Hajj, 'Umrah & the Islamic Calendar

Shaeekh Shuvro [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

It is narrated from Ibn Abbas (radhiallahu 'anhu) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There are no days in which righteous deeds done in them are more beloved to Allah than these days (i.e. the ten days of Dhu'l-Hijjah)."

SAPTCO Bus Station by Imam Khairul Annas (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

SAPTCO stands for Saudi Public Transport Company. It was established in 1399H (1979CE) and provides transportation services within the country. Importantly, SAPTCO provides a bus service between the cities of Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah, the three main cities visited by pilgrims.

A drawing of Makkah dated 1850

Hajj literally means 'to set out for a place'. Islamically however it refers to the annual pilgrimage that Muslims make to Makkah with the intention of performing certain religious rites in accordance with the method prescribed by the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam).

Supplicating Pilgrim at Masjid Al Haram. Mecca, Saudi Arabia by Ali Mansuri [CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has assigned a great reward for Hajj mabrur, as evidenced by the saying of the Messenger, sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam, " … There is no reward for Hajj Mabrur except Paradise." {qluetip title=[1]}Al-Bukhari, 1773{/qluetip}

An image showing a mourning ceremony in a city in Iran

Muharram is the month with which the Muslims begin their lunar hijrah calendar.

Sha'ban

One would agree that from the most unfortunate things possible is to be the rightful recipient of some good news – a present maybe, a gift of money, a bequest etc – but then one remains unaware of this fact, or doesn't pay attention to all the phone calls informing him of such glad tidings.