Hajj, Umrah & Ziyarat --II

THE MASAA'ILS OF UMRAH CAN BE BRIEFLY SUMMARISED AS:-

•The wearing of Ihraam before entering the Miqat boundary

•The performance of two Rakaahs Sunnatul Ihraam

•The recitation of Niyyah and Talbiyah

•The advancement towards Makkatul Mukarramah while constantly reading the Talbiyah

•The performance of Tawaaf with Idh'tibaa and Ramal

•The performance of two Rakaah Waajib Salaah after Tawaaf behind Maqaam-e-Ebrahim

•Advancement to the Multazam to make Du'a and drink water from the Zam Zam well

•Performance of Sa'ee between Saffa and Marwa

•Shaving or trimming the hair of the head.

THE FARAA'IDH OF UMRAH:

•Ihraam

•Four circuits of Tawaaf

WAAJIBAAT OF UMRAH:

•Completion of all seven circuits

•Sa'ee

•Shaving/trimming of the hair.

N.B. The rest are either Sunnat or Adaab.

SEQUENCE OF PERFORMING UMRAH:

•Adoption of Ihraam and performance of two Rakaah with Niyyah of Umrah

•Tawaaf

•Du'a at Multazam

•Performance of two Rakaah Salaah at Maqaam-e-Ebrahim

•Drinking Zam Zam water

•Performing Sa'ee between Saffa and Marwa

•Two Rakaah Salaah

•Shaving/Trimming of the hair.

VISITING THE GRAVE OF THE PROPHET: Visiting the grave is part of the Sunnah and is both excellent and desirable. Hazrat Ibn Umar (radi Allahu anhu) said that the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said, "My intercession is assured for all who visit me." (at-Tabarni) Hazrat Anas bin Malik (radi Allahu anhu) said that the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said, "Anyone who visits me in Madina for the sake of Allah is near to me and I will intercede for him on the Day of Rising." (Al-Bayhaqi).

Imam Malik (radi Allahu anhu) disliked anyone saying "the tawaf of the visit," or "we visited the grave of the Prophet," because people normally use that for visits between themselves, and he did not like to put the Prophet on the same level as other people. He preferred a specific statement like "We greeted the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)." He did not dislike people saying, "We visited the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)." (Ash-Shifa)

ZIARAT - PRESENTING ONESELF THE BLESSED COURT OF THE HOLY PROPHET (SALLAL LAAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM) IN MADINATUL MUNAWWARAH

To present oneself (Haaziri) at the blessed court of the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) is close to Waajib (compulsory). Certain people, disguising themselves as "friends", try to convince you to stay away from the Rauza-e-Anwar of Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). It is said that it is not important to go there. Beware! Never listen to their comments and do not return with the stain of being deprived of visiting Madinatul Munawwarah.

When going to Madinatul Munawwarah, make special intention of visiting Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). Imam Ibn Ilhaam states that when going to Madinatul Munawwarah do not even make the intention of visiting the Masjid, but make intention of visiting the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). You should drown yourself in the recitation of Durood and Zikr throughout your entire journey.

When the Haram of Madinatul Munawwarah is visible, then it is better to travel on foot. Walk towards it crying, with your head bowed, eyes lowered, and, if possible, bare feet. When the Green Dome or Ghumbade Anwar is in sight, then recite Durood and Salaams in abundance. On reaching the Blessed City, drown yourself in the thought of Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam).

Before making Haaziri you should clear the heart of all other thoughts that are disturbing and avoid unnecessary conversation. Make wudhu (using Miswaak) and Ghusal, if possible, is better. Preferably wear white clothing and new clothes are better. Use fragrance and Surma. The best of fragrance is Musk. Now, with total love and reverence, turn towards the Roza-e-Aqdas. If you cannot cry, make a sorrowful face and force the heart to weep. Beg in the court of Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). At the entrance of the Masjid, send Durood and Salaams and then wait for a little while as if you are waiting for permission from Sarkaar-e-Madina (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). Say "Bismillah" and enter with the right foot. Do so with utmost respect and reverence.

When visiting the Rauza-e-Anwar, believe in your heart that the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) is physically alive and present just as he was before passing from the world. His demise and the demise of all the other Ambiya (alaihimus salaam) is only a split second, to fulfil the promise of Allah. Their passing away was for them just to be hidden from the eyes of the general public. Imam Muhammad ibn Haaj Makki (radi Allahu anhu) in "Madkhal", and Imam Ahmad Qastalaani (radi Allahu anhu) in "Muwaahibul Laduniyah" state, "There is no difference in the life and demise of the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) as he is seeing his Ummat, and he is aware of them, and he is aware of their intentions. He understands the thoughts of the hearts and all these are before the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). In this way, that there is nothing actually hidden in it."

Now at the height of respect, bow your head, lower your gaze, and shiver in the fear of Allah. Perspire in the shame of your sins, hoping and having faith in the mercy and blessing of the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). Present yourself at the feet of the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and hope that the blessed sight of the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) is on you. This is sufficient for you in both the worlds. Now like the heart, the face is also towards the Jaali Mubaarak of Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) which is the resting place of the beloved of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam).

Stand with total respect and honour. With a soft voice, low gaze, ashamed, not with a harsh or loud voice (since to speak aloud in this court is disrespect and cause of destruction) and neither being too soft since it is against Sunnah (even though the Prophet is even aware of the condition of your heart, just as it was evident from the sayings of the A'imma mentioned above), say the following: "As Salaamu Alaika Ayuhan Nabiyu wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barkatuhu, As Salaamu Alaika Ya Rasolallah. As Salaamu Alaika Ya, Khairi Khalqillah. Asalaamu Alaika Ya Shafi Al Muznabeen, As Salaamu Alaika Wa Ala Aalika wa Ashaabika Wa Um'matika Ajmaeen."

Ask for Shafa'at (Intercession) from Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) for your parents, Ustaads, Peer-o-Murshid, respected ones, friends, relatives and all Muslims. Continuously say, "As Alukash Shafa'ata Ya Rasoolallah." If someone asked you to convey their Salaams, then do so. May Almighty Allah accept the Ziyaarat of all those of visit the Rauza-e-Anwar of Huzoor-e-Akram (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). Ameen.

ASK THE AALIM

Question: If any act was not done correctly or mistakenly during the Hajj and Umrah, can the Dam be given outside the precincts of the sacred Haram?

Answer: If it is Waajib to give Dam for the mistakes made during Hajj and Umrah, then that animal of Dam should be slaughtered in the Haram. If the animal is slaughtered outside the precinct of the Haram, Dam will not be regarded as valid.

Question: If a person who performed Umrah did not shave his head and returned to his country, what should he do?

Answer: He should shave his head and give Dam.