Hajjis returning…Should we make it a duty to meet them?
Should we Meet the Hajjis (Those coming from Hajj)?
Year after year there are Hujjaj (those who go for Hajj pilgrimage) who return to us from our loved ones and those in our community. Unfortunately, a lot of people only give importance to this blessed travel at the time of the departure of the Hajj groups. However, more importance is actually due when they are returning. That Hajji or Hajjah who has completed their rituals according to the method taught by the Sunnah, and had full sincerity in their forms of ‘Ibadah will certainly gain a great honour in the sight of Allah Ta’ala.
Sayydinaa Abu Huraira (RA) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) said: “Whoever performs Hajj for the sake of pleasing Allah and therein utters no word of evil, nor commits any evil deed, shall remain from it as free from sin as the day on which his mother gave birth to him.‘ (Agreed upon)
When a child is ushered into this world, he enters this life without any blemish and is free from any sins. Similarly, when the Hajj has been performed with utmost sincerity for Allah’s sake, the pilgrim returns to that sinless state as is a baby.
For this, we have been advised to meet those returning from the blessed journey and ask them to beseech Allah Ta’ala for forgiveness on our behalf. Having this great benefit of acceptance of Duas and the dua of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) , we certainly can make the effort to greet and meet as many of them as we can and request their duas.
1) Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports that Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) said: “When you meet a haji then greet him, shake hands with him and ask him to seek forgiveness on your behalf before he enters his home, for verily he is forgiven” (Musnad Ahmad, vol. 2 pg. 69 with a weak chain. Refer: Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 4 pg. 16) [1]
In the above instruction, we notice the actual moment being described, hence we should try meeting them before they reach their homes. The best place for this is actually at the airport for those who have the opportunity keeping in mind that they are just returning from a long journey so one should be brief and precise in request for duas.
2) Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) said: “O Allah, forgive the sins of the haji and forgive the sins of the one for whom the haji seeks forgiveness”(Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 1 pg. 441, Sahih ibn Khuzaymah, Hadith: 2516, Shu’abul Iman, Hadith: 3817) Imam Hakim (rahimahullah) has authenticated the above Hadith and Hafiz Dhahabi (rahimahullah) concurs with him. [1]
Nevertheless, if a person cannot make it to the airport, then don’t hesitate to still request their duas…
3) Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) says: “The haji will be forgiven, and all those whom the haji seeks forgiveness on behalf of, for the remainder of Dhul Hijjah, Muharram, Safar until the tenth of Rabi’ul Awwal.” (Musannaf ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 12800 with a weak chain. Refer; footnotes of Musannaf ibn Abi Shaybah) [1]
Infact, this last Hadith explains that the effects of the hajjis dua remain for almost three months!! This year we can estimate it ends 10th December 2015. So if you meet any new Hajjis within this time ask and request them duas of forgiveness on your behalf.
Dua to recite to the Haji/ Hajjah on their return
Yes! we have been asking them for duas as all along, now its our turn to make dua for them…
Amongst the great and excellent duas that we have been taught by our beloved Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam), this is one of them. This Dua does not only cover acceptance and forgiveness which we may easily think of asking on behalf of the Hajji, but it shows us to ask for the huge expenses that was spent in the process of doing the worship.
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (radiyallahu’anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) said said the following to a returning Haji:
‘Qabilallahu Hajjaka, wa Ghafara Dhambaka, wa Akhlafa Nafaqatak.’
May Allah accept your Haj, may He forgive your sins and may He replace your expenditure. (Ibnus Sunni, hadith: 506 & Kitabud Du’a of Tabarani, hadith: 829. Also see: Majma’uz zawaid, vol.3 pg.211 , Al-Adhkar, hadith: 685 & Al-Ibtihaj of Sakhawi, pg.140) [1]
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Abraar Alli (Draft version)
[1] Ahadith tahqeeq courtesy hadithanswers.com
[2] Photo pic courtesy At-tazkiyah.com
