Hajj Accepted by Allah

There are many hadiths that speak about the virtues of Hajj and affirm that sins are forgiven after a Hajj that is accepted by Allah. However, it should be emphasized that pilgrims should continue to obey Allah and His Messenger after Hajj.

The belief that pilgrims will enter Paradise regardless of the sins they commit after Hajj is a misconception. This misconception is quite popular; it should therefore be corrected.

As mentioned earlier, the Arabic term Hajj mabroor  means a Hajj that was accepted by Almighty Allah. Such Hajj is free from sins, during and after it. If pilgrims returned to their homes in a state better than their state before they went to Hajj, then this would be a sign that their Hajj was accepted. Another sign is pilgrims’ refraining from committing sins after Hajj.

While Ibn `Umar was on his deathbed, his son reminded him of all the good deeds he did along with the Prophet and his Companions. Ibn `Umar told his son, “Quiet! Don’t you know whom Allah accepts from? Verily, Allah accepts only from those who have taqwa [piety and fear of Allah].”

Ready to go to Makkah for Hajj, `Ali ibn Al-Husayn wore his attire of ihram and mounted his camel. Suddenly, the color of his face changed and its skin shivered.

As he started to cry, he was unable to intone the Talbiyah [Hajj prayer: Here I am at Your service, O Allah; here I am]. Someone asked him, “What’s wrong?”

`Ali ibn Al-Husayn said, “I am afraid that if I recite it [i.e. the Talbiyah], I will be answered, ‘May your call not be answered, and may happiness not be your reward.'”

With that spirit, let’s visit the House of Allah in pursuit of His mercy and forgiveness.

Special Experience

I recall that during my hajj some sad incidents occurred at the place where pilgrims stone the Jamarat. It was before the time of Zhuhr Prayer, and I had been sitting since early morning, waiting for the time of Zhuhr Prayer to fling my pebbles.

About 30 minutes before Zhuhr Prayer, throngs of people toppled us like dominoes. I went through a really tough situation together with other pilgrims. Yet on my way back to the Ka`bah, I found a place with shady trees and a carpeted patio leading to a villa. The owner, an old man, stood watching all those who passed by; and I sat watching him.

People would go to him and ask him for water. He would hurry and bring them cold water, so people would sincerely pray for him. I felt that their prayers were sincere and heartfelt, because I felt as thirsty as they were.

Whenever the old man saw sick people, he would hasten on to the road and invite them in and provide them with food and a bed so that they would relax.

At first, I was embarrassed to ask for anything, but later I realized that I was thirsty, so I asked him for water. I had been in that patio for some time, and when I asked him for water, he realized that he had not offered me anything.

He hastened on to the inside, and in addition to water, he brought me some fruit juice boxes. As I made my way back to the Ka`bah, I thought about this man: If a human being can be so merciful to those who came for Hajj, then how vast is the mercy of Almighty Allah for those pilgrims?

The Prophet is reported to have said, “The reward for a Hajj mabroor is nothing but Paradise” (Authenticated by Al-Albani).