1 LECTURE# 5 FASTING & HAJ

2 FASTING Meaning??? “Saum”: means abstinence from food, drink and sex from dawn till sunset with the intention of worship We control our desires, it’s a method of self-restraint It is prescribed for the Muslims in the form of a month long abstinence from food and drink accompanied by intense devotional activity. It is month of blessings, in which virtue flourishes and evil is suppressed. Through fasts, rich experience the conditions of the poor and hungry and instills in them a desire to help the poor.

3 Significance Fast the month of ramadhan, you know its beginning and end by the moon phase where you are (e.g., see 2:189 and 6:96). and eat and drink until the white thread (of light) becomes distinct to you from the black thread (night/darkness) of the dawn. Then strictly observe the fast until/to the night ... Qur'an (2:187)

4 Significance You cause the night to enter into the day, and You cause the day to enter into the night. And You bring forth the living from the dead, and You bring forth the dead from the living. And You give sustenance to whom You choose, without stint. Qur'an (3:27)

5 Why we do Fasting? Its an obligation for MuslimsTo remember ALLAH’s blessings and thank Him for his bounties bestowed on us To purify ourselves For self-restraint To understand the conditions of poor Self-discipline and self-control

6 When we do fasting? In the month of Ramzan. Fasting in ShawwalFasting in Muharram When Prophet Muhammad (saw) settled in medina, there was a large group of Jewish people. They used to keep voluntary fast on 10th muharram, because according to them ALLAH saved the Prophet Musa from the great danger on that day The Prophet (saw) said that he (and the Muslims) were closer to Musa than the jews.

7 Method and Conditions In Quran we Read, “ Believers, fasting is decreed for you as it was decreed for those before you, so that you may remain God-fearing. (Fast) a certain number of days. But whoever of you is ill, or on a journey, (shall fast instead the same) number of days later on. Those who find fasting a strain too hard to bear may compensate for it by the feeding of a needy person. He who does good for his own account does himself good thereby ;for to fast is to do yourselves good, if you but knew it.”

8 The level of fasting The ritual Level The physical LevelMedical Benefits The Libidinal Level The emotional level The psychological level The spiritual level

9 Benefits Obligation Keeps us away from all sins and wrong doingsMakes us modest, humble, honest, truthful, understanding, patient, tolerant, charitable, considerable It purifies soul, body and mind

10 HAJJ 1. Origin and significance of Hajj 2. Restoration of True Hajj3. Renewal of Self 4. Renewal of Society

11 Origin and Significance of HAJJMeaning?? The Hajj is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people and their submission to Allah The Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) is the fifth pillar of islam Once in a life time we are obliged to perform this duty (conditions apply) Life and Mission of the Prophet Ibrahim (born in Iraq)

12 Life of Prophet IbrahimIbrahim , as a leader for all mankind. In surah Baqrah ALLAH asked Ibrahim to come to the religion Islam and surrend himself to ALLAH alone…and his reply. The royal court decided to put Ibrahim into fire as a punishment for breaking all idols By the grace of ALLAH fire turned into ice and ALLAH saved him He set out with his wife Sarah, and a nephew, Lut. Birth of Ismail

13 Life of Prophet IbrahimThe greatest of Trails: sacrifice of Ismail Ismail and Hajra in Mecca: Incident of ZamZam Water The universal Islamic Movement Lut in Sodom Ishaq in Palestine: son Yaqub, son Yusuf Construction of Ka’ba Prayers of Ibrahim Surah Baqrah

14 Restoration of true HajjHow corrupted hajj became A yearly Carnival Perverse Rites Self-imposed Restrictions Restoration of Hajj Fulfillment of Ibrahim’s Prayer Hazrat Muhammad (saw) came (after 2000 yrs) All mad made rituals and customs were discarded

15 Hajj Renewal of self Renewal of a society The journey Virtue and pietyIhram and its condition Talbiyyah Renewal of a society Growth in God-Consciousness A season of reawakening Inspiring spectacle of Unity Greatest movement for Peace Center for peace and equality Our lack of appreciation

16 Significance of PilgrimAmong all the acts of worship, Hajj is the only worship, for which a complete surah (Surah Hajj surah # 22 and total 78 verses) is revealed in the Holy Quran. Hajj is also the only worship, which, if started, must be completed and can not be left half-done,

17 Significance of Pilgrim“And it is for the sake of Allãh [a duty] upon the people to do the pilgrimage of the House—whosoever has the ability [to travel] to it. And whosoever is ungrateful, then surely Allãh is free from need of the universe.” (2:196) "And the Hajj is incumbent upon mankind for the sake of Allah, for those who can afford to undertake journey to it; and whoever denies, then surely Allah is Self-sufficient, independent of the worlds", Surah Ale Imran, (3:97).

18 Regarding Hajj-e-BadalA large body of Ulama is strongly opposed to Hajj-e-Badal as being totally at variance with the clear injunctions of the Qur'an and calls it an imitation of the Christian belief in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The Qur'an says: "No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another. And there is nothing for man except what he strives for." (53: 38-39)

19 Regarding Hajj-e-Badal"Ibn Abbas told of a man coming to the Prophet and saying that his sister had taken a vow to make the pilgrimage, but had died. The Prophet asked whether he would pay a debt, supposing she owed one, and when he replied that he would, he (the prophet) said: Well, pay the debt due to God, for it is the one which most deserves to be paid." (Bukhari, Muslim)

20 Regarding Hajj-e-BadalThus according to the above Ahadith, Hajj-e-Badal may be performed on behalf of (1) the DISABLED, and (2) the DEAD. But these Ahadith are TOTALLY in conflict with the Holy Quran: in the case of the DISABLED, because the Quran says clearly that Hajj is Fard only "on those who are able to undertake a journey to it" (3: 97); and in the case of the DEAD, because "man can have nothing except what he strives for " (53: 39). If a man is dead, it is obvious that he cannot STRIVE towards fulfilling the Fard of Hajj!

21 Regarding Hajj-e-BadalThus according to the Usool-e-Fiqh (Principles of Jurisprudence), any Hadith, which contradicts the Holy Quran, is not acceptable.

22 Significance of PilgrimHadees 1: If a person, on whom Hajj has become wajib, does not perform Hajj and dies, he/she will die as a Christian or a Jew. Hadees 2: If Hajj becomes wajib on a person and it is not performed, then he/she will be raised as a Christian or Jew on the day of judgment. Hadees 3: When a person, on whom Hajj becomes wajib, completes the Hajj properly, his/her sins are forgiven such as if he/she is a newly born person. Hadees 4: When a person completes a Hajj properly, his/her every dua is accepted for four months.

23 WHEN DOES HAJJ BECOMES WAJIB ?Hajj becomes wajib only when a Muslim attains certain capability (Isteta’at) as defined by Islamic sharia Hajj is therefore a conditional wajib (wajibe mashroot) act as opposed to absolute wajib (wajibe mutlaq) acts such as salat and sawm.

24 Obligatory Acts of Haj Mikkat: Ihram Talbhiyya: Staying at MinaWuquf-e-Arafat: 9th Zil-Haj upto 10th Zil-Haj, Imam’s Sermon Mudzalfa Mina Tawaf-e-Ziyarat: 10th, 11th and 12th of Zil-Haj Shaving of head and shortening of the hair If any of these three task is left out, there can be no Haj

25 Secondary ImperativesStay at Muzdalifah Sayi between safa and marwa Stonning the devil Sacrifice Shaving the head(male) shortening the hair Tawaf-e- wida

26 Sunnats of Haj Spending the night of 9th Zil-Haj in MinnaLeaving Mina after sunrise on the 9th for Arafat Leaving Arafat after the departure of Imam Staying the night at Muzdalifah on the return from Arafat Taking bath in Arafat If any of these sunnats cannot be performed, there is no penalty.

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28 Umra Also called Haj-e-Asghar Difference between Haj & UmraSimilarities of both

29 Benefits of Haj Religious Duty Unity Brotherhood Harmony, peace

30 Important things Imam Ali (a.s) was asked: What is the meaning of a pilgrim’s act when he restores to the Kaaba and catches hold of its curtains? He (a.s) answered: مَثَلُهُ مَثَلُ رَجلٍ لهُ عِندَ آخَرَ جِنايَةٌ وذَنبٌ فَهو مُتَعَلِّقٌ بِثوبِهِ ويَتَضرَّعُ اِلَيهِ ويخْضَعُ لهُ أنْ يتَجافى عَن ذَنبِهِ “His act is like one who has committed an offence against another person and now while regretting, he appeals to him, takes hold of his garment, and humbly asks for pardon.”[100]

31 The Holy Prophet (saw) is quoted by Selman the Persian as saying:“Allah says: O My servant, has it not happened that someone requests something great from you but you will not fulfill his desire unless he brings an intercessor who is dear to you? Let it be known to you that the most honorable and respectable men to Me are Mohammad (saw), his brother Ali (a.s), and the Imams (a.s) who are the media of nearness to Me. Therefore, if you have a desire for a profit or removing of a loss, call Me through Mohammad (saw) and his pure household. Then I will fulfill the desire in the best manner.”[125] Mahdi Mau’ood pg 750