The sender says: We were with one of the elders in our town, and a distinguished person entered and greeted this elder, saying to him in exact words: “I have performed Hajj to you, a Hajj of longing.”
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The questioner : The sender says: We were with one of the elders in our town, and a distinguished person entered and greeted this elder, saying to him in exact words: “I have performed Hajj to you, a Hajj of longing, not one that obligates Islam.” This statement troubled me, so I objected to him during the gathering and said to him: “It is not permissible; Hajj is only for the Ancient House in Makkah al-Mukarramah.” He responded to us with a long lecture in which he said: “Hajj is nothing but intention. I intended Abu So-and-so, and the pilgrims only perform Hajj to the House because they long for it. I did the same, and today I longed for this person, so I performed Hajj to him.” This man convinced me with his brilliant ability, quick wit, and strong rhetoric. So today I am placing this issue before you. If I was wrong, I seek Allah’s forgiveness; if I was right, I thank Him. Perhaps this person will hear what you say. M K S Imam University?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah. There is no doubt that Hajj has two meanings: a linguistic meaning and a legal meaning. The linguistic meaning is what this man who responded to the questioner’s objection indicated, which is that it means intention. So whoever intends something, walks to it, and strives for it, has performed Hajj to it. As for the legal meaning, it is intending the Sacred House or intending Makkah to perform the rites. This is Hajj legally.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Since the linguistic meaning has transitioned to the legal meaning, it should not be used in its original meaning. The scholars of knowledge said that realities are three: legal, linguistic, and customary, and that the legal meaning takes precedence over the linguistic and customary meanings. Accordingly, Muslims should consider Hajj in their language to be intending Makkah to perform the rites.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This questioner’s objection to the one who said to the Shaykh, “I performed Hajj to you,” and the like, is in its proper place. And that man’s defense of himself by saying that Hajj in language means intention is a doubt, not a proof.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is because the meaning of Hajj has been transferred legally to the Hajj of the House of Allah the Sacred. Therefore, when Muslims use the word Hajj, it now refers only to the Hajj of the House to perform the rites.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Furthermore, his saying to this Shaykh, “I performed Hajj to you,” undoubtedly contains exaggeration, either verbally or conceptually. It is feared that this will open the door to exaggeration regarding the Shaykhs and those called the awliya (close friends of Allah), just as the people of imagination and those immersed in Sufism interpreted the Hajj found in the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) as intending their Shaykhs and their awliya. In any case, this questioner’s objection to the one who said to the Shaykh, “I performed Hajj to you,” is an objection in its proper place. And we see that it is not permissible for a Muslim to use the term “Hajj” for intending a person, because Hajj is legally defined as intending the House to perform the rites.
The questioner : Well done.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah. There is no doubt that Hajj has two meanings: a linguistic meaning and a legal meaning. The linguistic meaning is what this man who responded to the questioner’s objection indicated, which is that it means intention. So whoever intends something, walks to it, and strives for it, has performed Hajj to it. As for the legal meaning, it is intending the Sacred House or intending Makkah to perform the rites. This is Hajj legally.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Since the linguistic meaning has transitioned to the legal meaning, it should not be used in its original meaning. The scholars of knowledge said that realities are three: legal, linguistic, and customary, and that the legal meaning takes precedence over the linguistic and customary meanings. Accordingly, Muslims should consider Hajj in their language to be intending Makkah to perform the rites.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This questioner’s objection to the one who said to the Shaykh, “I performed Hajj to you,” and the like, is in its proper place. And that man’s defense of himself by saying that Hajj in language means intention is a doubt, not a proof.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is because the meaning of Hajj has been transferred legally to the Hajj of the House of Allah the Sacred. Therefore, when Muslims use the word Hajj, it now refers only to the Hajj of the House to perform the rites.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Furthermore, his saying to this Shaykh, “I performed Hajj to you,” undoubtedly contains exaggeration, either verbally or conceptually. It is feared that this will open the door to exaggeration regarding the Shaykhs and those called the awliya (close friends of Allah), just as the people of imagination and those immersed in Sufism interpreted the Hajj found in the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) as intending their Shaykhs and their awliya. In any case, this questioner’s objection to the one who said to the Shaykh, “I performed Hajj to you,” is an objection in its proper place. And we see that it is not permissible for a Muslim to use the term “Hajj” for intending a person, because Hajj is legally defined as intending the House to perform the rites.
The questioner : Well done.