Praise is due to Allāh, Lord of the worlds, may the blessings and peace be upon our master Muḥammad, the last of prophets, on his family, and all his companions.

Coinciding with the influx of pilgrims to the Holy Places to perform Hajj, the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, on behalf of the scholars of the Ummah, and based on its belief and conviction in the need for pilgrims to perform this duty with ease, and in peace and serenity, thus performing what they came for and then returning to their homelands and families, washed of all sins, as on the day their mothers gave birth to them, reminds the pilgrims of the sacred places of Islam of the ethics and behavior they should display when performing their rituals in the Two Holy Mosques and the holy places:

Firstly: The pilgrim should feel the sanctity of the place and the sanctity of the time, coming to Allah Almighty, with all his soul, Allah the Almighty says « That [has been commanded], and whoever honors the sacred ordinances of Allah – it is best for him in the sight of his Lord. » Al-Hajj -30

Allah the Almighty also says: « That [is so]. And whoever honors the symbols of Allah – indeed, it is from the piety of hearts. » Al-Hajj -32

Secondly: The Academy reminds pilgrims that the pilgrimage has two purposes:

First, the pilgrims talk about the benefits and privileges granted by Allah to the Ummah and to individuals.

Secondly: To invoke Allah the Almighty on the appointed days.

Allah The Almighty, says: « And proclaim to the people the Hajj [pilgrimage]; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass – (27) That they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah on known days » Al-Hajj 27-28

To speak of the privileges bestowed upon the Ummah means to thank Allah for the blessings He has bestowed upon it in all aspects of its life. Certainly, the most important of these blessings is its unity, the source of its strength. Hearts and tongues implore Allah, desiring His forgiveness and consent and seeking from Him the strength to be able to avoid all that leads to division, animosity and hatred that weaken the Ummah in front of its foes and in facing the hardships and challenges that it is rather facing. The solution to the problems of the Ummah is done through research, consultation and cooperation. This said, progress can only be achieved through the scholars of the Ummah, its specialists, and through the procedures and actions approved and implemented and not through this madness of wanting to sow sedition and create disputes, through chanted slogans undermining security and thus disturbing the guests of the Most Merciful, who have traveled distances to invoke the name of Allah, on fixed days.
As for the goods sought at the level of individuals, it is any interest – be it economic, cultural, scientific, social or other – that an individual can achieve for himself and his nation.

As for the purpose of invoking Allah during the days of Hajj, it is education, preparation and guidance, so that the Muslim may be among those included in the saying of the Almighty: « Hajj is [during] well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of ihram], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj. And whatever good you do – Allah knows it. And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah. And fear Me, O you of understanding. » Al-Baqara -197

The Prophet said: “Whoever performs Hajj for Allah without sexual enjoyment or sins, will return like the day his mother gave birth to him.”

Perversity in the verse and hadith means not transgressing the limits of the Shariah by committing a forbidden act, that is quarreling, arguing, boasting, insulting, scheming, and acts that were common among the pagan tribes in the time of jahiliya. The purpose of forbidding perversity and quarrelling is to be able to perform Allah’s rituals with serenity and to keep within His limits.

Thirdly: In order to fulfill these noble deeds, Allah Almighty has shown the importance of maintaining security in these places, so that Hajj and Umrah can be performed in a peaceful and smooth manner, Allah Almighty has confirmed this by saying: « Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Makkah – blessed and a guidance for the worlds. (*) In it are clear signs [such as] the standing place of Abraham. And whoever enters it shall be safe.» Aal-i-Imran 96

The pilgrim must realize the sanctity of these places and honor and respect them. He is required to show humility and deference, so that everyone can enjoy safety and security, which is not limited to humans as it includes the Harram (sacred precincts), animals, birds and trees… The mere act of hunting or cutting down trees is an infringement of the places’ safety and even the sanctity. Allah The Almighty says: (O believers! Do not kill game while you are in Ihram), this indicates what is contained in the sermon of the Prophet, PBUH, in the year of the conquest: – khotba of prohets pbuh “ O people, Allah made Makkah sacred the day He created the heavens and the earth, and it is sacred until the Day of Resurrection. Its trees are not to be cut, its game is not to be disturbed, and its lost property is not to be taken except by one who will announce it.’‘Abbas said: ‘Except for Idhkhir (a kind of fragrant grass), for it is (used) for houses and graves.’ The messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Except for Idhkhir.’”

He also says: – “This people will continue to prosper as long as they give this sacredness due respect, but when they squander that they will perish.” Ibn Majah

During the pre-Islamic period of jahiliya, people respected the vicinity, even if someone met his father’s murderer there, he did not harm him.

To increase the reverence of the sacred precincts, Allah guarantees its preservation and promises punishment to all those who infringe or dare to threaten its security and that of its people and guests. During the period of Hajj, Allah the Almighty multiplied good and bad deeds therein. The mere willingness to do is in itself a sin. Allah says: are more unjust than those who prevent the name of Allah from being mentioned in His mosques and strive toward their destruction. It is not for them to enter them except in fear. For them in this world is disgrace, and they will have in the Hereafter a great punishment. » Al-Baqara -114

Fourth: On this basis, the pilgrim should know that it is absolutely forbidden for him to say anything or do anything that may disturb the peace and security during Hajj, to prevent other pilgrims from enjoying peace and tranquility, to distract them from Talbiyah, Tahlil, and Takbeer, and to praise Allah for these things, such are the words that their tongues should not cease to repeat, and that their hearts and minds should feel their profound meanings.

Therefore, introducing anything that is capable of corrupting the purpose of Hajj and transgressing its provisions, contained in the hadith of the Prophet, PBUH (learn your rites from me) is considered a transgression of the percepts or even a will to dissuade people from performing it, which is also considered one of the most serious crimes and a heresy. In this sense, the aforementioned verse has mentioned the severe and full punishment reserved for those who obstruct the path of Allah and the Sacred Mosque.

The pilgrim should know that one of the signs of acceptance of his pilgrimage is to perform it in peace, tranquility, politeness and compassion for himself and others, Abdullah bin Abbas said: (As the Prophet (peace be upon him) was about to leave Arafat, he heard behind him people jostling each other violently and fighting and camels blathering. Then he pointed at them and said, “O people! Be quiet, for surely goodness is not in harshness! ), Reported by Muslim and al-Bukhari.

Fifth: The pilgrim should be altruistic towards his brothers, avoid any injustice, harm others, cease all forms of division, demagoguery and discrimination, and not deal with others on the basis of race, color or doctrine. Indeed, in these sacred places, all human beings are equal, there is no favor for one over another except through piety, and to believe otherwise is to be ignorant, a source of quarrels, differences and divisions, and even clashes, knowing that each of these actions invalidates Hajj.

Sixth: The pilgrim must also abide by the rules governing Hajj matters, which facilitate the pilgrimage for all. Adhering to this attitude can only reflect positively on all pilgrims in terms of facilities, safety… Any violation of the safety of Hajj is a transgression of the sanctity of time and place. The pilgrim should remember the oath of the Messenger of Allah on the day of sacrifice, as reported by Ibn Abbas:

“O people! What day is it?

– A holy day, they replied.

– On what earth are we?

– On sacred ground.

– What month is it?

– A sacred month.

– Your blood, your property, and your honor are sacred as are your day, your land, and your month.

After repeating it three times, he raised his eyes to heaven and exclaimed, “O Allah! Did I transmit? O Allah! Have I transmitted?”

Ibn Abbas commented:

“By Him who holds my soul in His Hands! This is his testament to his community”.

“Let the person present pass on to the person absent!

The Prophet (peace be upon him) continued. Do not become disbelievers after me by wielding your swords against each other”, reported by al-Bukhaari.

The pilgrims to the holy places of Islam, who came from all over the world, travelling thousands of kilometers, leaving their relatives and families and spending money, for the performance of Umrah must bear in mind the sanctity of space and time and their sanctity and perform this ritual, for which they may not be able to return in the manner required for Shariah. The Prophet said about it: (Learn your rites from me).

We ask Allah Almighty, that He accepts pilgrims’ Hajj, that it be piously performed and that their efforts be rewarded.

The International Islamic Fiqh Academy highly appreciates the great and blessed efforts of the Government of Saudi Arabia, headed by the Custodian of the Holy Places of Islam, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may Allah protect him, and whoever is in charge of the organization of Hajj affairs, to enable pilgrims and visitors to perform these rituals with ease and comfort, and to pray to Allah Almighty to grant them the best reward, bless their efforts and guide them to perpetuate this offer.

Prof. Abdulsalam al-Abbadi

SG of IIFA