Introduction


Bismillah al-Rahmaan al-Raheem
Praise is to the Lord of the Worlds, and Blessings and Peace is upon Muhammad and his pure and impeccable progeny, and curse is upon all of their enemies.
This book is the translation of the work “Manaasik al-Hajj”, explaining the various issues of Hajj together with its rulings and rites.
Before dealing with the rulings of Hajj it would be appropriate to present some of the hadith narrated about the significance of Hajj.
Rasulollah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih said,
“The Hajj has Paradise as its reward, and the Umrah is atonement for all sins”.[1]
Imam Zayn al-‘Abidin alayhis-salaam said,
“Perform Hajj and Umrah, for your bodies will be healthy, your sustenance will be increased, and the expenses of your families will be met.”[2]
Imam Zayn al-‘Abidin alayhis-salaam also said,
“The pilgrim is forgiven, Paradise is [made] compulsory for him, the good deed is continued for him, and his family and wealth are protected.”[3]
Imam Baqir alayhis-salaam said,
“Islam has been built on five [aspects]: on Salaat (the daily prayers), Zakat (the monetary contributions), Hajj (pilgrimage), Sawm (fasting), and the Wilaayah (the authority and guardianship of the Ahl-ul-Bayt), and nothing is as important as the Wilaayah.”[4]
Imam Sadiq alayhis-salaam said,
“The pilgrim continues to have the Light of Allah upon him so long as he does not sin.”[5]
Imam Sadiq alayhis-salaam also said,
“If you spend one Dirham for the Hajj is better than spending twenty thousand Dirham in a good cause.”[6]
Imam Sadiq alayhis-salaam also said,
“If one dies and has not performed Hajjat-al-Islam, while a need, sickness, or a Ruler does not prevent him, let him die as a Jew or a Christian.”[7]
This is in addition to the fact that Hajj is one of the fundamental principles of Islam, and its obligation, while meeting the prescribed criteria, is amongst the necessities of religion, and abandoning it is a great sin.