198- IT IS NOT AN OFFENCE TO SEEK BOUNTY FROM YOUR LORD (DURING HAJJ).  WHEN YOU POUR DOWN FROM ARAFAT REMEMBER ALLAH BY THE SACRED MONUMENT.  REMEMBER HIM AS HE GUIDED YOU, FOR YOU WERE MISGUIDED BEFOREHAND.

199- THEN POUR DOWN FROM WHERE PEOPLE POUR DOWN, AND ASK ALLAH FOR FORGIVENESS, FOR ALLAH IS MOST FORGIVING AND MOST MERCIFUL.

Allah the Highest is permitting the Muslims on Hajj to earn money while on Hajj by working or trading.  This is a great mercy, for the Hajj used to take a long time travelling and people had to pay their way.  Nowadays, it is costly, and to do some work during Hajj for those who need to provide financial assistance with the cost. 

It was reported by Abd Allah Ibn Omar: “A man went to Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him to ask about working while on Hajj, he did not answer him came to him with this Ayah “IT IS NOT AN OFFENCE TO SEEK BOUNTY ……..”  (Ahmed)

Ibn Jarir Al-Tabari reported that Abi Saleh the servant of Omar Ibn El-Khatab asked him: “Prince of the believers, did you use to trade during Hajj?”  Omar said: “Did we earn our living except during Hajj”.

Allah the Highest mentions some of the rite of Hajj.  Hajj has been known for hundreds of years before Mohamed prayer and peace upon him, since the time of Ibrahim.  However, its rite and practices were contaminated by many of the Idolaters practices.  By the time of Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him, and before the Muslims took Makah, there were over 360 Idles in and around the Kabba.   Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him went on Hajj on the last year of his life, and he told the Muslims to observe and following the Manasek (rites) of Hajj he did, for all of us to follow in the future, he said: “Takes your Rites after me”.  (M: Hajj; 310 & D: Manasek; 77 & N: Manasek; 178-189)

We follow his example in Hajj until now. 

Arafat:

The stand on Arafat is the peak point of the Hajj.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “The Hajj is Arafat, the Hajj is Arafat, and the Hajj is Arafat.  He who reaches Arafat before dawn, he has attained the Hajj, and the days of Mena are three, but whoever hurries in two days, there is no blame upon him and whoever stays longer, there is no blame upon him”.  (T: Tafseer Sorah 2; 22 & D: Manasek; 68 & Ma: Manasek; 67 & Da: Manasek; 54)

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him also said: “He, who reached Arafat before sunrise, he has attained the Hajj”.  (Ahmed & T & D & M & N)

The time of the Stand on Arafat is from Zohr (noon) until Dawn of the next day, although the time Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him stood there from Zohr until Magreb (sunset).  Imam Ahmed says that one can stand on Arafat from sunrise of the Day of Arafat until dawn of the next day. 

Muzdalifah:

After standing on Arafat from noon (Zohr) to sunset (Magreb), Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him rode his camel to Muzdalifah.  He prayed Magreb and Esha one straight after the other, there, one Azan and 2 Eqamah, and then slept until dawn.  After praying Fajr in Muzdalifah, he went to the Sacred Monument which is a mountain at the edge of the Muzdalifah called Quzoh.  There he said Allah Akbar, and glorified Allah, and then said Dawa facing the Qibla “REMEMBER ALLAH BY THE SACRED MONUMENT”. (M; Hajj; 147)

Remembering Allah the Highest shows our belief, faith and gratitude for being guided and lead to His straight Path. 

Islam is a religion of equality and unity between people.  This Equality and Unity are shown during Hajj in the way people dress and assemble.  Before Islam, the people of Qurish used not to stand on Arafat, but by the Sacred Mosque, as they considered themselves superior and would not stand with the rest.  This was abolished in by saying: “THEN POUR DOWN FROM WHERE PEOPLE POUR DOWN”

Then Allah the Highest reminds us to ask him for forgiveness, for this is the purpose of the Hajj and its ultimate reward.  Asking for forgiveness is something we should never forget or stop.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Whoever is always asking Allah for forgiveness, Allah will grant him a way out of every difficulty, relieves him of every burden, and shall provide him from where he never expected”.  (Ma: Adab; 57 & D: Estefar; 5)

B: Bukhari   M: Muslim    Mal: Malek   A: Ahmed   D: Abu Dawood     

 Da: Daremy       Ma: Ibn Magah            N: Nesae          T: Termezi