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Question

What does Hajj mean?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. Ibn ‘Umar  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him narrated that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Islam is built on five pillars: bearing witness that None has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, performing the prayers, giving the Zakaah, performing Hajj and fasting Ramadan.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Allah has made Hajj obligatory on every person once in his life if that person has the possibility to perform it.

Allah Says (what means): {In it are clear signs [such as] the standing place of Abraham. And whoever enters it shall be safe. And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way. But whoever disbelieves - then indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds.} [Quran 3:97]

Hajj consists of going to the “House of Allah” (ka’bah) in Makkah in order to perform this act of worship. The manner of performing Hajj was made clear by the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) who taught the Muslims what to say and showed them what to do while in Hajj.

In addition, the scholars of Islam have detailed all the rulings related to Hajj in their books and lectures. So, every Muslim should learn the rules in order to perform this worship as prescribed by Allah.

Here are some references:

1: Yassen Ibrahim al Sheikh, A guide book to Hajj, Umrah, and visitation of the Prophet's (Blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) Mosque.

2: Sayyid Sabiq, Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Am.Trust pub.1985.

3: Abul Hasan An-Nadawi, The five pillars of Islam, Lahore. Sh. M. Ashraf.

Allah knows best.

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