Friday Sermon: Two Lessons from Those Who Failed to Perform Hajj

 

Sermon I

الحَمْدُ لِلهِ الَّذِيْ جَعَلَ فِي الْمَالِ حَقًّا لِلْفُقِيْرِ وَالمِسْكِيْنِ وَسَائِرِ اْلمُحْتَاجِيْنَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ سَيِّدَنا مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ الدَّاعِي بِقَوْلِهِ وَفِعْلِهِ إِلَى الرَّشَادِ. اللّٰهُمَّ صَلّ وسّلِّمْ علَى عَبْدِكَ وَرَسُوْلِكَ مُحَمّدٍ وِعَلَى آلِه وأصْحَابِهِ هُدَاةِ الأَنَامِ في أَنْحَاءِ البِلاَدِ. أمَّا بعْدُ، فيَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا اللهَ تَعَالَى بِفِعْلِ الطَّاعَاتِ فَقَدْ قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالىَ فِي كِتَابِهِ الْكَرِيْمِ: إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ. فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ. إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ الْأَبْتَرُ

 In the book "An-Nawâdir" by Sheikh Syihabuddin Ahmad ibn Salamah al-Qalyubi, it is narrated that one day the ascetic scholar Abdullah bin Mubarak set off for Makkah to perform the fifth pillar of Islam, which is Hajj. However, when he reached the city of Kufah, his journey was halted for a while, and he was unable to perform the Hajj.

Abdullah bin Mubarak decided to halt his journey due to the distressing condition of a woman in the city of Kufah who was forced to consume the carcass of a duck. Not only was she alone, but she also fed her children with the carcass as their meal. Abdullah bin Mubarak advised her several times that such consumption is forbidden in religion, but his advice was unsuccessful. To his surprise, he learned that the family resorted to eating the carcass out of desperation. The woman and her children had gone without food for three days. In order to sustain their lives, this impoverished family had to consume whatever was edible.

Abdullah bin Mubarak's heart was filled with sorrow, and he decided to donate his riding donkey, along with his belongings, including food and clothing, to the unfortunate family. The problem arose when Abdullah bin Mubarak no longer had provisions to continue his journey to the Holy Land. His journey was delayed in the city of Kufah until the Hajj season passed, and he failed to perform Hajj that year.

Upon returning to his hometown, he was surprised to receive an extraordinary welcome from the community as someone who had just returned from performing Hajj. Abdullah bin Mubarak protested in embarrassment, confessing that he had failed to go to the Holy Land this time. Meanwhile, his companions who had performed Hajj testified and further puzzled Abdullah bin Mubarak. They claimed to have been in Makkah, assisting their companions by bringing provisions, giving them water, or purchasing various items for them.

After this bewildering event, Abdullah bin Mubarak received an answer through a dream that night. In his sleep, Abdullah heard a voice saying, "O Abdullah, Allah has accepted your charitable deeds and sent an angel resembling you to perform Hajj on your behalf."

Dear Friday congregation, Subhanallah. Allah has shown His mercy to a servant who loves to give charity. What the Sufi scholar did prioritized in worship. Hajj is an act of worship, and charity is also an act of worship. However, Abdullah bin Mubarak prioritized the latter because his charity was greatly needed.

Abdullah bin Mubarak was not belittling the act of Hajj. He simply prioritized what should be prioritized. He was addressing an urgent matter, which involved the basic needs of others, by postponing his Hajj for that year. After all, isn't it possible to perform the delayed Hajj in the following years?

This action is also in line with the fiqh principle:

المُتَعَدِّيْ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ القَاصِرِ 

"Social worship is more important than individual worship."

This principle does not speak about what is important and what is not important, but rather what is important and what is more important. In the prioritization of fiqh (al-fiqh al-awlawi), the level of urgency of a worship varies: one is more superior than the other, just as when a person has to choose something with lesser harm compared to something with greater harm.

Dear Friday congregation, this story also provides a lesson for all of us to not be too engulfed in sadness when we are unable to perform Hajj due to economic limitations or other obstacles. In addition to considering how to fulfill the obligation of a worship, one is also required to consider what takes priority in implementation. That is why Hajj is only obligatory for those who are capable. Islam, for example, never obligates a poor person to perform Hajj when they are still struggling to fulfill other obligations, such as providing for their children and spouse. It is also not encouraged for them to overexert themselves to the point of selling basic assets like their house or farmland, which they rely on for livelihood.

However, a person is still required to strive in order to be able to perform the Hajj. Just like the five daily prayers and Zakat, Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam. If one falls under the category of being capable, both physically, economically, and in terms of security, they are obligated to perform Hajj without delay. Obligations remain obligations, even though we have to choose one priority obligation when faced with several obligations that need to be fulfilled.

وَلِلهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا

"Hajj is a duty upon mankind towards Allah, for those who are able to undertake the journey to the House of Allah." (Quran, Al-Imran: 97)

The second lesson is that Abdullah bin Mubarak has performed "al-birr" or acts of righteousness, which are highly encouraged in Islam. He donated something that he actually needed in order to perform the Hajj. The Quran mentions:

"Never will you attain righteousness until you spend [in the way of Allah] from that which you love. And whatever you spend - indeed, Allah is Knowing of it." (Quran, Al-Imran: 92)

   لَنْ تَنَالُوا الْبِرَّ حَتَّىٰ تُنْفِقُوا مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ

"You will not attain righteousness until you spend out of what you love. And whatever you spend - indeed, Allah is Knowing of it." (Quran, Ali Imran: 92)

"Al-birr" is derived from the word "barra-yabirru," which means to do good or to be obedient. From this word, the term "mabrur" is formed. A mabrur pilgrimage is not solely about fulfilling the pillars and obligations of Hajj and other technical aspects. It also encompasses how Hajj shapes a person to be al-barr, meaning virtuous in a social context. The title of a mabrur pilgrim indicates not only an increase in their worship but also an increase in their concern for the issues surrounding them upon returning from Hajj. This means that the essence of mabrur lies in one's character and ethics, which is why Abdullah bin Mubarak received honor even though he had not yet performed the Hajj due to his high sense of humanity and social concern.

That concludes the sermon that I can deliver. May we be among those who will be able to perform the Hajj to the Holy Land and at the same time have a high level of concern for the issues of others around us. Wallahu a'lam bish shawab.

   بَارَكَ الله لِي وَلَكُمْ فِى اْلقُرْآنِ اْلعَظِيْمِ، وَنَفَعَنِي وَإِيَّاكُمْ بِمَافِيْهِ مِنْ آيَةِ وَذِكْرِ الْحَكِيْمِ وَتَقَبَّلَ اللهُ مِنَّا وَمِنْكُمْ تِلاَوَتَهُ وَإِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيْعُ العَلِيْمُ، وَأَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا فَأسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْم 

Sermon II

اَلْحَمْدُ للهِ عَلىَ إِحْسَانِهِ وَالشُّكْرُ لَهُ عَلىَ تَوْفِيْقِهِ وَاِمْتِنَانِهِ. وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ اِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَاللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أنَّ سَيِّدَنَا مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ الدَّاعِى إلىَ رِضْوَانِهِ. اللهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وِعَلَى اَلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَسَلِّمْ تَسْلِيْمًا كِثيْرًا أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَياَ اَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اِتَّقُوااللهَ فِيْمَا أَمَرَ وَانْتَهُوْا عَمَّا نَهَى وَاعْلَمُوْا أَنَّ اللهَ أَمَرَكُمْ بِأَمْرٍ بَدَأَ فِيْهِ بِنَفْسِهِ وَثَـنَى بِمَلآ ئِكَتِهِ بِقُدْسِهِ وَقَالَ تَعاَلَى إِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلآئِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّوْنَ عَلىَ النَّبِى يآ اَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ آمَنُوْا صَلُّوْا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوْا تَسْلِيْمًا. اللهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمْ وَعَلَى آلِ سَيِّدِناَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى اَنْبِيآئِكَ وَرُسُلِكَ وَمَلآئِكَةِ اْلمُقَرَّبِيْنَ وَارْضَ اللّهُمَّ عَنِ اْلخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِيْنَ أَبِى بَكْرٍ وَعُمَر وَعُثْمَان وَعَلِى وَعَنْ بَقِيَّةِ الصَّحَابَةِ وَالتَّابِعِيْنَ وَتَابِعِي التَّابِعِيْنَ لَهُمْ بِاِحْسَانٍ اِلَىيَوْمِ الدِّيْنِ وَارْضَ عَنَّا مَعَهُمْ بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ اَللهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ وَاْلمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَاْلمُسْلِمِيْنَ وَاْلمُسْلِمَاتِ اَلاَحْيآءُ مِنْهُمْ وَاْلاَمْوَاتِ اللهُمَّ أَعِزَّ اْلإِسْلاَمَ وَاْلمُسْلِمِيْنَ وَأَذِلَّ الشِّرْكَ وَاْلمُشْرِكِيْنَ وَانْصُرْ عِبَادَكَ اْلمُوَحِّدِيَّةَ وَانْصُرْ مَنْ نَصَرَ الدِّيْنَ وَاخْذُلْ مَنْ خَذَلَ اْلمُسْلِمِيْنَ وَ دَمِّرْ أَعْدَاءَ الدِّيْنِ وَاعْلِ كَلِمَاتِكَ إِلَى يَوْمَ الدِّيْنِ. اللهُمَّ ادْفَعْ عَنَّا اْلبَلاَءَ وَاْلوَبَاءَ وَالزَّلاَزِلَ وَاْلمِحَنَ وَسُوْءَ اْلفِتْنَةِ وَاْلمِحَنَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ عَنْ بَلَدِنَا اِنْدُونِيْسِيَّا خآصَّةً وَسَائِرِ اْلبُلْدَانِ اْلمُسْلِمِيْنَ عآمَّةً يَا رَبَّ اْلعَالَمِيْنَ. رَبَّنَا آتِناَ فِى الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِى اْلآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ. رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا اَنْفُسَنَا وَاإنْ لَمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُوْنَنَّ مِنَ اْلخَاسِرِيْنَ. عِبَادَاللهِ ! إِنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُنَا بِاْلعَدْلِ وَاْلإِحْسَانِ وَإِيْتآءِ ذِي اْلقُرْبىَ وَيَنْهَى عَنِ اْلفَحْشآءِ وَاْلمُنْكَرِ وَاْلبَغْي يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُوْنَ وَاذْكُرُوا اللهَ اْلعَظِيْمَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوْهُ عَلىَ نِعَمِهِ يَزِدْكُمْ وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ أَكْبَرُ

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