What To Do If We Are Not Going For Hajj?

The first ten days of Dzulhijjah are the most beloved to Allah.

The Prophet testified to that. He said: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” (Bukhari)

Obviously, Hajj is one of the best deeds that one can do during these ten days. However for those of us who are not invited to His House this year, there are still many good deeds that one can do to earn the pleasure of Allah.

Some of these are:

1) Fast all nine days, especially on the Day of Arafah

The Prophet (PBUH) used to fast on the ninth day of Dzulhijjah and he said: “Fasting the Day of Arafah (ninth Dzulhijjah) is an expiation for all the sins of the previous year and an expiation for all the sins of the coming year.” (Muslim)

2) Do a lot of Zikr and Takbir

The Prophet (PBUH) said: “There are no days on which good deeds are greater or more beloved to Allah than on these ten days”, so recite much Tahlil (saying La ilaha illallah), Takbir (saying Allahu akbar) and Tahmid (saying alhamdulillah).” (Ahmad)

Ibn Umar and Abu Hurayrah used to go out in the marketplace during the first ten days of Dzulhijjah, reciting Takbir, and the people would recite Takbir when they heard them. (Bukhari)

Takbir is a Sunnah. So recite it in the masjid, in your home, on the street and every place where it is permitted to remember Allah.

Men should recite these phrases out loud, and women should recite them quietly.

3) Stand in night prayers: (Tahajjud, Qiyamullail)

Remember, how in the last third of every night, Allah Almighty calls out to us, His servants: Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to his invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him? (Bukhari, Muslim)

4) Make sincere repentance.

One of the most important action during these ten days is to repent sincerely to Allah and to give up all kinds of disobedience and sin right away because we do not know when we will die and thus become unable to repent, and also because one evil deed leads to another.

“But as for him who repented, believed and did righteous deeds, then he will be among those who are successful.” [Al-Qasas 28:67]

5) Come back to the Quran

It is time now to dust off your copy of the Quran and return to its refuge. Make it a daily habit, using these 10 days the beginning of a strong and beautiful relationship with it. Read it with meaning, reflect on it, understand it, and then implement it in your daily life. Remember that reading one letter of the Quran earns you ten rewards.

6) Increase ALL the types of good deeds.

If we are unable to go to Hajj this year, we should occupy ourselves in the worship of Allah; pray extra prayers (Nafilah) and recite the Quran. Make Zikr of Allah, send Salams on the Prophet, make dua', give charity, honour our parents, uphold ties of kinship, enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, and add other good deeds and acts of worship during these days.

“So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it; And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it.”

[Al-Zalzalah 99:7-8]

7) Get the reward of Hajj wherever you are.

You may be unable to do Hajj this year, and you may feel sad. However, you can get the reward of it right where you are.The Prophet said: “Whoever prays Fajr Prayer in congregation, and then sits and remembers Allah until the sun rises, then (after a while) prays two rakaats, he will gain a reward equal to that of making perfect Hajj and Umrah.” [He repeated the word "perfect" thrice.] (At-Tirmidzi)

8) Slaughter an animal and distribute the meat.

Ibn Umar said: The Prophet lived in Madeenah for 10 years and every year he slaughtered an animal.” (Ahmad)

9) Attend Eid prayer

10) Thank Allah.

One of the best forms of worshipping Allah Subhanahu wa Taala is to thank Him, deeply, sincerely and continuously.

Alhamdulillah, there is much to be gained in these coming days. Hasten to do good deeds and striving hard in worship .

“And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty (death).”

[Al-Hijr 15:99]