Praising Allah during Hajj

All praise be to Allah, we praise Him and seek His Help and guidance. We seek refuge with Allah against the evils of ourselves and the evils of our actions. Whom Allah guides there is no one can mislead and whomever He misleads none can guide him. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone who has no partner and that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger. "O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwâ' (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women; and fear Allâh through Whom you demand (your mutual rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allâh is Ever an All-Watcher over you." [Surat An-Nisa': 1].

"O you who believe! Fear Allâh and keep your duty to Him. And let every person look to what he has sent forth for tomorrow, and fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Well-Acquainted with what you do." [Surat Al Hashr: 18].

The best speech is the Book of Allah, the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad, the worst matters are the innovated, and every innovation is an error.

Allah legislated Hajj for many benefits, of these benefits is praising Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted) therefore, it is desirable to praise Allah when performing the rituals of Hajj, when staying in the sacred sites, and when leaving them.

`A'ishah, the mother of the believers, said: "Allah ordained At-Tawaf (Circumambulating) around the Ka`bah, going between As-Safa and Al Marwah (two mountains in Makkah), throwing the pebbles to praise Allah (may He be Exalted)." [Reported by `Abdur-Razzaq (8961) and its narrators are trustworthy].

Praising Allah when wearing Ihram:

Talbiyah is desirable when a Muhrim (pilgrim in the ritual state for Hajj and `Umrah) rides his car from the Miqat (appointed time and place for Hajj and `Umrah). So, a Muhrim starts to pronounce his Hajj or `Umrah: Al Qarin (one who performs `Umrah in the time of Hajj) says: "Labbayka `Umratan wa Hajjah." The one who performs Hajj should say: "Labbayka Hajjan." A Mutamati` (one who performs `Umrah then terminates his `Umarh and waits for Hajj) and Mu`tamir (one who performs `Umrah) should say: Labbayka `Umrah.

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) assuming Ihram for both Hajj and `Umrah by saying Labbayka `Umratan wa Hajjan, Labbayka `Umratan wa Hajjan." [Reported by Al Bukhari (1551) and Muslim (1251) with his own wordings].

Jabir ibn `Abdullah narrated: We came with Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) (to Makkah) and we were saying: "Labbayka Allahumma Labbayka" for Hajj. [Reported by Al Bukhari (1570)]

Pronouncing the type of Hajj and `Umrah in Talbiyyah is desirable, however if a pilgrim pronounces Talbiyyah with the intention of Hajj or `Umrah, it will be sufficient for him.

However, a person shall not enter the state of Ihram only by intention because he still has the intention since he had left his country, so saying or action is a must to change the state and turns a person to a Muhrim.

Therefore, pronouncing the type of Hajj or `Umrah in the beginning of Talbiyah is a Sunnah but pronouncing the intention is against the Sunnah, so it is not desirable to say at entering the state of Ihram (ritual state for Hajj and `Umrah): I intended to do such and such type because it was not reported from the Messenger (peace be upon him) and the acts of worship must have an authentic narration from the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Of the Prophetic forms of Talbiyah is:

"Labbayka Allahumma labbayk, Labbayka la sharika Laka labbayk, Inna-l-hamda wan-ni`mata Laka wal-mulk, La sharika Laka' (I respond to Your call O Allah, I respond to Your call, and I am obedient to Your orders, You have no partner, I respond to Your call All the praises and blessings are for You, All the sovereignty is for You, And You have no partners with you." [Reported by Al Bukhari (1549) and Muslim (1184) from the Hadith of Jabir].

Of the Prophetic forms of Talbiyah is: Labbayka Ilaha Al Haq. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said in his Talbiyah: "Labbayka Ilaha Al Haq." [Reported by Ahmad (9815) and its chain of narration is authentic].

So, Talbiyah is desirable during or after wearing Ihram when a pilgrim rides his car to the Miqat heading to Makkah, but when a Muhrim enters the boundaries of the Sacred Masjid, he should give up Talbiyah. Nafi` said: When Ibn `Umar reached the sanctuary of Makkah, he used to stop reciting Talbiya and then he would pass the night at Dhu-Tuwa and then offer the Fajr prayer and take a bath. He used to say that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to do the same." [Reported by Al Bukhari (1573)].

A Mutamati` should start Talbiyah when he enter the state of Ihram for Hajj likewise the person who goes for Hajj only or Qarin when going to the Sacred Sites.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to pronounce Talbiyah in Mina, `Arafah and Muzdalifah (Place outside Makkah) as well as while moving between the Sacred Sites.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to pronounce Talbiyah while going from Mina to `Arafah from `Arafah to Al Muzdalifah, and from Muzdalifah to Mina to throw Jamrat Al `Aqabah (The closest stone pillar to Makkah, also known as the Big Jamrah).

The last time for Talbiyah is when a pilgrim throws Jamrat Al`Aqabah on the Day of `Eid. It was reported by Ibn `Abbas that Usamah ibn Zayd rode behind Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) from `Arafah to Al Muzdalifah; and then Al Fadl rode behind Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) from Al Muzdalifah to Mina. He (Ibn `Abbas) said: Both said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) kept on reciting Talbiya till he throw Jamrat Al `Aqabah." [Reported by Al Bukhari (1687) and Muslim (1281)].

Praising Allah in At-Tawaf:

When a person enters the Sacred Masjid, he should pronounce the invocation upon entering the masjid.

Hadiths were reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) and narrations from the Companions about raising the hands during invocation upon seeing the Ka`bah, but they are not correct.

The first Dhikr (invocations) at the Black Stone in the beginning of At-Tawaf is Takbir (saying: Allahu Akbar). In the first round, it is desirable to say: "Allahu Akbar" It was reported by Ibn `Abbas that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) circumambulated the Ka`bah riding on a camel and whenever he reached the Black Stone, he pointed at it with something was in his hand and then pronounced Takbir." [Reported by Al Bukhari (1632)].

If a person adds "Bismillah" with "Allah Akbar" by saying: "Bismilla wa Allah Akbar," it will be better because Ibn `Umar used to do so. Nafi` said that whenever Ibn `Umar reached the Black Stone, He said: "Bismillah wa Allahu Akbar." [Reported by `Abdur-Razzaq (8894) and Al Azruqy in Tarikh Makkah (1/339) with an authentic chain of transmission].

So, Takbir was authentically reported from the Prophet and Basmalah (saying, "Bismillah) from the saying of Ibn `Umar; and there is no other Dhikr should be said at the Black Stone.

It was reported from some Companions that when they wanted to point at the Black Stone, they said: "O Allah, because of our faith in You and in confirmation to Your Book and the Sunnah of Your Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)." But this is not correct.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to say between the Yemenite Corner and the Black Stone: "Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire! `Abdullah ibn As-Sa'ib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) Saying between the two corners: "And of them there are some who say: Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire!" [Reported by Ahmad (14972) With an authentic chain of narration].

It is desirable to praise and invoke Allah during Tawaf, but if a person recites Qur'an, it is good.

However, the certain invocations, which some people recite in some places and in every round, have no origin.

What has been authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) regarding invocations in Tawaf is to say: "Allah Akbar" and "And of them there are some who say: Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire!" between the Yemenite Corner and the Black Stone.

A person should praise Allah while going between As-Safa and Al Marwah. When a person approaches As-Safa, he should say: "Verily, Al-Safa (a mountain in Makkah) and the Marwah from the rites prescribed by Allah" [Surat Al Baqarah: 158].

"I begin with what Allah began with," He should say that only in the first round. The apparent meaning is that a pilgrim should not complete the Ayah because what is meant is to begin with what Allah began with; And Allah knows best! When a pilgrim ascends As-Safa, he should face the Ka`bah, raise his hand during invocation, and pronounce Takbir three times.

Jabir ibn `Abdullah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to pronounce Takbir three times when he stands on As-Safa." [Reported by Imam Malik in the Muwatta' (1/372) with an authentic chain of transmission]. It was reported in the Hadith of Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him): "Till he saw the House, and faced the Qiblah, he declared the Oneness of Allah, glorified Him, and said: "None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone without partner, to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise and He is over all things omnipotent. There is no god but Allah Alone, Who fulfilled His promise, helped His servant and routed the confederates alone. Then he said that invocation three times." [Reported by Muslim]. So, what was reported is saying Takbir, praising Allah three times, and invocation twice in between.

There is no certain invocations reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him), so a person may supplicate Allah as he likes and asks Allah from the goodness of the world as well as the Hereafter. He may do so at the beginning of each round.

There is no certain invocations to be said between As-Safa and Al Marwah, however when `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) was in the valley, He said: O Lord, forgive and bestow mercy, for You are the Most Glorious, the Most Bountiful." [Reported by Ibn Abu Shaybah (4/69) and Al Azruqy in "Akhbar Makkah" (2/117) and Al Bayhaqy (5/195) with an authentic chain of transmission]. It is permissible to praise Allah as a person likes between As-Safa and Al Marwah.

If a person says: "O Lord, forgive me and bestow mercy on me, for You are the Most Glorious, the Most Bountiful" as Ibn Mas`ud did between the two green lines, it will be permissible.

Second Sermon

O servants of Allah, the Day of `Arafah (9th of Dhul-Hijjah) is one of the greatest days in which invocations and Dhikr are confirmed. Of these invocations is: "None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone without partner, to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise and He is over all things omnipotent." It was reported from a group of the Companions that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The best invocation is the invocation on the Day of `Arafah and the best thing that I or the Prophets before me have said is "None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone without partner, to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise and He is over all things omnipotent."

A pilgrim should praise Allah at Al Mash`ar Al Haram if it is possible otherwise he may praise Allah in his place. Al Mash`ar Al Haram is a mountain upon which is the Masjid of Muzdalifah (Place outside Makkah), and the Sunnah is to stand there after the Fajr Salah, facing the Qiblah to praise and invoke Allah (Glory be to Him) prior to sunrise. Talbiyah, Takbir, and Tahlil are parts of Dhikr.

It is a great situation and the best place for invoking Allah (Glory be to Him) because Allah commanded Muslims to do so. Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "Remember Allâh (by glorifying His Praises, i.e. prayers and invocations) at Al-Mash'ar-il-Harâm." [Surat Al Baqarah: 198], and likewise did the Prophet (peace be upon him). It was reported in the Hadith of Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "Then he rode Al Qaswa' until he came Al Mash`ar Al Haram, faced the Qiblah, and invoked Allah, pronounced Takbir, pronounced Tahlil "No god but Allah," and declared His Oneness. He stood there until prior to sunrise."

A pilgrim should praise Allah at throwing the pebbles by pronouncing Takbir along with each pebble.

A pilgrim should stand facing the Qiblah, raising his hands to invoke Him after the throwing of the Small and the Medium Jamrah in a place where he should not harm others.

It was reported from Salim ibn `Abdullah that `Abdullah ibn `Umar used to throw the small Jamrah with seven pebbles then pronounce Takbir after every pebble.

A pilgrim should stand long facing the Qiblah, raise his hand and supplicate Allah, then throw the Medium Jamrah and do the same then throw the Big Jamrah but do not stand thereafter. He said: I saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) did that." [Reported by Al Bukhari (1753)].

`Ata' reported: "Ibn `Umar used to stand at the two Jamrah as much as a person recites Surat Al Baqarah." [Reported by Ibn Abu Shaybah (14343) and his narrators are trustworthy].

A pilgrim should praise Allah during the days of Tashriq 10^th, 11^th, 12^th, 14^th in his place.

Takbir is part of Dhikr because of Allah's Saying: "And remember Allâh during the appointed Days. But whosoever hastens to leave in two days, there is no sin on him and whosoever stays on, there is no sin on him, if his aim is to do good and obey Allâh (fear Him), and know that you will surely be gathered to Him." [Surat Al Baqarah: 203].

Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to pronounce Takbir in his tent in Mina to the extent that the people of the Masjid hears him, then they pronounce Takbir and the people in the market pronounce Takbir until Mina was shaking out of Takbir." [Reported by Al Fakihy in Akhbar Makkah (259/4) and Al Bayhaqy (312/3) with an authentic chain of transmission].