Download PDF: [S] To Attain more Reward than Hajj

Hadrat Sayyiduna Imam Ghazzali – may Allah be pleased with him – writes, “There are certain people who build huge Masjids and also spent a lot of time and money beautifying these Masjids. They think that they have done something very great. They have the impression that they have built a house for themselves in Jannah. On the other hands, their neighbours and friends are struggling. Hundreds are laying in hospital and cannot afford medication. Hundreds of people are hungry and have no clothes and are completely helpless. There are hundreds of people who are battling to put food on the table so that their family and children can survive. To leave all of these needy people and then build a grand Masjid is a complete waste of time. Yes, when you have taken care of those needy and poor people around you, all of their problems have been resolved, then only will this building of a Masjid or Madressah become a Sadqah Jaraariyah and a great bounty.”

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Imam Ghazzali – may Allah be pleased with him – has further stated that “To spend on the needy and poor is far better than to spend on building a Masjid or decorating it.” (Ihya ul Ulum)

 

Pertaining to some rich people, the great Imam explains, “There are certain rich people who display a great wish to go for Hajj all the time and spending money on this. You will find that they go for Hajj all the time, while their neighbours are hungry. In spite of this, these rich people will continue to go for Hajj. There is no doubt in what Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas’ud – may Allah be pleased with him –has stated that, ‘In the last years, there will be many people who will go for Hajj without any need (to do so).’ The journey will seem very easy for them and there will not shortage of money, yet they will return empty-handed (without any reward for the Hajj). They will walk on these open plains (for Hajj) while their neighbours are gripped in misery. They will not help or even sympathise with their neighbours.”

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Imam Ghazzali – may Allah be pleased with him – then continues, “There was once a person who appeared in front of Hadrat Sayyiduna Bishar bin Haarth Haafi – may Allah be pleased with him – and mentioned that he would like to go for Hajj. Hadrat Sayyiduna Bishar – may Allah be pleased with him – asked him how much of money had he allocated for this purpose and replied that he had two thousand Dirhams.

 

“He then asked the person what he hoped for from going for Hajj. The person replied that he wanted to attain the Divine Pleasure and Mercy of Allah. The great Saint then informed him, ‘This Divine Mercy and Grace of Allah can also be attained by you while you are sitting in your house. Go and look for someone who has a debt and repay his debt. Spend it on some poor person so that his financial state improves. Give it someone who had a family (and is poor) so that his problems are removed. Spend it on some orphans so that you can become the neighbour of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – in Jannah. Because if you create happiness in the heart of a Muslim or help a needy person and remove his problems or help someone who is weak it is better than a hundred Hajj after the Hajj (completed for Islam once in your life time).’ (Al Ihya)