Mishkat al-Masabih

Abu Huraira told that God's messenger addressed them saying, “Pilgrimage (In what follows I have used the word "pilgrimage” where only the hajj is intended; but when reference is made to both hajj and ’umra the Arabic words are used without translation to avoid misunderstanding.) has been ordained for you people, so perform it.” A man asked whether it should be performed annually, but God’s messenger gave no reply till he had asked the question three times. Then he said, “If I were to say that it should, it would be obligatory and you would not be able to perform it,” after which he said, “Leave me alone as long as I have said nothing to you, for your predecessors perished simply on account of their much questioning and their disagreement with their prophets. But when I command you to do anything, obey it as much as you can; and when I forbid you to do anything, leave it alone.” Muslim transmitted it.

He said that God’s messenger was asked what action was most excellent and replied that it was faith in God and His messenger. He was asked what came next and replied that it was jihad in God’s path. He was asked what came next and replied that it was a pilgrimage which was accepted. Bukhari and Muslim.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone performs the pilgrimage for God’s sake without talking immodestly or acting wickedly, he will return as on the day his mother bore him.” Bukhari and Muslim.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “An 'umra is an expiation for sins committed between it and the next, but a hajj which is accepted will receive no less a reward than paradise.” Bukhari and Muslim.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “An 'umra in Ramadan is equal to a hajja. ” (hajj is the word for the pilgrimage and hajja is a form indicating a single observance.) He told of the Prophet meeting some riders at ar-Rauha’ (A place between thirty and forty miles from Medina on the way to Mecca) and asking who they were. They replied that they were Muslims and asked who he was. When he said that he was God's messenger a woman lifted up a boy to him and asked whether the child could be credited with having performed the pilgrimage, to which he replied, “Yes, and you will have a reward.” Muslim transmitted it.

He told of a woman of Khath'am saying, “Messenger of God, God’s ordinance that His servants should perform the pilgrimage has come when my father is a very old man and is unable to sit firmly on a camel. May I perform the pilgrimage on his behalf?” He replied that she might. That was at the Farewell Pilgrimage. Bukhari and Muslim.

He 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 said, “Well, pay the debt due to God, for it is the one which most deserves to be paid.” Bukhari and Muslim.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “A man must not be alone with a woman, and a woman must travel only when accompanied by a man who is within the prohibited degrees.” A man said, “I have been enrolled for such and such an expedition, and my wife intends to go out to perform the pilgrimage.” He therefore told him to go and perform the pilgrimage along with his wife. Bukhari and Muslim.

‘Aisha said she asked the Prophet’s permission to take part in jihad, and he replied, “The jihad of you women is the pilgrimage.” Bukhari and Muslim.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “A woman must not make a journey of a day and a night unless she is accompanied by a man who is within the prohibited degrees.” Bukhari and Muslim.

Dhul Hulaifa for the people of Medina, al- Juhfa for the people of Syria, Qarn al-Manazil for the people of Najd, and Yalamlam for the people of the Yemen ; so these spots are for these regions and for people of other regions who come to them intending to perform the hajj and the ‘umra. The place where those who live nearer to Mecca should put on the ihram (The pilgrim dress) is where they live, and so on and so on up to the inhabitants of Mecca itself who put on the ihram in it. Bukhari and Muslim.

Jabir reported God’s messenger as saying, “The place for the people of Medina to put on the ihram is Dhul Hulaifa, and on the other road al-Juha. For the people of al-Iraq it is Dhat ‘Irq, for the people of Najd it is Qarn, and for the people of the Yemen it is Yalamlam." Muslim transmitted it.

Anas said that God’s messenger performed the 'umra four times, each of them Dhul Qa'da except the one which was combined with his hajja, one from al-Hudaibiya in Dhul Qa'da, one in the following year in Dhul Qa'da, one from al-Ji'rana where he divided the spoils of Hunain (The battle in which the Prophet defeated Hawazin after the conquest of Mecca in 8 A.H) in Dhul Qa'da, and one along with his hajja. Bukhari and Muslim.

Al-Bara’ b. ‘Azib said that God’s messenger performed the ‘umra twice in Dhul Qa'da before performing the hajj. Bukhari transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “God has prescribed the pilgrimage for you people." Al-Aqra' b. Habis then got up and asked whether it was to be performed annually, to which God’s messenger replied that if he were to tell them that it was, it would become obligatory, and if it did they would not keep it nor be able to do so, adding, “The pilgrimage should be performed once, and if anyone does it oftener he performs supererogatory act." Ahmad, Nasa'i and Darimi transmitted it.

‘All reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone possesses enough provision and a riding-beast to take him to God’s House and does not perform the pilgrimage, it does not matter whether he dies a Jew or Christian. That is because God who is blessed and exalted says, 'Pilgrimage to the House is a duty men owe to God, those who can afford the journey'. (Qur’an, 3:97). ” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition whose isnad is criticised, Hilal b. ‘Abdallah is unknown, and al- Harith is declared to be weak in tradition.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Islam does not allow for failure to perform the pilgrimage." Abu Dawud transmitted it. (The word used here is sarura. The meaning is strictly "one who does not perform the pilgrimage." It is explained as coming from sarr which indicates the act of confining, or withholding. Another meaning is abstinence from marriage, and the tradition is sometimes explained as meaning that Islam does not allow of celibacy; but while that is a possible interpretation it is not the appropriate one in this chapter).

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who intends to perform the pilgrimage should hasten to do so." Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud reported God’s messenger as saying, “Make the hajj and the ‘umra follow one another closely, for they remove poverty and sins as a blacksmith’s bellows remove impurities from iron, gold and silver; and a hajja which is accepted gets no less a reward than paradise." Tirmidhi and Nasa'i transmitted it, and Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it from ‘Umar up to “from iron."

Ibn ‘Umar said that a man came to the Prophet and asked what makes it necessary for one to perform the pilgrimage. He replied, “Provisions and a riding-beast. ’ ’ Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

He said that a man asked God’s messenger to describe a pilgrim, and he replied, “Unkempt and unperfumed." Another got up and asked which part of the pilgrimage was most excellent, and he replied, “Raising the voice in the talbiya and shedding the blood of sacrificial victims." Another got up and asked the meaning of sabil (This refers to the words translated "those who can afford the journey" in Qur’an 3:97, quoted above in ’All’s tradition), and he replied, “Provisions and a riding-beast." It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna, and Ibn Majah transmitted it in his Sunan without mentioning the last section.

Abu Razln al-‘Uqaili told that he went to the Prophet and said, “Messenger of God, my father is a very old man who is unable to perform the hajj and the ‘umra, or to ride." He replied, “Perform them both on behalf of your father." Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan sahih tradition.

Ibn ‘Abbas told that God's messenger heard a man say, “Labbaik on behalf of Shubruma." He asked who Shubruma was, and the man replied, “A brother of mine," or “a relative of mine." He asked whether he had performed the pilgrimage on his own behalf, and when he replied that he had not, he said, “Perform the pilgrimage on your own behalf, then perform it on behalf of Shubruma." Shafi'i, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

He said that God’s messenger appointed al-‘Aqiq as the place where the people of the east should put on the ihram. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘A’isha said that God's messenger appointed Dhat ‘Irq as the place where the people of al-‘Iraq should put on the ihram. Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Umm Salama said she heard God's messenger say, “If anyone puts on the ihram for a hajja or an ‘umra from the Aqsa mosque to the sacred mosque, his former and latter sins will be forgiven him," or, “he will be guaranteed paradise." Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that the people of the Yemen used to perform the pilgrimage without bringing provisions, declaring that they put their trust in God; and when they came to Mecca they begged from the people. So God most high sent down, “And bring provisions, but the best provision is piety.’’(Qur’an 2:197) Bukhari transmitted it.

‘A’isha said that she asked God’s messenger whether jihad was incumbent on women, and he replied, “Yes, jihad which does not include fighting is incumbent on them. It is the hajj and the ‘umra.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Umama reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who is not prevented from performing the pilgrimage by an obvious necessity, a tyrannical ruler, or a disease which confines him at home and dies without having performed the pilgrimage, may die if he wishes as a Jew, or if he wishes as a Christian.” Darimi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying, “Those who perform the hajj and those who perform the 'umra are people who have come to visit God. If they supplicate Him He will respond to them, and if they ask Him for forgiveness He will forgive them.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

The warrior, the one who performs the hajj, and the one who performs the ‘umra.” Nasa’i and Baihaqi, in Shu'ab al-iman, transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “When you meet one who has performed the pilgrimage, greet him, shake hands with him and tell him to ask forgiveness for you before he enters his house, for he has been forgiven.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone goes out to perform hajj or 'umra, or to fight with infidels, and dies on the way, God will record for him the reward of him who fights with infidels, him who performs the hajj and him who performs the 'umra.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

I used to perfume God’s messenger with a perfume containing musk preparatory to his entering the sacred state before he put on the ihram, and when he put off the ihram, before he made the circuits round the House. I still seem to see the glistening of the perfume where the hair was parted on God’s messenger’s head while he was wearing the ihram. Bukhari and Muslim.

Ibn ‘Umar said that he heard God’s messenger say when with his hair matted he raised his voice in the talbiya, “Labbaik, O God, labbaik labbaik; Thou hast no partner; labbaik; praise and grace are Thine, and the dominion; Thou hast no partner,” saying nothing more than these words. Bukhari and Muslim.

He said that when God’s messenger put his foot in the stirrup and his she-camel stood up with him on its back, he raised his voice in the talbiya from the mosque of Dhul Hulaifa. Bukhari and Muslim.

We went out with God’s messenger crying aloud (talbiya,/i>) at the pilgrimage. Muslim transmitted it.

I was riding behind Abu Talha, and the people were crying aloud for both of them, the hajj and the ‘umra. Bukhari transmitted it.

We went out with God’s messenger in the year of the Farewell Pilgrimage, some of us raising our voices in the i>talbiya for an ‘umra, some for hajj and ‘umra, and others for the hajj, but God’s messenger raised his voice in the talbiya for the hajj. Those who did it for an 'umra took off the ihram, but those who did it for the hajj, or who combined the hajj and the ‘umra did not remove the ihram till the day of sacrifice. Bukhari and Muslim.

Ibn ‘Umar said that at the Farewell Pilgrimage God’s messenger performed the ‘umra first and the hajj later (The phrase used is tamata'a bil-’umra ilal-hajj which indicates gaining the advantage of the ‘umra and waiting till the time for the hajj comes without requiring to wear the ihram during the intervening period. It is a difficult phrase to translate, and therefore one can only indicate its general meaning in a translation), raising his voice in the talbiya first for the 'umra and afterwards for the hajj. Bukhari and Muslim.

Zaid b. Thabit said he saw the Prophet strip to put on his ihram, and bathe. Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar said that the Prophet matted his hair with ghisl (A lotion made of marsh-mallows, or lotus leaves, or fuller’s earth, or potash with water). Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Khallad b. as-Sa’ib on his father’s authority reported God’s messenger as saying, “Gabriel came to me and commanded me to order my companions to raise their voices in the talbiya.” (The tradition ends by saying they were to raise their voices bil-ihlal au at-talbiya. These are alternative words meaning the same thing, and therefore I have not given any alternative in the translation) Malik, Tirmidhi, Abd Dawud, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Sahl b. Sa‘d reported God’s messenger as saying, “No Muslim raises his voice in the talbiya without all on his right and left’, stones, or trees, or clods, doing the same till the earth is traversed on both sides,” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar said that God’s messenger used to perform two rak’as in Dhul Hulaifa, then when the she-camel stood up with him on its back at the mosque of Dhul Hulaifa, he shouted these words, saying, “Lubbaik, O God, labbaik labbaik wa-sa‘daik ('Always ready to obey.’) ; good is in Thy hands; labbaik; desire and action are directed towards Thee. (Bukhari and Muslim, the wording being Muslim's.) (It is strange to find a tradition from Bukhari and Muslim in section (b). The author has explained in his introduction that section (a) is confined to Bukhari and Muslim and section (b) to other authorities)

‘Umara b. Khuzaima b. Thabit said on his father's authority that when the Prophet finished his talbiya, he asked God for His good pleasure and for paradise, and asked Him to preserve him in His mercy from hell. Shafi'i transmitted it.

Jabir said that when God’s messenger intended to perform the pilgrimage he made proclamation among the people and they assembled. Then when he came to al-Baida’ (a place near Dhul Hulaifa) he put on the ihram. Bukhari transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that the polytheists used to say, “Labbaik, Thou hast no partner," whereupon God’s messenger would say, “Woe to you ! Enough, enough; ‘except a partner who is Thine whom Thou possessest', when He possesses none.” They used to say this when they were going round the House. Muslim transmitted it.

God’s messenger remained in Medina nine years, during which he had not performed the hajj, then made a public announcement in the tenth year to the effect that God’s messenger was about to perform the hajj. Large numbers came to Medina, and we went out with him. When we reached Dhul Hulaifa, Asma’ daughter of ‘Umais, gave birth to Muhammad b. Abu Bakr and sent to God’s messenger asking what she was to do. He replied, “Bathe, bandage your private parts with a cloth, and put on the ihram.” God’s messenger then prayed in the mosque, and after he had mounted al-Qaswa' and his she-camel stood erect with him on its back at al-Baida’, he raised his voice declaring God’s unity and saying, “Labbaik, O God, labbaik labbaik; Thou hast no partner; labbaik; praise and grace are Thine and the dominion; Thou hast no partner.” Jabir said : We did not express our intention of performing anything but the hajj, being unaware of the ‘umra said: The total of those sacrificial animals brought by ‘Ali from the Yemen and of those brought by the Prophet was a hundred. Then all the people, except the Prophet and those who had with them sacrificial animals, removed the ihram and clipped their hair. When yaum at-tarwiya (The 8th of Dhul Hijja, the day when pilgrims leave Mecca and go to Mina. The name is commonly explained as meaning that this was the day when the pilgrims provided themselves with a supply of water for the arid journey before them) came they went towards Mina having put on the ihram for the hajj, and the Prophet rode and prayed there the noon, afternoon, sunset, evening and dawn prayers. After that he waited a little till the sun rose, and gave orders for a tent of hair to be set up for him at Namira (A place or a hill near ‘Arafa). God’s messenger then set out, and Quraish did not doubt that he would observe a halt at the sacred site (At al-Muzdalifa, al-Mash'ar al-haram, a hill sacred to the god Ouzah in pre-lslamic times), as Quraish used to do in the pre-Islamic period ; but he passed on till he came to ‘Arafa and found that the tent had been set up for him at Namira. There he dismounted, and when the sun had passed the meridian he ordered al- Qaswa’ to be brought, and when it was saddled for him he went down into the valley and addressed the people, saying, “Your lives and your property must be respected by one another like the sacredness of this day of yours in this month of yours in this town of yours. Everything pertaining to the pre-Islamic period has been put under my feet, and claims for blood-vengeance belonging to the pre-lslamic period have been abolished. The first of those murdered among us whose blood-vengeance I remit is the son of Rabi'a b. al-Harith (Rabi’a was a grandson of 'Abd al-Muttalib. The name of the child who had been killed is variously given as Adam, Tammam and Iyas. Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr says Adam is a mistake, but does not commit himself to either of the other two names) who was suckled among the B. Sa'd and killed by Hudhail. The usury of the pre-Islamic period is abolished, and the first of our usury I abolish is that of ‘Abbas b. ‘Abd al-Muttalib, for it is all abolished. Show fear towards God regarding women, for you have got them under God’s security, and have the right to intercourse with them by God's word. They must not bring into your houses anyone whom you dislike, but if they do that beat them, though not severely. You are responsible for providing them with their food and clothing in a fitting manner. I have left among you something, i.e. God’s Book, by which, if you hold to it, you will never again go astray. You will be asked about me, so what will you say?" They replied, “We testify that you have conveyed and fulfilled the message and given counsel. ” Then raising his forefinger towards the sky and pointing it at the people, he said, “O God, be witness ; O God, be witness,” saying it three times. Bilal then uttered the call to prayer, and the iqama, and he prayed the noon prayer; he then uttered the iqama and he prayed the afternoon prayer, engaging in no prayer between the two. He then mounted his camel and came to the place of standing, making his she-camel al-Qaswa’ turn its back to the rocks and having the path taken by those who went on foot (The Arabic is Habl al-mushat, which is variously explained as above, or as ‘the concourse of horse on foot', or as the name of a place.) in front of him. He faced the qibla and remained standing till sunset when the yellow light had somewhat gone and the disc of the sun had disappeared. He took Usama up behind him and went quickly till he came to al-Muzdalifa, where he prayed the sunset and the evening prayer with one adhan and two iqamas without saying ‘Glory be to God' between them. He then lay down till dawn and prayed the dawn prayer with an adhan and an iqama when the morning light was clear. He then mounted al-Qaswa’ and when he came to the sacred site he faced the qibla, supplicated God, declared His greatness, His uniqueness and His unity, and kept standing till the daylight was very clear. He then went quickly before the sun rose, taking al-Fadl b. ‘Abbas behind him, and came to the valley of Muhassir (Between al-Muzdalifa and Mini). He urged the camel a little and following the middle road which comes out at the greatest jamra (Jamra, originally a pebble, is applied to a heap of stones, of which there are three in the valley of Mina. One of the rites of the hajj is to throw small stones at them), he came to the jamra which is beside the tree. At this he threw seven small pebbles (Literally, 'pebbles that are thrown’: used to indicate small pebbles about the size of a date-stone), saying “God is most great” each time he threw a pebble. He threw them from the bottom of the valley, then went to the place of sacrifice and sacrificed sixty-three victims with his own hand. Then he gave some to ‘Ali who sacrificed the remainder, and he shared with him in his sacrificial animals. After that he ordered that a piece of flesh from each victim should be put in a pot, and when it was cooked the two of them ate some of it and drank some of its broth. Then God’s messenger mounted, and going quickly to the House, prayed the noon prayer in Mecca. He came to the B. ‘Abd al-Muttalib who were supplying water at Zamzam and said, “Draw water, B. ‘Abd al-Muttalib. Were it not that people would take from you the right to draw water, I would draw it along with you.” So they handed him a bucket and he drank from it. Muslim transmitted it.

We went out with the Prophet at the Farewell Pilgrimage, some of us raising our voices in the talbiya for an ‘umra and others for a hajj. When we came to Mecca God s messenger said, “Those who have raised their voices in the talbiya for an ‘umra and have not brought sacrificial animals may put off the ihram, but those who have put on the ihram for an 'umra and brought sacrificial animals must raise their voices in the talbiya for the hajj along with the ’umra, and not put it off till they do so after performing them both ; (a version has “and not put it off till they do so after sacrificing their animals”) and those who have raised their voices in the talbiya for a hajj must complete their hajj." She said: I menstruated, and did not go round the House or run between as-Safa and al-Marwa, and I continued in my courses till the day of ‘Arafa. I had raised my voice in the talbiya only for an ’umra, but the Prophet ordered me to undo my hair, comb it, raise my voice in the talbiya for the hajj, and let the ‘umra go, which I did, and performed my hajj. He sent ‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Abu Bakr along with me and ordered me to make an ‘umra in place of the one I had missed from at-Tan‘im. She said: Those who had raised their voices in the talbiya for the ‘umra put off the ihram after making the circuit of the House and running between as-Safa and al-Marwa, then made a circuit after they returned from Mina, but those who combined the hajj and the ‘umra made only one circuit. (Bukharl and Muslim.)