MY DREAM OF GOING FOR HAJJ
By: Naseem Ahmed

I dream of going for Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah) because Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and it is fard (compulsory) for those who have the means. As quoted by Hadrat Abu Huraira (Rady Allahu ‘Anhu) who reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said the reward for Hajj that is accepted by Allah is Paradise. The Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said the best Jihad for women is Hajj Mabrur (an accepted Pilgrimage).

The Zam Zam spring began when Prophet Ismail (‘Alayhissalam) was a baby and he was rubbing his feet against the dry ground crying for water. Zam Zam is the water from the well in Makkah near the Ka‘ba. Zam Zam is shifa, a cure for any purpose for which it is drunk.

I also want to see the Black Stone which was given to Nabi Ibrahim (‘Alayhissalam) from Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta‘ala) to be placed in the Ka‘ba.

Mina is a halting place where you throw seven pebbles each at the three Jamarat (pillars). Arafa is the place where Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) gave his last sermon. I would like to see the grounds of Arafa, where the Day of Resurrection will take place. I would like to do Tawaaf around the Ka‘ba and run between the Safaa and Marwa. I would like to see the footprints of Nabi Ibrahim (‘Alayhissalam) at Maqam Ibrahim near the Ka‘ba and pray 2 Rakaat Salah over there.

I would like to visit the Prophet’s Masjid in Madina and pray forty Salah over there. Last but not the least I would like to visit these places so that I can see how our Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and the other Prophets (‘Alayhimussalam) and the Sahaba (Rady Allahu ‘Anhum) lived and where the Wahy of the Qur’an was revealed, since the Ka‘ba is a place of peace and tranquility. It is said by the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) that a person who performs Hajj with a clean heart is free from sin like a baby who is just born.

Rabi‘ Thani 1424, June 2003