For those of our readers who don't know what Hajj-e-Badal means: It's the act of performing Hajj on behalf of another person who is either deceased or not healthy enough to perform Hajj for themselves. According to Shariah, Hajj-e-Badal can only be performed by a person who has already performed Hajj for themselves. So, where do these rules come from? Surely not from the Quran.
Let's briefly check what the Quran says about Hajj and the concept of dedicating your good deeds to others.
Let's briefly check what the Quran says about Hajj and the concept of dedicating your good deeds to others.
The Noble Quran gives a very detailed account of how to perform Hajj, it's purpose and benefits. To know the complete list of information mentioned in the Quran about Hajj, please read our post What does the Quran say about Hajj? The entire contents of this post have direct references to the Quran. You will observe that the Quranic information on Hajj is very extensive, complete and inclusive of all significant aspects. But Allah has not mentioned any such ideas of one person performing Hajj for another. Kindly check it for yourself.
The other very important information contained in the Noble Quran is the truth about the independence of each soul created by Allah. Allah says in the Quran, loud and clear, that every soul is responsible and answerable for its own deeds. This concept is one of the cornerstones of the Glorious Quran.
The other very important information contained in the Noble Quran is the truth about the independence of each soul created by Allah. Allah says in the Quran, loud and clear, that every soul is responsible and answerable for its own deeds. This concept is one of the cornerstones of the Glorious Quran.
"And no burdened soul can bear another's burden, .... He who groweth (in goodness), groweth only for himself, (he cannot by his merit redeem others). Unto Allah is the journeying." (35:18)
"And guard yourselves against a day when no soul will in aught avail another, …" (2:48)
"That no laden one shall bear another's load," (53:38)
"And that man hath only that for which he maketh effort," (53:39)
"And guard yourselves against a day when no soul will in aught avail another, …" (2:48)
"That no laden one shall bear another's load," (53:38)
"And that man hath only that for which he maketh effort," (53:39)
Allah has inspired each human soul (separately) with a conscience and awareness of right & wrong. It’s the responsibility of every individual to select their path of conduct. Those who allow their conscience to grow are the successful ones in His sight, while those who keep it stunted are the losers.
"And a soul and Him who perfected it
And inspired it (with conscience of) what is wrong for it and (what is) right for it.
He is indeed successful who causeth it to grow,
And he is indeed a failure who stunteth it." (91:7-10) Ash-Shams
"And a soul and Him who perfected it
And inspired it (with conscience of) what is wrong for it and (what is) right for it.
He is indeed successful who causeth it to grow,
And he is indeed a failure who stunteth it." (91:7-10) Ash-Shams
All of the above verses clearly indicate that there are absolutely NO concepts of one person's deeds being transferred to another for their benefit. Hajj is a form of worshiping Allah. How can one person be told to perform worship for another person? It's a bit like saying "Oh, I'm not feeling well. Can you please offer my Fajr prayer for me?" If we feel unwell and cannot offer our salaat, all we can do is to sincerely ask forgiveness of Allah. Allah is Forgiving and Merciful, and He knows the truth within every person's heart. If He wants, he will forgive. But that's as far as we can go. Allah has said that those who are able to go for Hajj must undertake this journey. But concerning those who cannot afford it financially or those who are not physically or mentally healthy it's up to Allah to forgive them. The Quran definitely does not give us any reasons to presume that in case of any compelling reasons we can send someone else for Hajj on our behalf and earn His blessings.
The idea of Hajj-e-badal has crept into the Muslim culture through the stories of Hadith. From all the Quranic evidences provided above, it's not at all hard to perceive that the concept of Hajj-e-badal in Hadith is NOT compatible with the Quran, rather it quite obviously clashes with Quranic principles.
The following are the UNAUTHENTIC Ahadith that are responsible for bringing this unwarranted practice within Islam.
The idea of Hajj-e-badal has crept into the Muslim culture through the stories of Hadith. From all the Quranic evidences provided above, it's not at all hard to perceive that the concept of Hajj-e-badal in Hadith is NOT compatible with the Quran, rather it quite obviously clashes with Quranic principles.
The following are the UNAUTHENTIC Ahadith that are responsible for bringing this unwarranted practice within Islam.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.418 Narrated by Ibn Abbas
A woman came to the Prophet (saws) and said, "My mother vowed to perform the Hajj but she died before performing it. Should I perform the Hajj on her behalf?" He (saws) said, "Yes! Perform the Hajj on her behalf. See, if your mother had been in debt, would you have paid her debt?" She said, "Yes." He (saws) said, "So you should pay what is for Him, as Allah has more right that one should fulfill one's obligations to Him."
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.589 Narrated by Abdullah bin Abbas
Al-Fadl ibn Al-Abbas was riding behind Allah's Messenger (saws) and a woman from the tribe of Khath'am came. The woman said, "O Allah's Messenger (saws)! The obligation of Hajj enjoined by Allah on His devotees has become due on my father and he is old and weak, and he cannot sit firm on the mount; may I perform Hajj on his behalf?" The Prophet replied, "Yes, you may." That happened during the Hajj-al-Wida (of the Prophet (saws)).
Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 1806 Narrated by Abu Razin
A man of Banu Amir said: ‘O Messenger of Allah (saws), my father is very old, he cannot perform hajj and umrah himself nor can he ride on a mount.’ The Prophet (saws) said: ‘Perform hajj and umrah on behalf of your father.’
The rule of Hajj-e-badal being performed by a person who has already performed Hajj for himself first comes from the following Hadith:
Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 1807 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas
The Prophet (saws) heard a man say: ‘Labbayk (always ready to obey) on behalf of Shubrumah.’ He (saws) asked: ‘Who is Shubrumah?’ He replied: ‘A brother (or relative) of mine.’ The Prophet (saws) asked: ‘Have you performed hajj on your own behalf?’ He said: ‘No.’ The Messenger of Allah (saws) then said: ‘Perform hajj on your own behalf, then perform it on behalf of Shubrumah.’
A woman came to the Prophet (saws) and said, "My mother vowed to perform the Hajj but she died before performing it. Should I perform the Hajj on her behalf?" He (saws) said, "Yes! Perform the Hajj on her behalf. See, if your mother had been in debt, would you have paid her debt?" She said, "Yes." He (saws) said, "So you should pay what is for Him, as Allah has more right that one should fulfill one's obligations to Him."
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.589 Narrated by Abdullah bin Abbas
Al-Fadl ibn Al-Abbas was riding behind Allah's Messenger (saws) and a woman from the tribe of Khath'am came. The woman said, "O Allah's Messenger (saws)! The obligation of Hajj enjoined by Allah on His devotees has become due on my father and he is old and weak, and he cannot sit firm on the mount; may I perform Hajj on his behalf?" The Prophet replied, "Yes, you may." That happened during the Hajj-al-Wida (of the Prophet (saws)).
Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 1806 Narrated by Abu Razin
A man of Banu Amir said: ‘O Messenger of Allah (saws), my father is very old, he cannot perform hajj and umrah himself nor can he ride on a mount.’ The Prophet (saws) said: ‘Perform hajj and umrah on behalf of your father.’
The rule of Hajj-e-badal being performed by a person who has already performed Hajj for himself first comes from the following Hadith:
Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 1807 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas
The Prophet (saws) heard a man say: ‘Labbayk (always ready to obey) on behalf of Shubrumah.’ He (saws) asked: ‘Who is Shubrumah?’ He replied: ‘A brother (or relative) of mine.’ The Prophet (saws) asked: ‘Have you performed hajj on your own behalf?’ He said: ‘No.’ The Messenger of Allah (saws) then said: ‘Perform hajj on your own behalf, then perform it on behalf of Shubrumah.’
I ask the mainstream Muslims, in the presence of the Noble Quran, would the Prophet (pbuh) so authoritatively overlook Quranic laws and principles and implement his own rules that contradict the contents of Allah's Final Message? The answer is a firm NO.
Conclusion: Hajj-e-badal is not a Quranic law and it clashes with Quranic principles.
How do you claim that the hadith are unauthentic. Because it conflicts with Quran? Doing Hajj for someone is one thing and getting its reward is another. Nowhere it is mentioned that the deceased will get reward of a Hajj for that. Does it?
ReplyDeleteOne can say Hadith is unauthentic because it clashes with the Quran every now and then. It's the Quran which is a Muslim's code of conduct. The Prophet Muhammed (SAW) would never say things like these because he was not authorized to pass laws on his own that you can perform Hajj for a relative or friend and you get the sawaab for it. If you can't perform Hajj for some reason and you pay for the Hajj of someone else, that will be taken as a good charitable act and InshAllah, Allah will like it and reward you, if He wills. However, that cannot be put at par with performing Hajj yourself.
DeleteThat's what Zainab is saying that Hajj-e-Badal is an un-Quranic law coming from Hadith. Why don't you read first and then respond?
ReplyDelete