The Ultimate Hajj Guide: What Non-Muslims Need to Know

explain hajj to non muslim

The meaning of Hajj in language refers to: the intention of a great thing, but in legal terminology, it is: the intention of the Sacred House of Allah; To perform specific rituals, as it is defined as: visiting a specific place, at a specific time, with the intention of performing the Hajj rituals after entering ihram for them, and the place is: the Kaaba, and Arafat, and the specific time is: the months of Hajj, which are: Shawwal, Dhul-Qa’dah, and Dhul-Hijjah. So in the following lines we will explain hajj to non muslim.

Ruling on Hajj

Hajj is one of the obligations of Islam, and one of the pillars upon which it is based. Its legitimacy has been proven in the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and consensus. Among the texts indicating the obligation of Hajj from the Book of Allah: His saying – the Most High -:

(وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ), and His saying – the Most High -: (وَأَتِمُّوا الْحَجَّ وَالْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ). 

 

From the Sunnah of the Prophet: His saying – peace and blessings be upon him -: (Islam is built on five things: bearing witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing prayer, paying zakat, Hajj, and fasting during Ramadan), as is obligatory Hajj once in a lifetime

The wisdom behind the legitimacy of Hajj

In addition to explain hajj to non muslim. The scholars have deduced from the verses and hadiths that mentioned Hajj and its rituals explained the wisdom behind its legitimacy, including: Hajj is an occasion in which the oneness of Allah Almighty is achieved, as He, Glory be to Him, said:

(وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ مَكَانَ الْبَيْتِ أَنْ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْئًا).

 

Hajj is a great occasion to refine the soul and adapt it to avoid sins and disobedience. Concerning this, the Lord Almighty says:

(الْحَجُّ أَشْهُرٌ مَعْلُومَاتٌ فَمَنْ فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ الْحَجَّ فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوقَ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ يَعْلَمْهُ اللَّهُ), and it is no secret that Hajj.

 

With its rituals and deeds He educates the nation on the meanings of true unity. Where all material differences between them disappear, and meanings of familiarity, cooperation, and good advice are present.

Types of Ihram in Hajj

When it comes to explain hajj to non muslim. Ihram is defined as: the intention to enter into the rituals of Hajj or Umrah, and it is verified by the time specified by Sharia law. A Muslim who intends to perform Hajj to the Sacred House of Allah.

Can make the intention for this in three diverse forms: Either he makes the intention alone for Hajj, or combines it with Umrah, or ties it together to perform Umrah and then Hajj, and each of them is explained as follows:

  • The first picture: performing Hajj alone, by making the intention to perform Hajj only, and performing its rituals and deeds, so the pilgrim says: “At your command, O Allah, for Hajj.”
  • The second form: Companionship with Hajj is done by making the intention to perform both Umrah and Hajj, by saying: “At your command, O Allah, Hajj and Umrah,” by performing one ritual, or by adding the obligation of Hajj to Umrah before the circumambulation. 

According to the majority of Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali scholars, it is sufficient to circumambulate and Sa’i once. One about Hajj and Umrah, while the Hanafi school of thought disagreed with them. 

They said: Tawaf and Sa’i twice; Once for Hajj, and another time for Umrah, with their agreement that the sacrificial animal must be presented to the performing Hajj.

  • The third form: Performing Umrah until Hajj, with the intention to perform the rituals of Umrah first, then perform the rituals of the obligatory Hajj. The pilgrim in ihram begins with Umrah, and ends its rituals during the months of Hajj, then he exits ihram for his Umrah.

And remains in Mecca while exiting ihram until the time for Hajj comes, so he enters ihram for it, and performs his duties and rituals, provided that this is in one year, and the scholars have also agreed that it is obligatory The gift is for the Hajj pilgrim.

Hajj conditions

Speaking about explain hajj to non muslim. The condition is defined in language as: the sign, but in legal terminology, it is: a description on which the existence of the ruling depends, and the ruling in its legal form is not achieved except with the presence of the condition that the legislator has set for it, and it is outside of the reality of the ruling, and is not part of it, and an example of this is: the condition of ablution for its validity. 

Prayer, and the reality of the condition is that its absence necessitates the absence of a ruling, but its existence does not necessitate the presence of a ruling nor its absence. The Hajj has conditions that cannot be fulfilled without it, and they are explained as follows:

Islam 

Hajj is not obligatory except for a Muslim; The evidence for this from the Sunnah of the Prophet is what Imam Al-Bukhari narrated in his Sahih on the authority of Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him -: (That no polytheist should perform Hajj after the year, and that no polytheist should circumambulate the Kaaba naked).

Mind 

Hajj is not obligatory for an insane person. Because he lacks the mind that is the basis of assignment; As evidence from the words of the Messenger – peace and blessings be upon him -: (The pen was lifted from three people: from the sleeper until he wakes up, from the child until he grows up, and from the insane until he regains his senses or regains his senses).

Adulthood and freedom

The boy is not required to perform Hajj, and it is not obligatory for him until he reaches puberty. If he performs Hajj, it is valid on his part, and he must perform the obligatory Hajj after he reaches puberty. 

 

This is indicated by his saying – peace and blessings be upon him -: (Anytime a child performs Hajj and then reaches the age of perjury, he must perform another Hajj. Any Bedouin who performs Hajj and then emigrates must perform another Hajj, and any slave who performs Hajj and then is freed must perform another Hajj.)

The presence of a husband or mahram for the woman

Hajj is not obligatory and is not permissible for a woman unless she has a mahram available. If she performs Hajj or Umrah without a mahram, that is valid on her part, and the obligatory duty is waived from her, and it entails a sin on her. Because it violates the texts of Sharia law that forbid a woman from traveling without a husband or mahram.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and therefore we have explain hajj to non muslim in detail through the previous paragraphs. In addition, Hajj and its rituals include many terms and conditions according to the four schools of thought, and therefore we have explained this in detail.

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