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.
Before setting out for Hajj, a person should get their heart and their affairs in order. The whole point of the journey is to please Allah, not to show off, go sightseeing, or make money, though there is nothing wrong with doing a little trade along the way if Hajj is still the main reason for going.
لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ اَنْ تَبْتَغُوْا فَضْلًا مِّنْ رَّبِّكُمْؕ فَاِذَا͏ٓ اَفَضْتُمْ مِّنْ عَرَفٰتٍ فَاذْكُرُوا اللّٰهَ عِنْدَ الْمَشْعَرِ الْحَرَامِࣕ وَاذْكُرُوْهُ كَمَا هَدٰىكُمْۚ وَاِنْ كُنْتُمْ مِّنْ قَبْلِهٖ لَمِنَ الضَّا࢜لِّيْنَ ١٩٨
Laysa ʿalaykum junāḥun an tabtaghū faḍlan min rabbikum
There is no sin unto you that you seek the bounty of your Lord. Then when you return back from 'Arafat' remembers Allah near Mashhare-Haram (Qazah Mountain) and remembers Him as He guided you and no doubt, you had gone astray before.
Qurʼan 2:198, Al-Baqarah, from Zujajah.org
Before leaving, a pilgrim should
- Turn back to Allah in repentance from every sin.
- Make peace with anyone they have wronged, and ask for their forgiveness.
- Pay back debts and return anything they were trusted to keep for someone else.
- Make sure their family and anyone who depends on them will be looked after and provided for the whole time they are away.
- Write a will, naming someone they trust to carry it out.
- Learn the rules of Hajj and of travelling before they go.
A person intending Hajj should travel with the sole aim of pleasing Allah, not out of pride, for sightseeing, or for business. If Hajj remains the primary purpose and trade is only incidental to it, there is no harm in combining the two.
لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ اَنْ تَبْتَغُوْا فَضْلًا مِّنْ رَّبِّكُمْؕ فَاِذَا͏ٓ اَفَضْتُمْ مِّنْ عَرَفٰتٍ فَاذْكُرُوا اللّٰهَ عِنْدَ الْمَشْعَرِ الْحَرَامِࣕ وَاذْكُرُوْهُ كَمَا هَدٰىكُمْۚ وَاِنْ كُنْتُمْ مِّنْ قَبْلِهٖ لَمِنَ الضَّا࢜لِّيْنَ ١٩٨
Laysa ʿalaykum junāḥun an tabtaghū faḍlan min rabbikum
There is no sin unto you that you seek the bounty of your Lord. Then when you return back from 'Arafat' remembers Allah near Mashhare-Haram (Qazah Mountain) and remembers Him as He guided you and no doubt, you had gone astray before.
Qurʼan 2:198, Al-Baqarah, from Zujajah.org
It is essential to repent from all sins beforehand and, so far as possible, to seek forgiveness for wrongs against others, settle debts, return whatever was entrusted, and reconcile with enemies; repentance is accepted only once these are done.
Before travelling, a person must pay off debts, return entrusted property, and put right wrongs against other people so far as possible.
12It is obligatory to arrange for the welfare of one's family and dependants for the whole period until returning from Hajj; this must never be neglected.
12One should also see to the comfort of one's parents, and of anyone whose obedience and support are obligatory. Leaving a parent who needs care unattended is disliked. If parents forbid someone from performing an obligatory (fard) Hajj, their permission is not required; but if the Hajj is voluntary, honouring and serving one's parents takes priority over going. In the absence of parents, grandparents are treated the same way.
It is advisable to write a will naming a trusted executor, so that the rights of Allah and the rights owed to other people are settled after death.
Before choosing a time and route, one may pray Salat al-Istikharah two or three or seven times and consult a book of supplications such as Hisn Hasin, though this is not required for the journey itself. It is recommended to bring a miswak, kohl, needle, mirror, comb, thread, scissors, knife, razor, a staff, and a vessel for wudu, and to set out on a Thursday or a Monday, having already learned the rulings of Hajj and of travel beforehand.
A person intending Hajj should travel with the sole aim of pleasing Allah, not out of pride, for sightseeing, or for business. If Hajj remains the primary purpose and trade is only incidental to it, there is no harm in combining the two.
لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ اَنْ تَبْتَغُوْا فَضْلًا مِّنْ رَّبِّكُمْؕ فَاِذَا͏ٓ اَفَضْتُمْ مِّنْ عَرَفٰتٍ فَاذْكُرُوا اللّٰهَ عِنْدَ الْمَشْعَرِ الْحَرَامِࣕ وَاذْكُرُوْهُ كَمَا هَدٰىكُمْۚ وَاِنْ كُنْتُمْ مِّنْ قَبْلِهٖ لَمِنَ الضَّا࢜لِّيْنَ ١٩٨
Laysa ʿalaykum junāḥun an tabtaghū faḍlan min rabbikum
There is no sin unto you that you seek the bounty of your Lord. Then when you return back from 'Arafat' remembers Allah near Mashhare-Haram (Qazah Mountain) and remembers Him as He guided you and no doubt, you had gone astray before.
Qurʼan 2:198, Al-Baqarah, from Zujajah.org
It is essential to repent from all sins beforehand and, so far as possible, to seek forgiveness for wrongs against others, settle debts, return whatever was entrusted, and reconcile with enemies; repentance is accepted only once these are done.
Before travelling, a person must pay off debts, return entrusted property, and put right wrongs against other people so far as possible.
12It is obligatory to arrange for the welfare of one's family and dependants for the whole period until returning from Hajj; this must never be neglected.
12One should also see to the comfort of one's parents, and of anyone whose obedience and support are obligatory. Leaving a parent who needs care unattended is disliked. If parents forbid someone from performing an obligatory (fard) Hajj, their permission is not required; but if the Hajj is voluntary, honouring and serving one's parents takes priority over going. In the absence of parents, grandparents are treated the same way.
It is advisable to write a will naming a trusted executor, so that the rights of Allah and the rights owed to other people are settled after death.
Before choosing a time and route, one may pray Salat al-Istikharah two or three or seven times and consult a book of supplications such as Hisn Hasin, though this is not required for the journey itself. It is recommended to bring a miswak, kohl, needle, mirror, comb, thread, scissors, knife, razor, a staff, and a vessel for wudu, and to set out on a Thursday or a Monday, having already learned the rulings of Hajj and of travel beforehand.
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 554 words. Switch back to Guide for the rewritten version.
Account of the Journey of Hajj and Departure from One’s Homeland
A person who intends to perform Hajj should do so with the sole intention of seeking Allah’s pleasure, not for pride, sightseeing, or business purposes. However, if the Hajj is for its primary purpose and business is a secondary aim, there is no harm in this. Allah, the Exalted, says:
لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَنْ تَبْتَغُوا فَضْلاً مِّنْ رَّبِّكُمْ (البقرہ - آیت ۱۹۸)
Translation: There is no blame upon you for seeking the bounty of your Lord.
The context of this verse is that before Islam, people used to engage in trade during the Hajj period at the marketplaces of ‘Okaz, Majinnah, and Dhul-Majaz, which was their primary source of livelihood. After the advent of Islam, Muslims hesitated to continue such trade, and then this verse was revealed, permitting the pursuit of trade profits while performing Hajj.
Moreover, it is essential for a person intending to perform Hajj to repent from all sins and, as much as possible, seek forgiveness for any wrongs committed against others, settle debts, return entrusted items, and reconcile with enemies. The acceptance of repentance is contingent upon these actions.
As the Beloved Prophet (ﷺ) said:
لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ تَوْبَةَ عَبْدٍ حَتَّى يُرْضِيَ الْخُصَمَاءَ وَإِذَا رَضِيَ خُصَمَاءُهُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ وَيَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ تَوْبَتَهُ وَصَوْمَهُ وَصَلَاتَهُ وَدِرْهَمٌ وَاحِدٌ يُرَدُّ فِي الْخُصَمَاءِ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ أَلْفِ سَنَةٍ
Translation: Allah does not accept the repentance of a servant until he satisfies his adversaries. When his adversaries are pleased, Allah is pleased with him, and He accepts his repentance, fasting, and prayer. One dirham returned to adversaries is better for him than the worship of a thousand years.
It is obligatory to ensure the welfare of one’s family and anyone dependent on them for financial support until their return from Hajj. A person should never neglect these responsibilities, as the Beloved Prophet (ﷺ) said:
كَفٰى بِالْمَرْءِ إِثْمًا أَنْ يُضَيِّعَ أَهْلَهٗ
Translation: It is enough for a person to be guilty if he neglects his family.
One should make sure to please their parents and those whose obedience and financial support are obligatory upon them. If parents are in need of service, leaving them in such a state is disliked. If parents prevent someone from fulfilling the obligation of Hajj, their permission should not be sought. However, performing voluntary Hajj while serving and obeying parents is better. In the absence of parents, the paternal or maternal grandparents should be treated like parents.
It is advisable to write a will to an entrusted person so that after one’s passing, the rights of Allah and the rights of others (حقوق العباد) are fulfilled. The Beloved Prophet (ﷺ) said:
لَا يَحِلُّ لِاَ حَدٍ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْاٰخِرِ أَنْ یَبِيتَ لَيْلَتَيْنِ إِلَّا وَ وَصِيَّتُهٗ مَكْتُوبَةٌ تَحْتَ رَأْسِهٖ
Translation: It is not permissible for anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day to spend two nights without having his will written under his head.
For selecting the time and path of travel, the supplications like Salat al-Istikhara and "Hisn al-Haseen" should be recited, but they are not necessary for the journey itself. Perform Istikhara three or seven times. It is recommended to take items like a miswak, kohl, needle, mirror, comb, thread, scissors, knife, razor, staff, and a vessel for ablution. One should travel on a Thursday or Monday and learn the necessary rules related to Hajj or travel beforehand.
Related
- The virtues of Hajj and Umrah The rewards described for Hajj and Umrah in hadith: the expiation of sin, the guarantee of Paradise for an accepted Hajj, and the special standing of the Day of Arafah.
- 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 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.
- 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.