Hajj

Performing Actions Equal to Hajj in Reward | Shaykh Waleed Basyouni

Published

October 14, 2013

There are so many like myself could not go to Hajj this year.

But even when we are physically far away from Makkah, our hearts with the Hujjaj (pilgrims), thinking about what they are doing, praying for them and hoping to be like them soon. One of the things that I thought could help us to catch up with them is to do the actions that equal to Hajj in reward! Yes, equal to Hajj as our prophet Mohammad informed us.

In many ahadith, our beloved gave us tips as to how to catch up in reward in the following traditions:

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Abu Hurayrah reported: The poor came to the Messenger of Allah and said:

“Oh, Messenger of Allah, the wealthy have gone with the highest ranks and lasting bliss. They offer Salat (prayer) as we offer it; they observe fast as we do; and as they are wealthy, they perform Hajj and ‘Umrah, and go for Jihad, and they spend in charity.”

The Messenger of Allah said,

“Shall I not teach you something with which you may overtake those who surpassed you and with which you will surpass those who will come after you? None will excel you unless he who does which you do. You should recite: Tasbeeh (Allah is free from imperfection – Subhan Allah), Takbeer (Allah is Greatest – Allahu Akbar), Tahmeed (Praise be to Allah – AlHamdu lillah) thirty-three times after each Salat.” [Al-Bukhari]

Abu Dharr narrated that a group of the Companions came to the Prophet , and said,

“O Messenger of Allah, the wealthy people will have higher grades and will have permanent enjoyment and they pray like us and fast as we do. They have more money, which they give in charity.”

The Prophet , replied:

“Has Allah not rendered for you the ‘Isha’ prayer in congregation equal to Hajj, and the Fajr prayer in congregation equal to ‘Umrah?” [Muslim]

Anas narrates that the Prophet said,

“Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until sunrise, then prays two units of prayer, has a complete reward of Hajj and ‘Umrah. (The Prophet repeated ‘complete’ three times for emphasis.) [Tirmidhi]

The Prophet said:

“Whoever walks to [perform] an obligatory prayer in congregation, it is like Hajj [in terms of rewards], and whoever walks to [perform] a voluntary prayer, it is like a voluntary ‘Umrah [in terms of rewards].” [Hasan hadith narrated by Tabarani, Abu Dawud, Ahmad]

Abu Umamah said that the Prophet said:

“Whoever goes to the mosque not desiring except to learn or teach what is good has the reward of a pilgrim who completed his Hajj.” [Tabarani]

Ibn Rajab narrated that the Companion Mikhnaf ibn Sulaym said,

“The reward for attending ‘Id Al-Fitr prayer is equal to the reward of performing ‘Umrah and the reward for attending ‘Id Al-Adha Prayer is equal to that of performing Hajj.” [Lata’if al-Ma’arif]

My brothers and sisters, if you missed standing before Allah in Arafah, stand for his religion wherever you are! If you are far from the House, be close to the Lord of the House! And if you aren’t at Mina, don’t be a sinner!

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Sh. Waleed Basyouni

is Vice President of AlMaghrib Institute and Director of Clear Lake Islamic Center (CLIC). He is a frequent guest speaker at Universities, Conventions, Radio Talk Shows, Television, Interfaith meetings, and community centers nationally and internationally. He is also a member of the North American Imam Federation (NAIF), Assembly of Muslim Jurists in America (AMJA)-Fatwa and Research Committee, Director of Texas Dawah Convention, and Advisor to numerous Islamic Societies/Organizations around the US. Shaykh Waleed Basyouni graduated with a Bachelors in Islamic Sciences from Al-Imam Muhammad University, KSA; did his Masters in Islamic Theology, World Religions and Modern Religious Sects from Al-Imam Muhammad University; and acquired a Doctorate in Theology. He is also an instructor at the American Open University in Alexandria, VA, USA, and serves as, the Imam of Clear Lake Islamic Center, Houston, TX, USA. Shaykh Waleed has Ijaazahs in reciting the Holy Quran and in several books of Hadeeth, awarded by various scholars. He studied with great scholars time such as Shaykh Ibn Baz, Abdul-Razzaq Afify and others.

20 Comments

ahsan arshad

October 15, 2013 at 12:06 PM

salaam alaykum,
jazakallahu khairan for such blessed reminders.

Reply
mohammad

October 16, 2013 at 12:25 AM

awrb jzk, just a quick question though, is it possible to get the checking of classical scholars of some of those narrations as I’m sure I’ve seen some as being as mentioned as week from muhaditheen of the past, I just cannot recall where.

Reply
powerandprivilege

October 16, 2013 at 2:36 PM

“Isha’ prayer in congregation…” The word Isha comes from the Sanskrit root that means God/Divine. The Muslim pilgrims to holy Mecca probably do not realize that they practice ancient Vedic customs: shaving their heads, taking a dip in ‘holy water,’ wearing white robes [called dhoti in Sanskrit], and circum-ambulate around the Kaaba. Islam forbids idolatry. So, what is the significance of circum-ambulation about? If Allah/God/Divine is everywhere, has the original purpose of the rituals in Mecca been lost or suppressed through history? Perhaps the Imaams ought to give this some thought and seek what binds us all on this small planet – a common ancestry.

Reply
- O H
  
  October 16, 2013 at 9:11 PM
  
  With regards to the Kabah circumambulation, this is what a Saudi scholar (Shaykh Salih al munajjid) has to say:
  
  http://www.onislam.net/english/ask-the-scholar/hajj/178282.html
  
  Maybe someone else can address your other questions.
  
  Reply
- Brother
  
  October 17, 2013 at 3:55 PM
  
  A lot of your points are actually incorrect…
  
  – “Isha'” is a pure Arabic word which means ‘nightfall’
  – Muslims don’t “dip in holy water” (they drink from the well of Zamzam)… and it’s actually not a condition of performing the Hajj, though it’s good to drink
  – Circling around the Kaaba is not an act of worship directed to the Kaaba. It’s worshiping God by following the Hajj rituals, as taught by the prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), just like any other act of worship (like praying, for example).
  – Muslims don’t believe God is everywhere… though He has knowledge of everything.
  
  *I agree with you that we are all united, but in something more significant than ancestry- purpose. We all have the same purpose for existing, and Islam suggests that the best way to confirm what this purpose is and how to fulfill it is by seeking it from the most authentic source (which is the final divine revelation- the Quran- and the teachings of the final messenger of God- Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him).
  
  Reply
- Basmah
  
  October 20, 2013 at 4:09 AM
  
  You may have read one of those books or heard speeches how everything traces back to Sanskrit and Hinduism .
  Well brother/sister,those people give no proof as to how a word was derived from a root in another language. They just invent things that they think is the possible truth.
  
  But it’s not always true brother/sister.
  
  Someone said Ramadan came from Rama + dhyan ( rememberance of hindu god Rama ). :) interesting but totally false . Ramadan comes from ramadh ( summertime when the earth becomes really hot from the scorching heat)
  
  My advice to you would be to ‘investigate’ islam firsthand fromauthentic islamic sources . And then , if u like , u may read criticism from islamophobic websites . Hopefully , you will able to differentiate truth from falsehood .
  
  God bless you.
  
  Reply
  - Basmah
    
    October 20, 2013 at 4:20 AM
    
    And btw, islam is the oldest religion starting with the first man and prophet Adam . It’s possible that other religions and cults copied some islamic practises .
    
    There have been several prophets and messengers from God. It’s possible Vedic dharm was initially taught by a prophet of God , and the people changed its nature over the years .its very much possible.
    
    After all , the Vedas are monotheistic .
    
    Reply
- gunal
  
  October 20, 2013 at 8:24 AM
  
  Well said: “It’s possible Vedic dharm was initially taught by a prophet of God, and the people changed its nature over the years.”
  
  From the history you can see how, some people cannot manage the truth. Some try to find the easiest ways to worship. (Most people feel the need to show ‘PHYSICALLY’ their commitment to their God, without realising they end up getting attached to those physical things as associating them with true God.. which then leads them to kufur). The biggest example of this, for me, is; when Moses left his brother Aron in charge (only for a little time). Some people were already struggling with the idea of invisible God. Hence, some of them made a golden calf.
  
  This idea that ‘God is in everything/everywhere’ is today’s biggest example. Nature is created by God+we love nature(=) therefore if we say God is everywhere (in everything and everyone, including in ourselves) and love nature (everything, everyone and ourselves) as part of God we are the true believers.. Believing in ‘God is everywhere notion’, in some people is translated as just that! Which is far from the truth therefore should not be encouraged.
  
  Perhaps even bigger example can be given; when people cannot associate with the invisible God notion they start associating with God’s messengers (or, saints/dervishes/people regarded as (or with) holy spirits). This may be why and how some of Adam’s sons were later on worshipped as Gods… This may also be the reason why today Jesus is worshipped as a God (one of the Gods even though Jesus himself said there is only one God and resides in heaven). My view is; because these people were physically on this earth therefore we can associate with them easier. We like to ‘ENTRUST’ our difficult obligation of having to believe and pray to invisible One and only God, to those people. We feel we can pray and worship God through those people. I don’t know if we can but my main problem with the idea is that our generations (once we are gone) get confused. For today’s intelligence capacity (and the bounds of examples of the past under out fingertips) I don’t think any of us should struggle with the idea of an invisible God who created everything and everyone.
  
  When it comes to powerandprivilege’s comment above; Yes, I aggree. Our imams have to be careful! Making sure everyone knows that whatever traditions we adopt or create in order to make our obligations/worship easier to practice, we do not endanger it completely. Taking lessons from the past and promoting an awareness of how and why it can go wrong (not so much for us; for our next generations to come).
  
  Reply
Abez

October 20, 2013 at 4:00 AM

AssalamuAlaikum Sh. Basyouni! I’ve heard it said that greeting your parents with a smiling face (or something to that effect) has reward equivalent to Hajj, but then I have also heard that hadith may not be correct.

I notice it was not included here, may I ask if that was because of it’s lack of authenticity? Or just an omission? Is that hadith valid?

JazakAllahuKheiran!

Reply
gunal

October 20, 2013 at 9:01 AM

If you haven’t visited your parents and/or they grieve that they don’t get to see you enough… They may need your support..yet you ignore them.. Prophet might have said it would be better for such person to visit his/her parents and worship/praise God (during Eid) WITH those people whom are yours (belong to you and you are responsible even for their spiritual wellbeing).

The problem for such hadis- some people may take it for granted or misinterpret it. “Paradise is under the feet of mothers” . This is been a religious guidance for my elders from my childhood. And I am aware of some parents thinking this gives them the need for disciplining their child by kicking the child with their feet (because the paradise is meant to be under their feet!). Can you see how evil can twist certain things and lead you away from the truth.

Reply
jannat

October 22, 2013 at 11:08 PM

Most of the rewards here are for men who can pray in masjid.women do not always have the option of going to the mosque. So are there are any other points which even a woman can do to earn the rewards equal to hajj

Reply
Faizan

October 23, 2013 at 5:11 AM

Mash Allah Wonder Full your post. Thanks for sharing……………..

Reply
salmirah

February 9, 2014 at 8:33 AM

Brother Waleed, we girls don’t pray in congregation, then will it be as rewarding as we pray Fajr at home and sit remembering Allah till sunrise?

*Comment edited to remove SPAM Links. Please be warned, SPAM is not welcome here and may cause legitimate comments content to be deleted as well*

Reply
nav

August 28, 2014 at 10:36 PM

The hadith mentioning the reward of doing zikr after salah can be earned by women as well.

With regard to Salaah in the masjid, it is mentioned that it would be better for women to perform their prayer at home. Maybe you can check the hadith. So it might be a reward equal to men going to the masjid. I dont have the evidence for this but i know Islam is a fair religion.

Reply
Sadiq Syed

September 13, 2015 at 4:46 PM

“The Prophet ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him), replied: “Has Allah not rendered for you the ‘Isha’ prayer in congregation equal to Hajj, and the Fajr prayer in congregation equal to ‘Umrah?” [Muslim]

I was unable to trace this hadeeth and it is absolutely not there in Saheeh Muslim. Please clarify.
Jazaakumullah.

Reply
Haji Abdul Kareem Nandasena

September 16, 2015 at 9:27 AM

SUBHANALLAH.! ALLAAHU AKBAR.! AL HAMDULILLAAH. May ALLAAH Shower More Blessings upon You. WasSalaam.
Haji Abdul Kareem Nandasena.
Sri Lanka.

Reply
juwayriyah

September 18, 2015 at 3:52 AM

asalam o alaikum.Alot of the narrations suggest praying in congregation and the reward of that being equal to hajj.Does this include the sisters?

Reply
- Haji Abdul Kareem Nandasena
  
  September 18, 2015 at 6:14 AM
  
  Humbly suggest to ask ALLAAH in secret to help You with an answer please. May ALLAAH Shower More Wisdom upon You.
  Haji Abdul Kareem Nandasena.
  Sri Lanka.
  
  Reply
- Haji Abdul Kareem Nandasena
  
  September 18, 2015 at 6:28 AM
  
  Islam is very simple my dear sister. If anything is not good for sisters You will find it very easily. And, the very beautiful part of it is that ALLAAH is there to teach, and clarify Your queries. May ALLAAH Shower More Courage upon You.
  Haji Abdul Kareem Nandasena.
  Sri Lanka.
  
  Reply
wazeershaik

December 16, 2019 at 2:11 AM

thankyou for sharing this article and hadith this will help the reader and this can be an increased knowledge of hajj and I was reading a similar blog about hajj in sithajj.co.uk

Reply