THE LIFE-CHANGING TRIP

SACRIFICING YOUR DESIRES!

Labbaik, Allahumma Labbaik!

Hajj – The Life-changing Trip

Restarting Life As Sinless Newly-born

(By: M. Javed Naseem)

Here’s what Allah Subhanahu wa Taala says in the Holy Quran about this life-changing, (Douniya-balancing and Aakhirah-saving), once in a lifetime journey to Makkah:

وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا ِلإِبْرَاهِيمَ مَكَانَ ٱلْبَيْتِ أَن لاَّ تُشْرِكْ بِى شَيْئاً

وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِىَ لِلطَّآئِفِينَ وَٱلْقَآئِمِينَ وَٱلرُّكَّعِ ٱلسُّجُودِ

وَأَذِّن فِى ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالاً وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَميِقٍ

لِّيَشْهَدُواْ مَنَافِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُواْ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ فِيۤ أَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُومَاتٍ عَلَىٰ

مَا رَزَقَهُمْ مِّن بَهِيمَةِ ٱلأَنْعَامِ فَكُلُواْ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُواْ ٱلْبَآئِسَ ٱلْفَقِيرَ

ثُمَّ لْيَقْضُواْ تَفَثَهُمْ وَلْيُوفُواْ نُذُورَهُمْ وَلْيَطَّوَّفُواْ بِٱلْبَيْتِ ٱلْعَتِيقِ
“Behold! We gave the site to Abraham, of the (Sacred)

House, (saying): "Associate not anything (in worship)

with Me; and sanctify My House for those who compass

it round, or stand up, or bow, or prostrate themselves

(therein in prayer).
And proclaim the Pilgrimage among men. They will

come to thee on foot and (mounted) on every kind of camel,

lean on account of journeys through deep and distant

mountain highways;  
That they may witness the benefits (provided) for them,

and celebrate the name of Allah, through the Days

appointed, over the cattle which He has provided for

them (for sacrifice); then eat you thereof and feed

the distressed ones in want. 
Then let them complete the rites prescribed for them,

perform their vows, and (again) circumambulate

the Ancient House."

(al-Quran 22:26-29)

ذٰلِكَ وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ حُرُمَاتِ ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُ عِندَ رَبِّهِ وَأُحِلَّتْ لَكُمُ

ٱلأَنْعَامُ إِلاَّ مَا يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ فَٱجْتَنِبُواْ ٱلرِّجْسَ مِنَ ٱلأَوْثَانِ وَٱجْتَنِبُواْ قَوْلَ ٱلزُّورِ

حُنَفَآءَ للَّهِ غَيْرَ مُشْرِكِينَ بِهِ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَكَأَنَّمَا خَرَّ

مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَتَخْطَفُهُ ٱلطَّيْرُ أَوْ تَهْوِى بِهِ ٱلرِّيحُ فِى مَكَانٍ سَحِيقٍ
“Such (is the Pilgrimage). Whoever honors the sacred

rites of Allah, for him it is good in the sight of his Lord.

Lawful to you (for food in Pilgrimage) are cattle, except

those mentioned to you (as exception); but shun the

abomination of idols, and shun the word that is false; 
Being true in faith to Allah, and never assigning partners

to Him. If anyone assigns partners to Allah, is as if he had

fallen from heaven and been snatched up by birds, or the

wind had swooped (like a bird on its prey) and thrown

him into a far-distant place.

(al-Quran 22:30-31)

ٰلِكَ وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ ٱللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقْوَى ٱلْقُلُوبِ

لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَنَافِعُ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ثُمَّ مَحِلُّهَآ إِلَىٰ ٱلْبَيْتِ ٱلْعَتِيقِ

وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكاً لِّيَذْكُرُواْ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُمْ مِّن بَهِيمَةِ

ٱلأَنْعَامِ فَإِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَلَهُ أَسْلِمُواْ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُخْبِتِينَ

ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَٱلصَّابِرِينَ عَلَىٰ

مَآ أَصَابَهُمْ وَٱلْمُقِيمِى ٱلصَّلاَةِ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
Such (is his state) and whoever holds in honor the

symbols of Allah, (in the sacrifice of animals), such

(honor) should come truly from piety of heart. 
In them you have benefits for a term appointed. In the

end their place of sacrifice is near the Ancient House. 
To every people did We appoint rites (of sacrifice), that

they might celebrate the name of Allah over the sustenance

He gave them from animals (fit for food). But your god is

One God. Submit then your wills to Him (in Islam); and

give  the good news to those who humble themselves; 
To those whose hearts, when Allah is mentioned, are

filled with fear; who show patient perseverance over

their afflictions; keep up regular prayer; and spend (in

charity) out of what We have bestowed upon them.

(al-Quran 22:32-35)

Every nation was given some pilgrimage and sacrificial rituals and, with the same token, the animal sacrifice was prescribed for Muslims performing Hajj. But, in general, the best thing to sacrifice in this worldly life is your “desires”. If we stay away from the worldly desires for the sake of Allah, He’ll reward us with a beautiful safe place in Heaven where every desire would be fulfilled. So, piety or righteousness (‘Taqwa’) is the most desirable product here. We seek some worldly pleasure in the sacrificial ritual on Eid-al-Adha too (and it is permitted) but we should not forget …

Don’t Ever Forget That:

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لَن يَنَالَ ٱللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلاَ دِمَآؤُهَا وَلَـٰكِن يَنَالُهُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ مِنكُمْ

 كَذٰلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمْ لِتُكَبِّرُواْ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
“It is not their meat nor their blood, that reaches Allah.

It is your piety that reaches Him. He has thus made

them subject to you, that you may glorify Allah for

His Guidance to you and proclaim the good news

to all who do right.”

(al-Quran 22:37)

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وَٱلْبُدْنَ جَعَلْنَاهَا لَكُمْ مِّن شَعَائِرِ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ فَٱذْكُرُواْ

ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَآفَّ فَإِذَا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُهَا فَكُلُواْ مِنْهَا

وَأَطْعِمُواْ ٱلْقَانِعَ وَٱلْمُعْتَرَّ كَذٰلِكَ سَخَّرْنَاهَا لَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
“The sacrificial camels we have made for you as

among the symbols from Allah. In them is (much)

good for you. Then pronounce the name of Allah

over them as they line up (for sacrifice). When they

are down on their sides (after slaughter), eat you thereof,

and feed such as (beg not but) live in contentment, and

such as beg with due humility. Thus have We made

animals subject to you, that you may be grateful.”

(al-Quran 22:36)

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُدَافِعُ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُوۤاْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ كُلَّ خَوَّانٍ كَفُورٍ
“Verily Allah will defend (from ill) those who believe.

Verily, Allah loves not any that is a traitor to faith,

or show ingratitude.”

(al-Quran 22:38)

Eid Mubarak Saeed!

May Allah guide us to the unity of the Ummah … Ameen!

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