A Muslim scholar and Senior Assistant Registrar at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Ustadh Saeed Salman has said that going to Hajj more than once is not wasteful spending, but urged that the money and resources can be channelled to more rewarding and meritorious causes.
Ustadh Salman made the disclosure in an exclusive interview with Muslim News during the last phase of the Hajj Mabrur Ventures Limited (HMVL) seminar held recently at the Islamic Centre, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos.
No fewer than 350 pilgrims from the agency have been successfully airlifted in batches to the Kingdom of the Saudi Arabia for the 2019 Hajj exercise, which is expected to start on Friday, 8th and run till the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah (9th to 14th August).
Ustadh Salman, who is also the Mudir (Principal) of Madrasat Sahwatul Islamiyah, Iwaya, Lagos said, “I won’t consider going for Hajj more than once as wasteful spending, rather I would advise the person to channel the money into other meritorious acts.”
According to him, there are other meritorious acts you can do with the money that will earn you Allah’s pleasure.
“For instance, I have been to Hajj 5 to 6 times. What’s so special about it? Even though we are told by the Prophet (SAW) to be renewing it every 5 years, that huge sum of money can be used to save and change lives.
“We have students who are going to schools but cannot pay their school fees. Spend the money on them and Allah will reward you. There are some mosques around us that are not well equipped furniture-wise and lack other basic amenities; you can spend the money on them. We also have widows; the money can be spent on them too. Once you spend on them, you put smiles on their faces. As they pray for you, so will Allah answer your prayers.
“In my humble opinion, I won’t say it is wasteful to go for Hajj several times, rather we can channel the money to other areas that will benefit the less privileged members of the society,” he added.
While speaking at the seminar with the theme; “Practical Approach to Hajj and Umrah”, Ustadh Salman disclosed that the rites of Hajj and Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) are the same except a difference.
“That difference is staying in a plain ground on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, Yaomah Arafat. That’s the only difference between Hajj and Umrah. It’s compulsory to put on your Ihram (ritual clothing) in Umrah and Hajj, it’s compulsory to perform Tawaf (circumambulation), and it is also compulsory to do Sa’y between Safa and Marwa (running between Mount Safa and Marwa).”
The Islamic scholar further advised the pilgrims to purify their intentions, have maximum levels of patience and avoid frivolities.
He said, “We have established the fact that Hajj is not compulsory on everybody. There are some conditions that must be fulfilled. You must be a Muslim, be matured, be sane and have the wherewithal, financial and physical.
“Also the person going for Hajj must be a freeborn and not a captive. A Muslim is expected to embark on Hajj once in his lifetime. Being there just for once is the compulsory minimum that Allah expects from you”.
“Have a good intention to attain the Rahmah of Allah and not to suit anyone. We also need to be patient. Hajj requires patience because you will mingle with different groups of people you have never related with before, and as a result of that, we need to be patient in our dealings with people over there. We should not allow for frivolities. Let’s ensure that at every time at our disposal, we are making use of same in order to attain the pleasure of Allah,” he added.
