হজ্জ

The কুরআন establishes হজ্জ as an obligation: 'And হজ্জ to the House is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, for those who are able to make the journey' (3:97). Surah Al-হজ্জ (Chapter 22) provides the most extensive কুরআনic treatment, including Ibrahim's proclamation of the হজ্জ (22:27), the purpose of the sacrifice (22:36-37), and the symbols of Allah at the holy sites (22:32). Surah Al-Baqarah (2:196-203) contains detailed instructions on হজ্জ rituals, including ইহরাম, the types of হজ্জ, the days of Tashriq, and the remembrance at মুযদালিফা. Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:3) records the completion of Islam revealed on the Day of Arafah during নবী করীম's farewell হজ্জ.

The most comprehensive hadith on হজ্জ procedure is the narration of Jabir ibn Abdullah describing নবী করীম's farewell হজ্জ in meticulous detail (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1218). This single narration covers: নবী করীম's ইহরাম at Dhul Hulayfah, his তাওয়াফ and সাঈ upon arrival, his journey to মিনা on the 8th, Arafah on the 9th (including the Farewell Sermon), মুযদালিফা that night, the stoning and sacrifice on the 10th, and his general guidance to the companions throughout. Other key hadith include: 'হজ্জ is Arafah' (Abu Dawud), establishing the standing at Arafah as the non-negotiable pillar; 'An উমরাহ is an expiation for the sins between it and the next উমরাহ, and an accepted হজ্জ has no reward except Paradise' (Bukhari); and 'Whoever performs হজ্জ and does not engage in obscenity or wickedness returns as the day his mother bore him' (Bukhari).

Numerous hadith emphasize the extraordinary spiritual rewards of হজ্জ. নবী করীম said: 'The performers of হজ্জ and উমরাহ are deputations of Allah. If they call Him, He answers them, and if they seek His forgiveness, He forgives them' (Ibn Majah). He also said: 'There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of Arafah' (Muslim). Regarding the spiritual equality of হজ্জ: 'All mankind is from Adam and Eve; an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab except by piety' (farewell sermon). And regarding the transformative power: 'হজ্জ wipes out whatever came before it' (Muslim). These hadith collectively establish হজ্জ as the most comprehensive act of worship in Islam — one that encompasses সালাত, charity, self-denial, physical journey, communal solidarity, and complete surrender to Allah.

The great scholars of Islam have produced extensive commentary on the হজ্জ verses and hadith. Ibn Kathir's tafsir (কুরআন commentary) provides detailed explanations of every হজ্জ-related verse with supporting hadith. Al-Nawawi's commentary on Sahih Muslim includes exhaustive jurisprudential analysis of the farewell হজ্জ narration. Ibn al-Qayyim's 'Zad al-Ma'ad' dedicates hundreds of pages to extracting practical and spiritual lessons from নবী করীম's হজ্জ. Al-Ghazali's 'Ihya Ulum al-Din' uniquely focuses on the inner dimensions and spiritual secrets of each ritual. These works remain the foundation of হজ্জ scholarship and are essential reading for হাজীগণ who want to understand the depth of what they are performing.