Those acts equal to Hajj and Umrah in reward by Mufti Afzal Hoosen Elias

Rasulullaah (S.A.W) has said, "Whoever walks to perform his Fardh Salaah with Jamaat, it is like (performing) Hajj and whoever walks to perform Nafl Salaah, it is like (performing) Nafl Umrah." (Saheehul Jaamiul Sagheer' 6556) Hadhrat Hasan Basri has said: "Walking to fulfil the need of your Muslim brother is better for you than performing Hajj after Hajj." ('Lataaiful Ma'aarif' 472) Undoubtedly Hajj and Umrah are fundamental and virtuous Ibaadat but it cannot be performed all the time and at any place. Its place and time are both defined. Hajj can only be performed once a year during the days of Hajj and its rites have to be fulfilled at specific places on different days. It is associated with the blessed House of Allaah, which all people of Imaan long and ardently desire to see. At the same time not every person has the ability to reach the sacred city and perform Hajj (which is why Hajj is only compulsory on those who have the means) nor is it possible for those who have the ability to perform Hajj every year and earn it abundant virtues and rewards (which is also why Hajj is only Fardh once in a life time for those who have the means). It is through the grace and sheer kindness of Allaah that He has equated the reward of certain A'amaal and Ibaadat to that of Hajj and Umrah. In this manner those who do not have the ability to perform Hajj or Umrah can carry out those acts which are equal to Hajj and Umrah and thereby earn the reward of performing Hajj and Umrah. In fact they will not only be able to earn the reward of Hajj and Umrah once a year but instead will be able to earn the reward numerous times every day. We will endeavour in the forthcoming pages to highlight all those A'amaal which are equal to Hajj and Umrah in reward so that the virtues of Hajj and Umrah can be complete. This is glad tidings and good news for those who do not have the ability to reach the Baitullaah to perform Hajj and Umrah as well as a path for those who love performing good deeds to adopt. There are also many other virtues of those A'amaal which have been equated to Hajj and Umrah reported in both the Quraan and Hadeeth. Our intention is not to gather every single one of these virtues, as it would be too lengthy and would not keep to the topic of this book, but rather while hinting at the important virtues of those A'amaal we will suffice with those narrations that mention them to have the reward of Hajj and Umrah. Reward for having a desire to do good This Hadeeth is well-known and famous that all actions are based upon its intention. Even the greatest of actions if performed with the wrong intention will have no significance in the sight of Allaah and even the smallest action, if performed with the correct intention will have great merit in the sight of Allaah. Similarly it becomes apparent from the Quraan and Hadeeth that when a person does have the ability to do something and feels grieved that he is unable to carry out such an act, and he sincerely calls out; O Allaah! If I had the ability then I would have carried out this deed, then in such a case he will be granted the reward of carrying out such an act without having performed it.

There are many examples of the enthusiasm the Sahabah had for performing good deeds and the grief that they felt when they were unable to do so. It was mentioned in the virtues of Hajj that one woman begged her husband to take her along for Hajj but since he did not have sufficient transport for her he was unable to fulfil her desire. When they returned from Hajj this woman sent her husband to enquire from Rasulullaah (S.A.W) as to how she could compensate for not having performed Hajj. Rasulullaah (S.A.W) replied, "Performing Umrah in Ramadaan is equal to having performed Hajj with me."

Tasbeeh after Salaah

Amongst those A'amaal which have been equated to Hajj and Umrah is the Dhikr of Allaah, particularly after the Fardh Salaah. Hajj and Umrah are such Ibaadaat in which wealth is also spent as one has to travel from his home to the Ka'abah in order to carry out the rites of Hajj, which every person does not have the ability to carry out. Also included in those Ibaadat which require the expenditure of wealth is Zakaat, Sadaqah, assisting the poor and one's relatives, Jihaad and assisting the Mujahideen. The purpose of wealth is that along with fulfilling one's worldly needs one can spend it in the Ibaadat of Allaah, thus earning his pleasure. From this point of view, wealth is a special bounty and a grace from Allaah and the person who in turn spends it in the obedience and Ibaadat of Allaah has attained a lofty position in the sight of Allaah, Those Sahabah who were wealthy did not slag behind when it came to spending in the path of Allaah and instead competed with each other in doing so, the examples of which can be seen in abundance in the books of history and their biographies. Similarly they also had the good fortune of performing Hajj and umrah on account of their wealth. It is obvious that the poor Sahabah were not able to perform such Ibaadaat as they did not possess sufficient wealth. The Sahabah also strived to surpass each other in carrying out good deeds and as a result the poor Sahabah were envious of those Sahabah who spent their wealth in the path of Allaah. They wished that if they too possessed wealth then they would also spend in the path of Allaah as theother Sahabah. On one occasion a few poor Sahabah came to Nabi (S.A.W) and enquired as to how could they make up for their shortage of good deeds compared to the richer Sahabah. Hadhrat Abu Hurairah narrates this in the following manner, "The poor Sahabah came to Nabi (S.A.W)and said, "The wealthy have attained lofty position and eternal bounties by means of their wealth. They pray as we pray, fast as we fast but have the advantage of having wealth, with which they perform Hajj, Umrah, Jihaad and give Sadaqah." Nabi (S.A.W)replied, "Should I not inform you of an act, which if you practice upon will allow you to

become equal with those who surpassed you and nobody will be able to equal you. You will be the best of all people except those who practice the same act. (The act is) After each Salaah recite 33 times Subhanallaah, 33 times Alhamdulillah and 33 times Allaahu-Akbar."

Salaatul Ishraaq is equal to Hajj and Umrah

Also amongst the A'amaal which has been equated to Hajj and Umrah is Salaatul Ishraaq (performing a minimum of two Raqaats after sunrise). This virtue has been mentioned particularly for that person who remains engaged in Dhikr after performing Fajr Salaah and after sunrise performs two Raqaats Salaah. Hadhrat Anas bin Maalik has narrates that Nabi (S.A.W)said, "Whoever performs his Fajr Salaah with Jamaat and then remains seated, engaged in the Dhikr of Allaah until sunrise and thereafter performs two Raqaats Salaah will receive the reward of having performed Hajj and Umrah. The narrator (Hadhrat Anas bin Maalik ) then reported that Nabi (S.A.W) said, "Entire, entire, entire (that he will get the entire reward of Hajj and Umrah)." Reward of Hajj and Umrah for walking towards Salaah The virtue and importance of performing the five Fardh Salaah with Jamaat has been frequently highlighted in Saheeh Ahaadeeth such that severe warning has also been mentioned for the one who abandons it without valid excuse. It has also been mentioned that on each step one takes towards the Masjid a reward is written and a sin forgiven. Amongst these virtues is also the virtue that the one who walks towards the Masjid to perform Fardh Salaah receives the reward of Hajj and the one who walks towards the Masjid to perform Nafl Salaah receives the reward of Nafl Umrah. In other words walking towards Salaah is equal to Hajj and Umrah. Nabi (S.A.W) has said,"Whoever walks to perform his Fardh Salaah with Jamaat, it is like (performing) Hajj and whoever walks to perform Nafl Salaah, it is like (performing) Nafl Umrah."13 The scholars have explained that Nafl Salaah mentioned here refers to Chaasht Salaah as this has been clearly mentioned in another narration. Hadhrat Abu Umaamah narrates that Nabi (S.A.W) has said, "Whoever leaves his house in a state of purity (with Wudhu) to perform his Fardh Salaah will receive the reward of A Haaji who has donned his Ihraam for Hajj. Whoever leaves his home to perform his Chaasht Salaah and no other reason will receive the reward of one performing Umrah. (The name of the person who performs) One Salaah to the next without carrying out any futile tasks between will be written in the Illiyeen (where the names of the pious are recorded)."14

Attending the Jumu'ah Salaah is equal to Hajj

No Muslim is unacquainted with the virtue and importance of Jumu'ah Salaah.

Walking to the Masjid to perform the Fardh Salaah with Jamaat is equal to Hajj so attending the Jumu'ah Salaah in the Masjid will also be equal to Hajj in reward. It has been reported from the famous Taabie, Hadhrat Sa'eed bin Musayab " , Attending the Jumu'ah Salaah is more beloved to me than performing Nafl Hajj. " separate virtue and reward has been reported for attending the Jumu'ah Salaah early; the first to attend Jumu'ah Salaah is like a person who has sacrificed a camel for Allaah's pleasure. One narration which Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (R.A) narrates from Nabi (S.A.W) in this regard is a follows, "The one who arrives first for Jumu'ah is like the person who has sacrificed a camel (for Allah's pleasure)."[1] The word used to denote sacrifice, "Hadie", does not refer to an ordinary sacrifice but specifically the sacrifice of Hajj or the animal sacrificed in the boundaries of the Haram. In some narrations Nabi (S.A.W) has been reported to have equated the reward of one who arrives early for Jumu'ah to the Haaji who sacrifices an animal during Hajj. This also suggest that performing Jumu'ah Salaah is equal to Hajj in reward and arriving early for Jumu'ah Salaah is equal to sacrificing an animal during Hajj. It is reported from Imaam Awzaai in 'Taareekh Ibn Asaakir' that on one occasion Yunus bin Maysarah passed the graveyard of Baab Tuma, where he addressed the deceased saying, "O people of the graveyard! May you be at peace. You left before us and we will soon follow, May Allaah have mercy on both of us and forgives us."

Allaah Ta'ala then returned the soul to one of the deceased who replied to him, "O people of the world! You have the good fortune of performing Hajj every week." The person replied, "May Allaah have mercy on you! Where do we perform Hajj every week?" The deceased replied, "Performing Jumu'ah Salaah! Do you not know it is equal to an accepted Hajj?"