Conduct during the journey to Hajj
Why the money spent on Hajj must be lawfully earned, and how a pilgrim should treat companions and strangers along the way.
The money used for Hajj must be earned honestly. If someone performs Hajj using money they got in a forbidden way, their Hajj is rejected, even the words they call out (the Talbiyah) are not accepted.
A pilgrim should treat their travelling companions with kindness: smiling, speaking gently, and never pushing or arguing over water or supplies. When people asked the Prophet ﷺ what the best deed during Hajj is, he answered:
إِطْعَامُ الطَّعَامِ وَ لِیۡنُ الْكَلَامِ
Iṭʿāmu'ṭ-ṭaʿāmi wa līnu'l-kalām
Feeding food and speaking gently.
The money spent on Hajj must be lawfully earned; Hajj funded by unlawful wealth is not accepted, and the Talbiyah of such a pilgrim is rejected.
123A pilgrim should carry enough provisions to support weaker or needier companions, and, if travelling by camel, should be careful not to overload the animal beyond what it can bear. At every stop, one should give charity within one's means; the Companions once asked the Prophet ﷺ what the best deed in Hajj was, and he replied:
إِطْعَامُ الطَّعَامِ وَ لِیۡنُ الْكَلَامِ
Iṭʿāmu'ṭ-ṭaʿāmi wa līnu'l-kalām
Feeding food and speaking gently.
The Prophet ﷺ said every sin has a way back through repentance, except bad manners, for whoever repents from one instance of it tends to fall into something worse. One should treat a companion with kindness and offer them the best of what one has: the Prophet ﷺ himself once gave a companion the straighter of two miswaks he had found, keeping the crooked one for himself, saying that no companion accompanies another, even for a moment, without being asked whether he upheld the rights owed in that companionship or wasted them.
The money spent on Hajj must be lawfully earned; Hajj funded by unlawful wealth is not accepted, and the Talbiyah of such a pilgrim is rejected.
123A pilgrim should carry enough provisions to support weaker or needier companions, and, if travelling by camel, should be careful not to overload the animal beyond what it can bear. At every stop, one should give charity within one's means; the Companions once asked the Prophet ﷺ what the best deed in Hajj was, and he replied:
إِطْعَامُ الطَّعَامِ وَ لِیۡنُ الْكَلَامِ
Iṭʿāmu'ṭ-ṭaʿāmi wa līnu'l-kalām
Feeding food and speaking gently.
The Prophet ﷺ said every sin has a way back through repentance, except bad manners, for whoever repents from one instance of it tends to fall into something worse. One should treat a companion with kindness and offer them the best of what one has: the Prophet ﷺ himself once gave a companion the straighter of two miswaks he had found, keeping the crooked one for himself, saying that no companion accompanies another, even for a moment, without being asked whether he upheld the rights owed in that companionship or wasted them.
This is the English translation of Nisab Ahle Khidmaat Sharia, exactly as the book has it, for the passages this page was written from. About 625 words. Switch back to Guide for the rewritten version.
Account of the Journey of Hajj and Departure from One’s Homeland
Refer to the supplications for travel in Hisn Haseen or similar books and act upon them. For Hajj, earn lawful and pure income, as Hajj is not accepted if funded by unlawful means. According to a narration by Mustat’ (Ibn al-Ma’ad), the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "When someone performs Hajj with unlawful earnings and says the Talbiyah, Allah says: لَا لَبَّيْكَ وَلَا سَعْدَيْكَ وَ حَجُّكَ هٰذَا مَرْدُودٌ عَلَيْكَ(There is no Labbaik or Sa'dayk for you, and your Hajj is rejected.) So, shouting the Talbiyah is not accepted, and this Hajj is nullified. However, if the wealth is dubious, the obligation of Hajj is waived. Therefore, the one who has questionable wealth should take a loan to perform Hajj and pay off the debt from that questionable wealth.
One should carry enough wealth to provide for companions and those who are weak or in need. If the mode of transport is a camel, the rider should show or mention the load's weight, ensuring not to burden the animal with excessive cargo without its consent. It is narrated that a person once brought a letter to Abdullah ibn Mubarak. He replied, "Keep it with you, let me check with the camel driver and I will respond after."
At each stop, one should give charity according to their means, for the people asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) about the best act in Hajj, and he replied:
إِطْعَامُ الطَّعَامِ وَ لِیۡنُ الْكَلَامِ
Translation: "Feeding food and speaking gently."
Based on this hadith, it is also necessary to treat one’s companions with good character, greet them with a smile, and avoid harsh words or arguments. Do not push or jostle others when buying water or supplies. Stay away from irritability and rudeness. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
مَا عَنْ ذَنْبِ إِلَّا وَ لَهٗ تَوْبَةٌ إِلَّا مَا كَانَ مِنْ سُوۡ ءِ الْخُلُقِ فَإِنَّهٗ كُلَّمَا تَابَ عَنْ ذَنْبِ عَادَ فِيْمَا هُوَ شَرٌّ مِنۡهُ
Translation: "Every sin has a repentance, except that of bad manners, for when a person with bad manners repents from one sin, they fall into something worse than it."
Treat your companion with kindness and offer them the best of what you have.
It is narrated that once, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) entered a bush with a companion. From there, he took two miswaks, gave the straight one to the companion, and kept the crooked one for himself. The companion said, "O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), you are more deserving of the straight miswak." He replied:
مَا مِنْ صَاحِبِ يَصْحَبُ صَاحِبًا وَ لَوْ سَاعَةً مِنْ نَهَارِ إِلَّا سُئِلَ عَنْ صُحْبَتِهٖ هَلْ أَقَامَ فِيهَا حَقَّ اللَّهِ تَعَالٰى أَوْ أَضَاعَهٗ
Translation: "There is no companion who accompanies another, even if it is for just one moment, but he will certainly be asked about the companionship: Did he fulfill the rights of Allah in it, or did he waste it?"
It is recommended that one should not share food or travel companions, even if the companion is willing, in order to avoid any disputes.
One should take along a companion who is righteous, wise, compatible in temperament, experienced in travel, inclined towards goodness, and averse to evil, and not one who is a close relative. And if such a person, possessing all these qualities, is found, then what a blessing it is! One should seek to learn religious matters from him, especially the issues related to Hajj and Umrah.
It is disliked to carry a dog or a clock with you during travel. If anyone leaves their house without proper provisions and means, do not criticize them. Instead, if possible, offer them help, or give a soft response and pray for their assistance.
Related
- Performing Hajj on behalf of someone else (Hajj Badal) When a pilgrim is stopped before finishing, and when someone unable to travel must send another person to perform Hajj on their behalf.
- The conditions that make Hajj obligatory The conditions of ability (istita'ah): freedom, sanity, adulthood, physical capability, means and a safe route, plus the two further conditions for women.
- Preparing for the journey of Hajj What to put right before travelling for Hajj: sincerity of intention, repentance, debts, the welfare of one's family, and writing a will.
- The obligation of Hajj Why Hajj is obligatory (fard) on every able Muslim, drawn from the Qur'an and hadith, and that it is owed only once in a lifetime.