The Farewell Pilgrimage

When the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), completed the proclamation of the message, Makkah was conquered and people embraced Islam in multitudes, Allaah The Almighty enjoined the performance of pilgrimage at the end of the ninth year of Hijrah. So, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), resolved to perform Hajj and he declared his intention for that purpose. Therefore, a lot of people came to Al-Madeenah with the intention of accompanying the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), to perform Hajj when they heard the news.
On 25 Thul-Qa‘dah, 10th year of Hijrah, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), left Al-Madeenah in the afternoon and proceeded until he reached Thul-Hulayfah where he bathed for Ihraam, applied hair oil, and perfume, put on his Izaar and Ridaa’, and marked the camels he intended to offer a sacrifice, then he raised his voice with Talbiyah for performing both pilgrimage and ‘Umrah. He proceeded while making Talbiyah and saying: “Labbayka Allaahumma labbayk, Labbaykah laa shareeka laka labbayk. Innalhamda wanni‘mata laka walmulk, laa shareeka lak.” (O Allaah, here I am at Your service. There is no partner to be associated with You. Praise, graces, and dominion are Yours. There is no partner to be associated with You.)
When he was close to Makkah, he stopped at Thu Tuwa where he spent the night of Monday, 4th of Thul-Hijjah, and performed dawn prayer there, then he bathed and entered upper Makkah by day. When he entered the Sacred Mosque, he circumambulated the Ka‘bah and hastened between As-Safaa and Al-Marwah. He did not terminate his Ihraam because he intended to perform both Hajj and ‘Umrah and had brought the sacrificial animals along with him. He ordered those who did not bring sacrificial animals to intend their Ihraam to perform ‘Umrah, circumambulate the Ka‘bah, hasten between As-Safa and Al-Marwah and then terminate their Ihraam.
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The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) and his Companions stayed in Makkah for four days – from Sunday to Wednesday. In the forenoon, Thursday 8th of Thul-Hijjah, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), together with the Muslims headed for Mina where he performed Thuhr, ‘Asr, Maghrib, ‘Ishaa’ and Fajr prayers. He remained there until the sun had risen, and afterwards he ordered a hair tent to be pitched at Namirah, a place near ‘Arafaat, not a part of ‘Arafaat itself. The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), proceeded until he reached Namirah. When the sun reached its zenith, he ordered his she-camel, Al-Qaswaa’ to be saddled, and he rode to ‘Uranah valley where thousands of people gathered around him.
He gave a comprehensive Khutbah (sermon) in which he reminded those present of the foundations and rules of Islam, saying:
Your blood is unlawful beyond shedding and your properties are unlawful beyond prohibited seizure, in the same manner, this day is inviolable, in this month and in this country. All matters related to the pre-Islamic era are invalid, and there must not be retaliation for those who were killed in that era – this to be extended first to the case of the son of Rabee‘ah ibn Al-Haarith who was nursed in Banu Sa‘d and killed by Huthayl tribe. The usury of the pre-Islamic era is no longer valid– this to be applied first to the entire usury of ‘Abbas ibn ‘Abdul-Muttalib.
Fear Allaah The Almighty towards women, for you married them with a divine covenant to care for them and to be good husbands to them, and they became sexually lawful for you by virtue of the word of Allaah. Your wives must not permit anyone unfavorable to you in your houses. If they did, you are permitted to hit them lightly. Your wives are entitled to provision and clothing according to what is acceptable. I leave the Book of Allaah, the Quran, beyond which you will never go astray if you adhere to it. You will be asked about me, so how will you answer?
The people replied, ‘We testify that you have proclaimed the message perfectly and had a whole-hearted concern for our welfare.’ Therefore, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) raised his forefinger to the sky and beckoned to the people, saying:”O Allaah, witness! O Allaah, witness! O Allaah witness!”
Then, the calls for Athaan and Iqaamah were made, and the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), led Thuhr prayer, then Iqaamah was made again and he led ‘Asr prayer. He did not pray in between.
Afterwards, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), rode to the standing place of ‘Arafaat where he faced the direction of Qiblah and stood until sun set, and there Allaah The Almighty revealed to him the verse that says (what means): {This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.} [Quran 5:3]
When the sun set, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), departed from ‘Arafaat and let Usaamah ibn Zayd may Allaah be pleased with him ride behind him. He rushed off and ordered the Muslims to be tranquil until he reached Muzdalifah where he performed Maghrib and Ishaa’ prayers after one Athaan and two Iqaamahs had been made. He did not pray in between. He, then, slept till dawn and prayed Fajr early in the morning. He rode to Al-Mash‘ar Al-Haraam, a place in Al-Muzdalifah, where he faced the direction of the Qiblah and continued supplicating Allaah The Almighty, observing Takbeer and Tahleel and announcing the oneness of Allaah The Almighty. He stood there until the morning was bright. He went quickly to Mina before the sun rose while continuously making Talbiyah. He ordered Ibn ‘Abbaas may Allaah be pleased with him to pick up seven pebbles for him, and when he reached Mina he hurled seven pebbles at Jamratul-‘Aqabah making Takbeer each time he hurled a pebble.
Then, he gave an eloquent Khutbah in which he told people about the merits and inviolability of the Day of An-Nahr (slaughtering), the special inviolability attached to Makkah apart from other places, and he ordered them to listen and obey, learn the pilgrimage rites from him and to propagate his proclamations. Also, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), forbade them from turning to disbelief by killing one another.
Afterwards, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), left to the slaughtering place where he slaughtered sixty-three camels and ordered ‘Ali may Allaah be pleased with him to slaughter the rest of the hundred camels. Having completed the slaughtering, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), summoned the barber to shave his head, and then he divided the shaved hair among those who were around him.
After that, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), departed to Makkah while riding, performed Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah , prayed Thuhr prayer at Makkah, and then he returned to Mina on the same day and spent the night there. When it was morning, he waited until the sun was at its zenith and the noon was due, and at that time he went to the Jamaraat and started to hurl pebbles at the Al-Jamrah As-Sughra, then Al-Wusta and then Al-‘Aqabah, throwing seven pebbles at each Jamrah and making Takbeer each time he hurled a pebble. He did the same during the 11th, 12th and 13th of Thul-Hijjah. During these days, he stayed at Mina to perform rites, teach people the legislations of Islam, remember Allaah The Almighty, establish monotheism and obliterate the features of Shirk (polytheism).
On the 13th of Thul-Hijjah, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), rushed from Mina and stopped at the valley of Banu Kinaanah in Al-Abtah zone and stayed there for the rest of the day and the whole night. Then he prayed Thuhr, ‘Asr, Maghrib and ‘Ishaa’ prayers and took a nap after which he rode to the Ka‘bah, circumambulated it for farewell and then returned to Al-Madeenah.
Thus, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), finished his pilgrimage having explained its rites to the people and educated them about the Divine obligations to undertake therein and the violations that they should avoid. His was the pilgrimage of proclamation, the pilgrimage of Islam and the pilgrimage of farewell, after which he lived only a few months then passed away.

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Article by: www.islamweb.net

Haj – The journey of love

Haj - The journey of love

By Him whose House the loving Haj visit,
Responding with ihram at the appointed limit,
Uncovering their heads in total humility
Before One to Whom faces bow in servility.
They exclaim in the valleys,
“We have responded to You –
All Praise is Yours, and Kingdom too!”
He invited and they answered, with love and pleasure;
When they called upon Him, nearer came the Divine treasure.
You see them on their mounts, hair dusty and disheveled,
Yet never more content, never happier have they felt;
Leaving homelands and families due to holy yearning,
Unmoved are they by temptations of returning.
Through plains and valleys, from near and far,
Walking and riding, in submission to Allâh.

[At the Ka’bah]
When they see His House – that magnificent sight
For which the hearts of all creatures are set alight –
It seems they’ve never felt tired before,
For their discomfort and hardship is no more.
Now the eye of the Lover drowns in its streams,
It sees through its tears the goal of its dreams;
Now for Allâh, how many tears are issued?
Each one being followed by a multitude,
When the eye perceives the House, its darkness clears,
And from the sorrowful heart, pain disappears;
Vision cannot encompass this beautiful sight:
Each glance returns with greater delight!
No wonder at this, for when the Merciful preferred
The House for Himself, it became most honoured.
He clothed it in Majesty, a magnificent garment;
Embroidered it with Beauty, a wonderful ornament!
The hearts all love the House therefore,
Awed and humbled, in respect and honour.
Arafat
Now to ‘Arafat, hoping for Mercy and Forgiveness
From the One overflowing with Generosity and Kindness;
Now for Allâh is that Magnificent Standing
Like, though lesser than, the Day of Reckoning.
The Irresistible draws near, His Majesty manifest,
Boasting to His angels, for He is the Mightiest,

“My slaves have come to Me so lovingly,
I’ll be Generous and Merciful, willingly.
I have forgiven their sins, – to this you are witness –
Fulfilled their hopes, and showered them with goodness.”
So joyous news! O people of that standing,
When sins are forgiven and Mercy is spreading;
How many slaves are set completely free?
Whilst others seek a cure, and heal will He.
Now Satan is never known to lose such face:
He’s blameworthy, rejected, in utter disgrace.
For he sees a matter that enrage him must:
He flees, slaps his face and covers it in dust!
Such Forgiveness he never did see
As granted by the Lord, and such Mercy!
He built his edifice from every temptation available
Till he thought it was complete, unassailable;
Then Allâh struck his building at its very foundation,
So it fell upon him, tumbling in devastation;
What worth has his structure, this evil ploy,
That he does build, and the Lord does destroy?
[Muzdalifah and Mina]
Now to Muzdalifah, to spend the night
In the Sacred Area, then Prayer at first light;
Now on to the Great Pillar, which they need
To stone at the time of the Prayer of ‘Id;
Now to their tents for the sacrifice prepared,
Reviving the tradition of a Father revered.
If sacrificing themselves were Allâh’s demand,
They would respond, submitting to the command;
Just as they’d expose their necks in Jihad
To Allâh’s enemies, till these stream with blood;
They discipline themselves, presenting the head for a shave:
Bringing humility and happiness to the obedient slave.
[The Tawaf of Ifadah/Ziyarah]
So when they’ve removed those natural growths,
Completed their rites, and fulfilled their oaths,
He invites them again to visit His House:
What honour and welcome this visit allows!
By Allâh, they visit it in so much splendor,
Receiving their rewards and plenty of honour;
There Allâh bestows Grace, Favour and Kindness,
Showing Generosity, Mercy and Forgiveness.
[Mina]
Then they return to Mina, each to his tent,
Every minute wish is granted, and they are content;
They stay there a day, then another, then a third,
They’re allowed to depart early, but to stay is preferred;
They stone the pillars daily after the sun’s decline,
With a slogan of Takbir in the presence of the Divine!
If only you could see their standing there:
Palms outstretched, hoping for Mercy’s share!
“O Lord! O Lord! Knowing as You do
That we hope for no-one, only You!
Then grant our wish, O You All-Knowing,
We pray for Your Mercy overflowing.”
[The Farewell Tawaf]
When they’ve achieved at Mina all their gains,
Once more they fill the valleys and plains:
To the Ka’bah, the Sacred House, by the end of the day,
To circle it seven times, and then to Pray.
When departure nears and they are certain
That the bond of proximity is about to loosen,
There’s only a last stand for a final farewell:
Now for Allâh are the eyes that swell,
And for Allâh are the heavy hearts that turn
Into cauldrons of desire where fire does burn;
And the passionate sighs whose heat so vigorous
Nearly melts the Lover, ecstatic, rapturous!
Now you see those bewildered, perplexed in the throng,
Whilst others chant their sorrowful song:
“I depart, but there remains for You my yearning,
My fire of grief is raging and burning;
I bid farewell, but longing pulls my reins –
My heart is encamped in Your eternal plains!”
No blame today for saying what you feel:
No blame for expressing what you used to conceal!

Article by: en.islamway.net