* Speaks on implementation of Qasr, importance of its observance during Hajj
* It feels proud sharing platform with international scholars of Islam
President of the Muslim Ummah of Southwest Nigeria (MUSWEN), Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, was in the spotlight at the 48th Grand Hajj Symposium in Makkah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he made a presentation to an international audience on the Islamic jurisprudence of qasr (shortening of prayers) for pilgrims.
Oladejo, represented the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, at the annual symposium which was also attended by over 500 global scholars and top officials of hajj across continents.
Held on Monday 4 Dhul Hijjah 1445, corresponding to 10 June 2024, under the title: “Observing Shari’ah Exemptions and Adhering to the Regulations of Hajj”, the 2024 Hajj symposium was under the patronage of the Kingdom’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah and highlighted the cultural and civilisational role of Saudi Arabia in serving pilgrims during hajj.
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No less than 1.83 million Muslims from across the world participated in the 2024 hajj which ended on Wednesday, 19th June after concluding a three-day symbolic stoning at Jamarat and a farewell circling of the Ka’abah.
Speaking to Muslim News Nigeria on his presentation at the grand symposium, the MUSWEN President said he was part of a delegation that represented the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar Sa’ad III, noting it felt proud for him to share same platform with international scholars of Islam.
He said, “I thank Almighty Allah, and I feel so proud representing His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto at the important event. It’s another opportunity for one to show that Nigeria is a country with a large population of Muslims. And from what we have gathered, I believe we come first in the whole of Africa in terms of the population of pilgrims. The Nigerian contingent that went through the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) was about 65,000.
“It was really nice to share a platform with international and well-read scholars of Islam, to discuss critical issues surrounding hajj. The event would play a vital role in improving hajj operations. We reviewed the issues of Shari’ah concessions, adherence to applicable hajj regulations, among others.”
Alhaji Oladejo, in his presentation, said pilgrims are also classified as musaafir (travellers), and therefore should enjoy the special dispensation of qasr during hajj.
The NSCIA Vice President pointed out a misconception regarding qasr, noting it’s wrong to posit that those who shorten their prayers cannot perform nawaafil (voluntary prayers).
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According to him, nawaafil does not affect the issue of qasr, and there were reports that indicated a tradition of observing voluntary prayers during qasr by the companions of the Prophet (SAW).
“Qasr is the shortening of prayers, particularly the three obligatory prayers of dhur, asr and ishaa. They all have four rakaats, to be shortened to two. This is a special dispensation from Almighty Allah, granted to Muslims on journeys.
According to the Holy Qur’an, Chapter 4 Verse 101: ‘And when you travel on the land, there is no sin in shortening your solat’.
“The pilgrims on hajj, because they can be classified as musaafir, also qualify to actually enjoy that privilege of qasr. You find that whether at muzdalifah, muna, or arafat, prayers are shortened.
“Then, we also talked about the combination of prayers. What are the prayers that can be combined. You can combine dhur and asr. You can also combine maghrib and ishai. On the timing, there is also the option that any of these combinations can be done at the time of either the first or second prayer.
“We also looked at the expiration of qasr. How long can it take before we can say qasr can no longer be prayed? Again, you find that scholars have different opinions on that. There are some people who said that the Prophet (SAW) was in Tabuk, and he stayed there for like 19 days, and throughout those days he shortened his prayers, according to Imam Bukhari.
“There are other Imams like Shafii’, Hambali, who recommended just three days. That is after three days, you return to the normal rakaats. But then, there is a consensus of the four Imams that if the person has some reasons to stay in that area, and has not been able to fulfil the course, he can shorten his prayer as long as he stays for that period.
“Then, we also looked at nawaafil because some people feel once you’re doing qasr, you don’t need to observe nawaafil. That’s a mistake. Nawaafil does not affect the issue of qasr. You can observe your nawaafil alongside qasr. There were reports that the companions of the Prophet (SAW) observed nawaafil with qasr. So, these are cogent reasons to correct wrong impressions which people have that if you are doing qasr, you do not need to observe nawaafil. This is very important.”
The President of MUSWEN, an umbrella body for all Muslims in southwestern Nigeria said there were no objections to his presentation at the symposium, emphasising that it is a common practice at Arafat for pilgrims to combine dhur and asr prayers after the Imam had delivered his khutbah.
The Hajj 2024 Grand Symposium was also an avenue for the international audience to review important amenities, including infrastructure, transportation, security, healthcare, among others.
Alhaji Oladejo agreed that there has been a remarkable improvement in the infrastructure of the Kingdom, saying he never experienced a time that water went off during the just concluded hajj.
“Now, if you want to go from Madinah to Jeddah, within two hours you are there. Same thing for Makkah. I must say they have made remarkable improvements in infrastructure: roads, railways, even their airports. They’ve made enough preparation to receive a large population. There was never a time when there was no water, this is one thing I noticed where I camped. I also doubt they were still carrying tankers like before. So, this is an improvement,” he said.
He, similarly, commended NAHCON for the improvement in the airlift of pilgrims, noting the airlift was conducted in record time.
“There was a great improvement in the airlift of pilgrims by NAHCON for this year’s hajj. There was no pilgrim left behind in Nigeria, and they completed the airlift in record time before the closure of the border.
“We have to commend them on that. However, I was not at Muna with the Nigerian contingent, so I can’t really tell what their experiences were.”
He called for support and prayers for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his agenda to bring renewed hope to the citizens.
Alhaji Oladejo said Nigeria will soon be where Saudi is today, as efforts are being made to put necessary infrastructure in place by the current administration.
“We are on the track in Nigeria. The President has also commissioned the coastal road from Lagos to Calabar, and the one from Badagry to Sokoto. There has been a lot on railway also. So, we will be there too in Nigeria.
“But one thing again is that we have a problem with security here. In Saudi Arabia, there is nothing like that. Our own is a problem that has been carried from administration to administration. We all pray that we’ll overcome the problem of security. All of us pray that Mr. President and his administration will succeed,” he added.
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