Hadeel
These days, faithful souls long to perform the Hajj pilgrimage to the House of Allah. We ask Allah to grant us all the opportunity to perform Hajj. The reason for this longing is the desire to engage in one of the most esteemed acts of worship in the eyes of Allah, which is Hajj. It brings about the forgiveness of sins, the earning of rewards, and entry into paradise. Hence, a Muslim hastens to perform Hajj whenever they are able, in response to Allah's command: "And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House – for whoever is able to find thereto a way." (Al-Imran: 97). However, for those who are unable to perform Hajj, they seek the best deeds, the forgiveness of sins, and entry into paradise. So, what is the path to achieving this?
When examining the obligation of prayer, one finds that everyone can perform it. Islam has made prayer encompass all these virtues for those who are unable to perform Hajj. This is evident when we look closely at the hadiths concerning Hajj and the rewards associated with it, as well as the hadiths concerning prayer and the identical rewards associated with it. This can be seen in the following:
Firstly: The Best Deeds:
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) clarified that Hajj is among the best deeds. In a hadith narrated by Bukhari and Muslim, Abu Huraira said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked: 'Which deed is the most virtuos ? And which deed is the best ?' He (ﷺ) said: 'Faith in Allah and His Messenger.' It was said: 'Then what ?' He said: 'Jihad is the hump (the most prominent) of the deeds.' Then what O Messenger of Allah ? He said: 'Then Hajj Mabrur.'" In Sahih Bukhari, it is narrated by the Mother of the Believers, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: The women came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! We consider Jihad as the best deed. Should we not fight in Allah's Cause?" He said, "The best Jihad (for women) is Hajj-Mabrur".
These hadiths confirm that Hajj is among the best deeds. For those unable to perform Hajj and achieve this esteemed deed, prayer also stands as one of the best deeds. In Sahih Al-Jami, Abdullah ibn Masood said: I asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about the best deeds and he said: “-to offer Salat (prayer) in its early time.” Therefore, whoever maintains performing prayer on time has achieved one of the best deeds.
Secondly: Forgiveness of Sins
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) affirmed that Hajj is a means for the forgiveness of sins. In Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, Abu Huraira said: I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say: “If anyone performs the pilgrimage for God’s sake without talking immodestly or acting wickedly, he will return [free from sin] as on the day his mother bore him.” In Sahih Muslim, when Amr ibn al-As came to declare his Islam before the Prophet (peace be upon him), he said to the Prophet: “Stretch out your right hand and let me swear allegiance to you.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) stretched out his hand, but Amr clenched his hand. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “What is the matter with you, O Amr?” He replied: "I want to make a condition." The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked: “What condition do you want to make?” Amr said: “That I should receive forgiveness.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: “Do you not know, 'Amr, that Islam demolishes what preceded it, that the Hijra demolishes what preceded it, and the Pilgrimage demolishes what preceded it?”
Imam Ahmad, Tirmidhi, and Nasa'i narrated from Abdullah ibn Masood that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “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” These hadiths confirm that Hajj is a means to forgiveness of sins. For those unable to achieve forgiveness through Hajj, prayer also expiates sins, as clarified in authentic hadiths. In Sahih Muslim, Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “The five daily (prescribed) Salat, and Friday (prayer) to the next Friday (prayer), and the fasting of Ramadan to the next Ramadan, is expiation of the sins committed in between them, so long as major sins are avoided.”
Thirdly: Entering Paradise
The hadiths indicate that Hajj is a path to entering Paradise. Bukhari and Muslim narrated in their Sahih collections from Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “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.”
For those unable to enter Paradise through Hajj, prayer also serves as a path to entering Paradise. In Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “If anyone goes out in the morning or in the evening to the mosque, God will prepare for him his food in paradise as often as he goes out in the morning or in the evening.”
Fourthly: Acts Related to Prayer that Grant the Reward of Hajj
Islam emphasizes certain acts that, when performed by a Muslim, grant the reward of Hajj. Interestingly, these acts are related to prayer, including:
- Praying Fajr in congregation and then remembering Allah until the sun rises and praying two Rak'ahs. In Sahih Al-Jami, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “If anyone, prays the dawn prayer in a company, then sits making mention of God till the sun rises, then prays two rak'as, he will have a reward equivalent to that for a hajja* and an ‘umra. A perfect one, a perfect one, a perfect one.”
- Remembrance after prayer; Ibn Hibban narrated in his Sahih from Abu Huraira that the poor came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: “The wealthy people will get higher grades and will have permanent enjoyment and they pray like us and fast as we do. They have more money by which they perform the Hajj, and `Umra; fight and struggle in Allah's Cause and give in charity." The Prophet said, "Shall I not tell you a thing upon which if you acted you would catch up with those who have surpassed you? Nobody would overtake you and you would be better than the people amongst whom you live except those who would do the same. Say "Subhana l-lah", "Al hamdu li l-lah" and "Allahu Akbar" thirty-three times each after every (compulsory) prayer.”
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Day 218 of the Israeli Genocide War on Gaza
May 11, 2024
Israeli genocide war on Gaza has entered its 218th day, as the occupation forces continue to commit a barbaric war in the Gaza Strip, by launching dozens of air strikes, artillery shelling, and bloody massacres against civilians.
Intensive bombing of Gaza
The occupation continues its aggression against Gaza, where a number of citizens were martyred and injured, at dawn today, Saturday, in missile and artillery bombardment by the occupation warplanes and artillery on citizens’ homes in various areas of the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian News Agency (Wafa) reported that the bodies of 24 martyrs arrived at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, following the occupation’s bombing of several areas in the central Gaza Strip.
The agency indicated that the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City, was subjected to heavy missile and tear bombardment for the third day in a row, which resulted in the death of dozens of martyrs, without ambulance crews being able to recover them, due to the intensity of the bombing.
Seven citizens were martyred, others were injured with various injuries, and there are still missing people under the rubble, as a result of the occupation aircraft targeting dozens of homes in Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip.
Seven citizens were also martyred and others were injured in a bombing by occupation aircraft, northwest of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip.
Anatolia Agency reported that 9 Palestinians were martyred and others were injured, most of them women and children, as a result of an “Israeli” bombing that targeted a house for a Coptic family in the town of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip.
4 Massacres and 28 Martyrs in 24 hours
The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced that the occupation committed 4 massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, including 28 martyrs and 69 injuries to hospitals during the past 24 hours.
The Ministry confirmed in its daily update that the toll of the aggression had risen to 34,971 martyrs and 78,641 injuries since the seventh of last October.
New Aggression in Jabalia
Quds Press Agency reported that the occupation army launched a new aggression on Saturday in the northern Gaza Strip.
The agency indicated that the occupation army sent, through leaflets and on the “Israeli” radio, an appeal to all residents and displaced persons in the Jabalia area and several neighborhoods therein to go west of Gaza City.
The agency said: The occupation aircraft carried out several raids on those areas that had been warned, destroyed several homes and buildings, and deployed fire belts to mark the start of their military operation.
Destroying Occupation Mechanisms
The Palestinian resistance continues to confront the Zionist forces invading several areas of Gaza, as it announced, today, Friday, several qualitative operations, most notably:
"Al-Qassam Brigades":
- A Zionist troop carrier was destroyed by a “Al-Yassin 105” missile in the vicinity of the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip.
- Targeting a Zionist “Merkvah 4” tank with an “Al-Yassin 105” shell, south of the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City.
- Targeting a gathering of enemy soldiers south of the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City with a number of mortar shells
“Al-Quds Brigades”:
- Mortar shelling of enemy soldiers and vehicles penetrating the vicinity of Al-Zaytoun Clinic in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City.
Detonation of two high-explosive ground devices in a number of enemy vehicles penetrating Route 8 in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City.
Death of a Zionist Prisoner
Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman, Abu Ubaida, announced today, Saturday, the death of prisoner Nadav Bublabil, as a result of his wounds he sustained after the Zionist aircraft targeted his place of detention more than a month ago.
Abu Ubaida said that the prisoner, Bublabel (51 years old), was injured along with the prisoner, “Judy Feinstein,” and his health condition deteriorated and he died because he did not receive intensive medical care in care centers due to the enemy’s destruction of hospitals in the Gaza Strip and their out of service.
Hamas Denounces the Aggression on Jabalia
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) called on the international community and the United Nations to leave the box of timid positions and put pressure to stop the Zionist aggression and provide urgent protection for defenseless civilians.
The movement said in a press statement, today, Saturday: The Zionist occupation army announced the start of a military operation in Jabalia, and warned its citizens to evacuate it, amid criminal air and artillery bombardment, in parallel with the ongoing operation in the city of Rafah for days, and the incursion and crimes in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the city. Gaza, and the escalation of aggression against civilians in all areas of the Strip; Confirmation of the Zionist terrorist government’s insistence on continuing the war of extermination against our people in the Gaza Strip, through bombing, massacres, displacement, and continuing to destroy civilian structures.
Hamas held the US administration and its President Biden fully responsible for the escalation of these crimes against civilians, including children, women and the elderly, by continuing to provide cover for Zionist fascism to continue its crimes.
Hamas affirmed: This criminal escalation will not weaken the strength of our steadfast people, or the resolve of our people’s valiant resistance fighters. Resistance and confrontation of the occupation will continue in the face of the Zionist killing machine, until the aggression is broken and it leaves the lands and homes of Palestine, on the path to realizing the people’s hopes for freedom and self-determination. .
The UAE Denounces Netanyahu's Statements
Today, Saturday, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed denounced the statements of the occupation Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, about inviting Abu Dhabi to participate in civil administration of the Gaza Strip, stressing that he does not have the capacity to do so.
He said: "The United Arab Emirates denounces the statements of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about calling on the state to participate in civil administration of the Gaza Strip, which is under Israeli occupation.
He added: The UAE stresses that the Israeli Prime Minister does not have any legal capacity to take this step.
He continued: The UAE refuses to be drawn into any plan aimed at providing cover for the “Israeli” presence in the Gaza Strip.
