Allah, The Almighty, gave the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) perfect moral values. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) therefore fulfilled all the requirements of ideal benevolence and successful leadership. People came to him with open hearts. They raced to perform the Hajj with him when they learned of his intention to perform this important pillar of Islam. Everyone wanted to accompany him and be under his banner. Thus, some one hundred thousand pilgrims performed the Hajj with him. [Muslim] They all were desirous of following his example and of having first-hand knowledge from him. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) left a profound impression on their souls. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) gave them the best guidance and for them he was an exemplary leader. In fact, he sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) was the greatest leader and inspirer the world had ever seen. Following are just a few examples in this regard:
i) His Modesty
Modesty is one of the attributes of good conduct for which Allah rewards His servants. Abu Hurayrah may Allah be pleased with him narrated, "Allah will elevate those who worship Him in humility." [Ibn Maajah] Modesty in fact, was an order from Allah to the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ). Allah Says (what means): {….And lower your wing to the believers who follow you.} [Quran 26:215] Thus, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) obeyed Allah, and attained an unsurpassable degree of modesty. This was seen during his Hajj on different occasions:
He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) refused to receive any special treatment as he insisted on drinking from the same basin as everybody else, although people were dipping their hands into the water. "I don't want it," he sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said when they offered to bring him clean water, "Give me some of the water that people are drinking." [Al-Bukhari]
He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) also allowed Usaamah ibn Zayd may Allah be pleased with him to ride behind him in public from 'Arafah to Muzdalifah. [Muslim]
He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) stopped to listen to a woman from the public to answer her question. [Muslim]
ii) His Mercy
During the Hajj, the Prophet's sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) mercy for the people can be seen on many occasions:
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) ordered those who did not offer Hady to end their state of Ihraam completely; this would permit them to have sex with their wives, to be dressed in their normal clothes, and to wear perfume. This was an act of mercy for the nation and alleviation of their burden. [Muslim]
He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) combined ‘Asr (afternoon) and Thuhr (noon) prayers at 'Arafah [Al-Bukhari], and delayed his prayers when he performed Ifaadhah (moved) to Muzdalifah, [Al-Bukhari], thereby making it easier for the people to perform the rituals. Indeed, it would have been difficult for the pilgrims to dismount and unpack several times. In so doing, the pilgrims were able to halt their camels and put their belongings at the same spot where they spent the night.
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) gave permission to the weak to perform Ifaadhah, (to leave) from Muzdalifah ahead of the rest of the pilgrims at night, right after the moon had set. Thus, they were able to perform their rituals easily and comfortably on Slaughter Day before the others. [Al-Bukhari]
At the time when pilgrims went to spend the night in Mina, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) permitted his uncle Al-'Abbaas may Allah be pleased with him to stay in Makkah to continue providing people with drinking water. [At-Tirmithi]
Further, he sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) allowed shepherds to cast their Jimaar (pebbles) in one day instead of two after Slaughter Day. [Muslim]
Being merciful to his people, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) would sometimes perform the rituals in a less favorable manner than they should ideally be performed. For example, he sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) performed Tawaaf on his camel back and touched the Black Stone with a stick instead of kissing it or touching it with his hand. He did not perform Tawaaf or Sa'y on foot, which would have been better because he did not want people to be turned away or get hurt in his presence. [Muslim]
iii) His Magnanimity
The good deeds of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) as leader of the pilgrims during the Hajj were countless and evident for all around. Here are just few examples:
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) was so generous in giving alms and charities, that he gave away the one hundred badanas (sacrificial camels)—including their meat, hides and coverings. [Muslim] He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) also donated in other charities on many occasions. [Al-Bukhari]
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) was so kind to the weak that he mentioned them in his exhortations. [Ahmad]
Committed to saving his people, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) invoked Allah at 'Arafah and Muzdalifah, to accept them and to forgive them their sins. [Ahmad] When asked by a pilgrim to invoke Allah on his behalf, he offered a general invocation and said, "May Allah forgive you all." [At-Tirmithi]
He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) spoke clearly and repeatedly to the pilgrims, giving them general information but without going into details. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) dealt with the fundamentals of Islam, explained the grave sins and clarified some principles so that people would better understand them. [Al-Bukhari]
iv) His Patience
During his Hajj, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) showed all of the three types of patience simultaneously. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) was most enduring in obeying Allah's Commands and offering sacrifices. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) did it in complete relaxation, tranquility and submissiveness to Allah. [Al-Bukhari]
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) was a most religious, most knowledgeable and most observant of Allah's limits and never transgressed them. The patience and endurance he sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) exhibited when he led the pilgrims without any sign of complaint or resentment is indeed commendable.
v) His Responsibilities
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) was keen on perfecting submission and surrender to Allah, and on performing the Hajj rituals perfectly. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) was the leader of the pilgrims and in charge of their general unity and welfare. Additionally, he was the educator and guide of these massive crowds, teaching them good and warning them against evil. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) was doing his utmost to convey his message and to explain Islamic rulings in a perfect manner.
vi) His Leniency
The Prophet's sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) leniency during the Hajj is exemplified on different occasions:
He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) took shelter in the shade and moved between the scared sites on camel back. Had he done otherwise, it would have been difficult for the Muslims to follow his example. [Muslim]
He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) also appeared publicly during the Hajj, so pilgrims had no difficulty in following in his footsteps and asking his opinion about whatever problems they had. [Abu Daawood]
He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) made matters easier for pilgrims, and never asked them to do anything beyond their capacity, whether in performing the rituals or in leading them and shouldering the responsibility for them. [Al-Bukhari]
Moreover, he sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) did not come near the Ka'bah after the Tawaaf of arrival until he had returned from 'Arafah, [Abu Daawood], and settled in Mina on the Days of Tashreeq. This leniency is clearly shown when he did not go to Haram until he was ready to leave Makkah. [Al-Bukhari
Further, he sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) ordered his Companions may Allah be pleased with them to be kind to themselves. Upon seeing a man walking and leading his badana (sacrificial camel), the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said to him "Ride on it." "It is a badana (a camel intended as a ritual sacrifice)," the man replied." "Ride on it, woe to you," the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said (woe to you) on the second or third time. [Muslim]
Each year, millions of people around the world travel by land, sea and air to make the obligatory pilgrimage to Makkah. We know friends and family that are going to Hajj and we make sure to wish them well at the Mosque or even see them off at the airport. Sometimes we make special house calls to visit a friend at home before he leaves; we ask that he forgive our mistakes and we absolve him of any errors. We wish our friends health and a successful Hajj, offering our own prayers so that their prayers will be answered. We also provide pilgrims with our own personal requests. "Please make Du’aa' (supplication) for my son to find a good wife." "Don't forget to make Du’aa' for my daughter to pass her medical license exam." The requests are so many. But, when that final moment comes, there is a distinction between those who are going and those who are staying behind
The difference is that those who are going have overcome their obstacles and those that must postpone it yet another year are still jumping their hurdles.
Not enough money
The number one reason that Muslims cannot go to Hajj is because they cannot afford it.
Monetarily, a Hajj trip can be equivalent to any exotic vacation. Many pilgrims book a trip through a tour company specializing in Hajj trips. The packages usually include airline tickets, hotel accommodations, meals, and all bus transport in and around Makkah. Add to this the number of family members that are traveling and you have multiplied the price significantly. Some would-be pilgrims prefer that the entire family go together or not at all. For many, childcare is not an option for a two-week trip; therefore, the entire family must go together or wait until that is possible. Also, many young adults have elderly parents that would like to make the Hajj and can't go alone. Thus, the more people in a family, the more expensive that Hajj trip becomes.
Also, even though most don't like to admit it, there is much shopping that goes on during a Hajj trip. Men and women alike make special purchases during this `once in a lifetime' experience. Much as they would on any other vacation, people seek souvenirs for all the friends and family members that have been left behind. Before you know it, you have got a suitcase full of miniature prayer rugs for the kids, plus little Ka'bah replicas, loads of books, and pounds of Saudi dates for everyone back home. Very easily, a Hajj trip could cost a family of four more than 10,000 dollars.
Not the right time
Those who cannot afford to go to Hajj might believe that they are the only ones with a reason to postpone the Hajj, but interestingly even those who have the financial means to travel don't have the time. For many Western Muslims in the work place, the seemingly necessary two weeks of vacation time is not available. To be able to take off two weeks, one would have to assume no days off before or after the trip for illness and it would also require that no other days were taken off for the remainder of the year. This is difficult for many families since parents are usually taking days off to tend to sick children or to fight off their own colds and flues. Furthermore, if the family is to go as a whole, many parents cringe at the thought of pulling the kids out of school for two weeks, afraid of the work that the child will miss and more afraid that the child will fall behind.
A young family with very young children might willingly forego Hajj every year because the kids are too young to handle the Hajj or appreciate it or earn full reward for it. Some families opt to go only when all family members are willing and able—when everyone is physically capable and responsible for the Hajj and fulfilling all the actions and rituals that it requires.
On the other hand, there are other families that wait, not for the kids to be old enough to join in on the Hajj trip, but to be old enough to remain behind with childcare. Many young families also have extended family members in the household, including grandparents. When grandparents are living with a young family, the young father and mother must tend to not only their children but their parents, as well. In this case, the situation of both the kids and the elderly must be considered. If the young family is financially capable of going to Hajj and is even ready to take the required time off from work and school, the issue of who will care for the elderly grandparents or very young children can become a hindrance to Hajj. In this situation, many young families choose to postpone Hajj until a more opportune time.
Interestingly, in more and more cases, we see that one spouse has already completed the Hajj prior to marriage. In this situation, if the husband has already fulfilled his obligation, for example, then he is less inclined to take his wife for Hajj (perhaps due to financial reasons). In this case, the wife is delaying her Hajj because she needs her Mahram (non-marriageable relative) to escort her. Or, in the case of the wife who has already performed her Hajj, her husband might be reluctant to go without her and leave her behind.
In both situations, the spouse that hasn't completed the Hajj might consider waiting until the children are born, raised, and ready for Hajj so that the entire family can go once and make it valid for everyone
And, in some instances, a young couple that has neither the demands of children nor elderly parents will still choose to postpone the Hajj, as well. Their reasoning is strictly emotional. They feel that they are still young and have the rest of their lives to go to Hajj. Erroneously, some still believe that Hajj is an old person's duty and yet it is a common feeling held by many young Muslim Americans. How many young newlyweds do you know that choose to go for Hajj on their honeymoon instead of Hawaii?
Even with the high cost of a Hajj trip, with all the accommodations and fees and services, the irony of the Western Muslim family is that many actually do have the financial ability to go to Hajj. The problem for them is not how much money they have but how much is left over. These families have plenty of money, praise is (due) to Allah, but their resources are allocated and there is not much left over at the end of the year. In other words, after paying for private school tuition, a mortgage, lease payments on both cars, and gym membership, there is little left over for extras like Hajj. Some have extravagant lifestyles that leave no money and time for Hajj and others have lifestyles that are not so extravagant as they are structured, which also leaves no room or time for a random Hajj trip. Our lifestyles can become structured and routine when we become accustomed to certain things in life. We have to eat out on the weekends, we always have to be fashionable and trendy, we need to drive cool cars, our kids need extracurricular activities, and the list can go on. We get used to these seemingly little things in life that can become big hurdles to other things.
Find Some Money in Your Pockets
The irony is that people who say that they cannot afford to go to Hajj await the money that will fund their Hajj trip. They anticipate a big bonus or tax refund or pay raise; they hold out for that gift from Allah that will help them go to Hajj. For most of us, that 10,000 dollar or so that we need to take our family to Hajj will not appear out of the sky. We need to find it.
And in order to find it, we need to know where to look. Determining where our money is will help distribute and allocate it appropriately. For example, some prosperous families may have wealth tied up in investments and real estate. This is money that they own, but it is not accessible. In these cases, we would say that such a millionaire is capable of affording Hajj, but he will tell you that he cannot go because he just doesn't have that much money left over.
Similarly, most families are regimented about deducting monthly amounts for retirements plans and children's education funds, and they see that they don't have any money left over at the end of each year for a Hajj trip.
Put Some Spirit in Your Soul
Even if we put all these reasons aside, there is one thing that so many adults think and feel and few are willing to admit. Ironically, some Muslims feel that they are not ready for Hajj because they have not achieved the spiritual heights to qualify for Hajj. They feel that they are ‘not good enough' to go yet. They believe that Hajj is the ultimate act of faith and worship and if they are having a tough time praying five times a day, how can they possibly be spiritually equipped to handle such an obligation as Hajj?
The image that some Muslim Americans have of a pilgrim is that of a pious, devout worshipper that can do no wrong. They envision a spiritually perfect person and fear that they cannot amount to that, so they deduce that they are not quite yet ready for Hajj.
Amazingly, some don't just fear that they are not good enough; they fear that they might become (or need to become) so good that they won't be themselves anymore. Yes, surprisingly some Muslims are afraid of Hajj because they question what it will do to them. After completing Hajj, doesn't that mean that you have to be perfect? Since an accepted Hajj removes a person's sins and grants them a clean slate, which essentially means that a pilgrim returning home has to `walk on eggshells' and refrain from committing any sins. That is a tall order for many of us; and for some of us, that in itself is enough reason for us to wait until we are intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually able of handling such responsibility.
The Epiphany
After all of these reasons for postponing and delaying Hajj, millions of Muslims in the West still go for Hajj and complete their responsibility. Why? Because they realize that they are obligated to do so and they determine that it is better for them to go now rather than later. They make an active, determined decision to go and they find a way to bring it to fruition.
Going to Hajj in Three Easy Steps:
1) Make the Intention
The first thing any Muslim must do when deciding to go on Hajj is simply making an intention to go. Once someone has decided that he wants to go and has made the intention, he can set about planning the trip. Without the proper intention, the Hajj (and anything else for that matter) loses its significance and value. Determine why you want to go; not because all your friends are going this year. Think about what you want to gain from the trip. Think about how you might change your life or lifestyle upon your return. Don't let this become daunting and nerve-racking; Hajj is about inner peace, find it before you embark on your journey.
2) Find the Funds
If it is finances that are the primary obstacle, find a way to budget it in. Few can decide today and go tomorrow. For most people, a Hajj trip would take months if not years of financial planning and preparation. We shouldn't be daunted by such a financial obligation. Most of us have cars that cost more than a family Hajj trip, most of us have houses that are astronomically more than such a trip, and most of us have budgets that can be scrimped and saved for such a responsibility.
Start small. Decide which little frivolities and luxuries you can skip and drop those dollars into a Hajj account. Saving a few dollars here and there on a daily or weekly basis will not get you to Hajj on its own, but it will create a great start that you will be motivated to supplement with additional monies (like tax refunds, pay raises, gift money, etc.).
3) Gain Higher Spirituality Before Hajj
Since many of us need to take some time to save money for this trip, we can take advantage of this time by using it wisely. Rather than focusing on just the money required, we can take this time to prepare ourselves mentally and spiritually so that we don't become victim to some of the pitfalls mentioned above. If we need to take some time to save up money, we can do more than just counting dollars during that time. We should count our deeds, our actions, everything that will make our Hajj that much more significant and successful.
This time before the Hajj might be equally important to our spirituality as the Hajj itself. Unlike any other vacation or trip, Hajj is a spiritual journey as much as a physical one. It entails more than just mind and body, it requires of us something deeper. This we can exercise before Hajj begins. Just as we would start our financial savings in small increments, we can also start our spiritual cleansing in small steps.
Most of the time, the hindrance to Hajj is mental—it is all in the mind. So, if we missed Hajj this year, let us start planning now and, Allah willing, if we put our minds to it, we will make it next year.
