but a hajj which is accepted will receive no less a reward than paradise.” Bukhari and Muslim.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “An <i>'umra</i> in Ramadan is equal to a <i>hajja</i>. ” (<i>hajj</i> is the word for the pilgrimage and <i>hajja</i> is a form indicating a single observance.) He told of the Prophet (ﷺ) meeting some riders at ar-Rauha’ (A place between thirty and forty miles from Medina on the way to Mecca) and asking who they were. They replied that they were Muslims and asked who he was. When he said that he was God's messenger a woman lifted up a boy to him and asked whether the child could be credited with having performed the pilgrimage, to which he replied, “Yes, and you will have a reward.” Muslim transmitted it.

He told of a woman of Khath'am saying, “Messenger of God, God’s ordinance that His servants should perform the pilgrimage has come when my father is a very old man and is unable to sit firmly on a camel. May I perform the pilgrimage on his behalf?” He replied that she might. That was at the Farewell Pilgrimage. Bukhari and Muslim.

He told of a man coming to the Prophet (ﷺ) and saying that his sister had taken a vow to make the pilgrimage, but had died. The Prophet (ﷺ) asked whether he would pay a debt, supposing she owed one, and when he replied that he would, he said, “Well, pay the debt due to God, for it is the one which most deserves to be paid.” Bukhari and Muslim.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “A man must not be alone with a woman, and a woman must travel only when accompanied by a man who is within the prohibited degrees.” A man said, “I have been enrolled for such and such an expedition, and my wife intends to go out to perform the pilgrimage.” He therefore told him to go and perform the pilgrimage along with his wife. Bukhari and Muslim.

‘Aisha said she asked the Prophet’s permission to take part in jihad, and he replied, “The <i>jihad</i> of you women is the pilgrimage.” Bukhari and Muslim.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “A woman must not make a journey of a day and a night unless she is accompanied by a man who is within the prohibited degrees.” Bukhari and Muslim.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that God’s messenger appointed the following places for putting on the <i>ihram</i>:

Dhul Hulaifa for the people of Medina, al- Juhfa for the people of Syria, Qarn al-Manazil for the people of Najd, and Yalamlam for the people of the Yemen ; so these spots are for these regions and for people of other regions who come to them intending to perform the <i>hajj</i> and the<i> ‘umra</i>. The place where those who live nearer to Mecca should put on the <i>ihram</i> (The pilgrim dress) is where they live, and so on and so on up to the inhabitants of Mecca itself who put on the <i>ihram</i> in it. Bukhari and Muslim.

Jabir reported God’s messenger as saying, “The place for the people of Medina to put on the <i>ihram</i> is Dhul Hulaifa, and on the other road al-Juha. For the people of al-Iraq it is Dhat ‘Irq, for the people of Najd it is Qarn, and for the people of the Yemen it is Yalamlam." Muslim transmitted it.

Anas said that God’s messenger performed the <i>'umra</i> four times, each of them Dhul Qa'da except the one which was combined with his <i>hajja</i>, one from al-Hudaibiya in Dhul Qa'da, one in the following year in Dhul Qa'da, one from al-Ji'rana where he divided the spoils of Hunain (The battle in which the Prophet (ﷺ) defeated Hawazin after the conquest of Mecca in 8 A.H) in Dhul Qa'da, and one along with his <i>hajja</i>. Bukhari and Muslim.

Al-Bara’ b. ‘Azib said that God’s messenger performed the <i>‘umra</i> twice in Dhul Qa'da before performing the <i>hajj</i>. Bukhari transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “God has prescribed the pilgrimage for you people." Al-Aqra' b. Habis then got up and asked whether it was to be performed annually, to which God’s messenger replied that if he were to tell them that it was, it would become obligatory, and if it did they would not keep it nor be able to do so, adding, “The pilgrimage should be performed once, and if anyone does it oftener he performs supererogatory act." Ahmad, Nasa'i and Darimi transmitted it.

‘All reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone possesses enough provision and a riding-beast to take him to God’s House and does not perform the pilgrimage, it does not matter whether he dies a Jew or Christian. That is because God who is blessed and exalted says, 'Pilgrimage to the House is a duty men owe to God, those who can afford the journey'. (Qur’an, 3:97). ” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a <i>gharib</i> tradition whose <i>isnad</i> is criticised, Hilal b. ‘Abdallah is unknown, and al- Harith is declared to be weak in tradition.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Islam does not allow for failure to perform the pilgrimage." Abu Dawud transmitted it. (The word used here is <i>sarura</i>. The meaning is strictly "one who does not perform the pilgrimage." It is explained as coming from <i>sarr</i> which indicates the act of confining, or withholding. Another meaning is abstinence from marriage, and the tradition is sometimes explained as meaning that Islam does not allow of celibacy; but while that is a possible interpretation it is not the appropriate one in this chapter).

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who intends to perform the pilgrimage should hasten to do so." Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud reported God’s messenger as saying, “Make the <i>hajj</i> and the <i>‘umra</i> follow one another closely, for they remove poverty and sins as a blacksmith’s bellows remove impurities from iron, gold and silver; and a <i>hajja</i> which is accepted gets no less a reward than paradise." Tirmidhi and Nasa'i transmitted it, and Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it from ‘Umar up to “from iron."

Ibn ‘Umar said that a man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and asked what makes it necessary for one to perform the pilgrimage. He replied, “Provisions and a riding-beast. ’ ’ Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.