The Prophet's acts of worship during Hajj -II

24/10/2010| IslamWeb

4- Heeding Allah's hudood (limits)

Heeding Allah's limits is the highest degree of piety. It is an indication of true belief, and a sign of perfect submission to Allah. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) more than anyone else, was a strict observant of Allah's limits. He  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) was the most devout of all, and used to glorify Allah's sanctities more than any one else, as was seen on many occasions during Hajj. For example, when he  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) offered Hady, out of consideration for his companions he did not end his Ihraam, although he ordered those who did not offer Hady to end theirs, and to perform Umrah simultaneously with the Hajj. However, having interpreted his order merely as a non-obligatory permission, they kept their Ihraam. Expressing their desire to stay in the state of Ihraam, some of them said "Do we come to 'Arafah after having sex with our wives?" Upon hearing this, the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) responded: "You know for sure that I am more devout, more truthful, and more righteous than any of you. Yet, had I not offered Hady, I would have ended my state of Ihraam. You, therefore, should end your state of Ihraam." [Al-Bukhari]
 
5- His tranquility and submission to Allah
Presence of the heart, and submissiveness to Allah, Almighty, can be attained only through tranquility and strict discipline of the senses. The outer appearance in this regard, is an indication of the inner reality. In his Hajj, the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) combined both elements: Firstly, he  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) attained a presence of the heart. Nothing could divert his attention away from his rituals, or from showing submission and humility to Allah. Standing with his hands raised close to his chest, he privately offered his supplication for extended periods of time. Secondly, all of the Prophet's  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) senses were full of submission and surrender to Allah, Almighty. He would walk quietly in reverence and tranquility going about his rituals. Jaabir, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: "The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) performed Al-Ifaadhah in tranquility." [Al-Bukhari] Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that as he and the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) were moving together on the Day of 'Arafah, they heard loud noises, clattering and roars of camels. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) then pointed his whip at the people and said: "Be quiet; haste is no indication of righteousness!" [At-Tirmithi]
 
6- Doing plenty of good deeds
Not only did the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) enjoined good, he  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) was also keen on doing the same during the Hajj. This is manifest in his performance of all the favorable Hajj rituals. He performed Ghusl (ritual body wash) before assuming Ihraam, wore perfume upon assuming and ending it, [Al-Bukhari], marked and garlanded the sacrificial animal, and frequently recited talbiyah aloud until he  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) had cast the Jamaratul-'Aqabah ('Aqabah Stone). [Al-Bukhari] He also started Tawaaf as soon as he entered the House, [Al-Bukhari], walked briskly in Tawaaf, touched the two corners of the Ka'bah, offered two Rak'ahs of Tawaaf behind Maqaam Ibraaheem (Ibraaheem's station), [Muslim], supplicated Allah on the hills of Safaa and Marwah, ran in the middle of the valley, supplicated upon touching the two corners and while throwing the jamaraat [Al-Bukhari]. There are many other acts that he  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) performed.
 
7- His moderation and equanimity
Islam encourages moderation and censures exaggeration. In fact equanimity was the most significant attitude of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) in the Hajj. He  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) abhorred exaggeration—he  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) did neither too much nor too little. Two acts of worship can be stressed in this regard. Firstly, he  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) adopted a happy medium between his acts of worship [Al-Bukhari], and his responsibility as a leader of the Muslims. However, he  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) did not neglect his duty to his wives and his household who needed care and affection. Secondly, he  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) also took equal care of his body and soul. This is a very important point, as the awe-inspiring surroundings of the Hajj may compel many people to observe the spiritual and entirely forget the physical side of their being. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) however, took very good care of his body. For example, on Tarwyah Day he  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) moved closer to Mina in order to be near 'Arafah [Muslim]; slept during the nights of 'Arafah and Muzdalifah [Al-Bukhari]; took breakfast on the Day of 'Arafah [Al-Bukhari]; but did not offer supererogatory prayers [Muslim]. He  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) took shelter in a dome made from camel hair erected especially for him, moved between the sacred sites [Al-Bukhari], and performed some of the Hajj rituals riding on camelback [Muslim]. Furthermore, he even had someone who served and helped him. [Ibn Maajah]
 
8- Renouncement of the present life
The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) renounced the present life and rejected all that was not vital for the Hereafter. There are countless examples of his denunciatory attitude towards the present life. Listed are but a few:
He  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) used an old, shabby camel saddled with a piece of velvet hardly worth four Dirhams (silver currency). He  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) allowed Usaamah Ibn Zayd, may Allah be pleased with him, to ride behind him on his camel back from 'Arafah to Muzdalifah, and allowed Al-Fadhl Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, to ride behind him from Muzdalifah to Mina. [Al-Bukhari]

The Prophet's acts of worship during Hajj -I

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