Signs of Accepted Hajj

Hajj is a basic pillar of Islam and a very important act of worship. In order to perform this obligatory act every year, millions of Muslims wear simple and similar attire irrespective of their colour and race forgetting their disagreements and gather on the blessed land of the Haram. The world is astonished to see this amazing example of unity. This moment is not less than a great blessing for the Hajis (pilgrims) as these fortunate people are blessed with the special favours of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and are blessed with such great gifts in exchange for Hajj that the Muslims who are not financially and physically able to perform Hajj, when they hear about them, they develop the deep desire to pay a visit to this sacred place.

Virtues of an accepted Hajj

The meaning and virtues of Hajj-e-Mabroor have been mentioned in blessed Ahadees.

1. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: The reward of an accepted Hajj is not less than Paradise. It was humbly asked, ‘What is meant by Maqbool (accepted)?’ It was replied, ‘The Hajj in which food is given and good conversation is made.

(Al-Mu’jam-ul-Awsat, vol. 6, pp. 173, Hadees 8405)

2. The Prophet of Rahmah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: The reward for an accepted Hajj is Paradise. The blessed companions humbly asked, ‘Ya Rasoolallah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! What is an accepted Hajj?’ It was replied, ‘The Hajj in which the hungry are fed and Salam is to be promoted.

(Kanz-ul-‘Ummal, vol. 3, pp. 7, Hadees 11830)

Signs of an accepted Hajj

Hujjat-ul-Islam, Sayyiduna Imam Muhammad Ghazali رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated: It is reported, ‘One of the signs of an accepted Hajj is that a Haji gives up all those acts of disobedience that he was indulged in the past, he quits the company of bad friends and keeps the company of pious people, he abandons the gatherings of sports and entertainments, and attends the gatherings of Zikr and Fikr (contemplation) and the gatherings in which the Zikr of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and His Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is done abundantly.

(Ihya-ul-‘Uloom, vol. 1, pp. 803)

Ala Hadrat, Imam-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat, Maulana Shah Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has said: The sign of a Hajj-e-Mabroor (an accepted Hajj) is that the Haji becomes better than before when he returns.

(Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 24, 467)

The renowned and leading scholar of Shari’ah and Tareeqah, ‘Allamah Maulana Mufti Muhammad Amjad Ali A’zami رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said: The Haji should take provisions more than his need so that he can help his fellow travellers and give Sadaqah (charity) to the poor. This is also a sign of an accepted Hajj.

(Bahar-e-Shari’at, part 6, vol. 1, pp. 1051, slightly modified)

Shaykh-ul-Hadees ‘Allamah ‘Abdul Mustafa A’zami رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has said: An accepted Hajj is a Hajj during which the Haji does not commit any sinful act, nor is there any doubt of showing-off nor fame, rather, good deeds are performed only for the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ .

(Bihisht ki Kunjiyan, pp. 107, slightly modified)

A renowned commentator, a great thinker of the Ummah, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has also mentioned some signs of an accepted Hajj in many places. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said:

* An accepted Hajj is that Hajj which is free from quarrels, sins and showing-off and is performed correctly.

(Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 4, pp. 87)

* An accepted Hajj is the Hajj that is performed after offering Salah etc.

(Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 4, pp. 146)

* An accepted Hajj refers to a Hajj in which one abstains from sins or the Hajj in which one abstains from showing-off and fame or

* It is a Hajj, after which, the Haji abstains from sins till his death and does not perform any act that ruins his Hajj.

* Sayyiduna Hasan Basri رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has said: An accepted Hajj is such a Hajj, after which, the Haji desires the Hereafter and not the world.

* It is a Hajj that softens the heart of the Haji and he has sorrow in his heart and wetness in his eyes

(Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 5, pp. 441)

* An accepted Hajj is one that is performed correctly with Halal earnings, that is performed with sincerity and the Haji does not perform any such act till his death that ruins his Hajj, that is, the reward of an accepted Hajj will not be only in the form of worldly food and forgiveness from sins or salvation from Hell or relief in torment, but Paradise must be granted.

(Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 4, pp. 96)

حج کا شَرَف ہو پھر عطا یا ربِّ مصطَفٰے میٹھا مدینہ پھر دِکھا یا ربِّ مصطَفٰے

دیدے طوافِ خانَۂ کعبہ کا پھر شَرَف فرما یہ پورا مُدَّعا یا ربِّ مصطَفٰے

Hajj performed by Sayyidatuna Raabi’ah ‘Adawiyyah

Sayyidatuna Raabi’ah ‘Adawiyyah رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهَا performed Hajj after traveling bare-feet. She رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهَا would distribute whatever food Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ granted her. As she رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهَا reached the Holy Ka’bah she fainted. When she رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهَا regained consciousness, she placed her cheek on (the doorframe of) the blessed Baytullah and humbly said, ‘O Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! This is the shelter of your bondmen and You love them; Maula! Now tears are no more in my eyes.’ Then she رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهَا performed Tawaf; after performing Sa’ee when she intended to observe Wuqoof-e-‘Arafah, her monthly began. Whilst weeping, she رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهَا humbly said , ‘O my Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! If this had happened because of anybody else except You I would have registered a complaint to You but it has happened according to Your will, so how can I complain!’ Upon saying this she heard a voice from the angel who gives the call from the unseen (Ghayb), ‘O Raabi’ah! We have accepted the Hajj of all the Hajis because of you and due to this situation of yours, their deficiencies have also been overcome.’

(Ar-Raud-ul-Faaiq, pp. 60)

یا خدا! حج پہ بُلا آ کے میں کعبہ دیکھوں کاش! اِکبار میں پھر میٹھا مدینہ دیکھوں

پھر مُیَسَّر ہو مجھے کاش! وُقُوفِ عَرَفات جَلوَہ میں مُزدَلِفہ اور مِنٰی کا دیکھوں

Undoubtedly, it is the wish of every Hajj pilgrim to return after attaining the blessings of Hajj and the Hereafter which are obtained from Hajj and to be amongst those fortunate ones whose Hajj is accepted by Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ . Therefore, the fortunate people who are privileged to perform Hajj and ‘Umrah should seriously contemplate as to whether the money they are going to spend for Hajj and ‘Umrah is Halal or not as one of the signs of Hajj being accepted is that the Hajj should be performed with Halal and pure money.

One of the signs of an accepted Hajj is that a Haji (one who performs Hajj) gives up the disobedience he was committing earlier and keeps the company of pious people after leaving his bad friends. He attends the gatherings of Zikr and Fikr and the gatherings in which the Zikr of Allahعَزَّوَجَلَّ and His Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is done abundantly after giving up the gatherings of sport and entertainments and heedlessness. Another sign of an accepted Hajj is that a Haji becomes better than before when he returns. Another sign of an accepted Hajj is that a Haji should get more provisions for his journey rather than only the necessary things so that he can help his fellow travellers and can give Sadaqah to Faqeers (the poor). A Haji should not commit any sinful act during the Hajj, nor should there be any doubt of showing-off and fame about him, but he should perform good deeds for the pleasure of Allahعَزَّوَجَلَّ . Also, his Hajj should be free of quarrels, sins and showing-off and it should be performed correctly. It should be performed by also establishing his Salah etc. Another sign of accepted Hajj is that a Haji dislikes the world and pays his attention to the Hereafter or it softens the heart of the Haji in a way that he has sorrow in the heart and wetness in the eyes.

May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ bless all of us with the privilege of an accepted Hajj and the journey to Madinah for the sake of His Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم!

مکّہ بھی ہو نصیب مدینہ نصیب ہو دشتِ عَرَب نصیب ہو صَحرا نصیب ہو

کعبے کے جلوؤں سے دلِ مُضطَر ہو کاش! شاد لُطفِ طوافِ خانَۂ کعبہ نصیب ہو

اٰمِيۡن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِّ الۡاَمِيۡن صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِه وَسَلَّم

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد