Common Sense Trivia
Me and my elder brother (Ashfaq bhai) were discussing something regarding what is happening and what should be happening around us. In between that, the bro talked about whether the Hajj is an obligation in current times or not. Generally speaking, God tells us that it is much more important to try and prevent human suffering - more so than the prayers that we offer.
My bro gave a really good and simple example, that, if we are going to a Masjid to offer our prayers, and we see a person dying of some major injury or disease, the obligation of prayers is automatically lessened and the obligation of helping that person takes precedence.
Today, there are a lot who are suffering, and still we see many thousands of people go for Hajj, and it takes atleast Rs. 150,000 a person from Pakistan to perform a Hajj. Of course it was Hajj that my brother was talking about, which is a really big thing to talk about. Perhaps we have to consider this thing in each and everything (big or small) that we do in our daily lives, consider if we have a much more important thing to do than whatever we are doing right now? i know, that's not as easy as just writing it here, but maybe I'll just provoke a thought.
So my question to you is, do you think offering the Hajj is more important or helping those who need our help in the current times?
My bro gave a really good and simple example, that, if we are going to a Masjid to offer our prayers, and we see a person dying of some major injury or disease, the obligation of prayers is automatically lessened and the obligation of helping that person takes precedence.
Today, there are a lot who are suffering, and still we see many thousands of people go for Hajj, and it takes atleast Rs. 150,000 a person from Pakistan to perform a Hajj. Of course it was Hajj that my brother was talking about, which is a really big thing to talk about. Perhaps we have to consider this thing in each and everything (big or small) that we do in our daily lives, consider if we have a much more important thing to do than whatever we are doing right now? i know, that's not as easy as just writing it here, but maybe I'll just provoke a thought.
So my question to you is, do you think offering the Hajj is more important or helping those who need our help in the current times?
Er, there's a difference between Hajj and other forms of prayer.
First, expanding Ashfaq bhai's example, will you break your fast if you have to help an injured/dying man? In most cases, no.
Hajj is farz on you only if you can bear its expenses, but more importantly, it is farz just once in your lifetime. When you have to do something just once in your life, and if you are able to do it, then why not do it first? Yes, helping others and trying to lessen human suffering is a very noble act, but if you miss your namaz while doing so, you can offer a qaza for it. In Hajj, the concept of qaza cannot be applied as it can be applied for other prayers, because, again, it has to be performed just once.
Also, Hajj requires some grand planning -- you have to take care of travelling, finance, stay, etc. In namaz, the most you have to plan is taking a bath and wearing clean clothes.
On the other hand, I also agree that sometimes huqooq-ul-ibad take precedence over huqooq-ul-Allah. As Iqbal said, "mein uss ka banda banon' ga jis ko Khuda kay bandon' say pyar ho ga", so yes, if you can save a life by missing your namaz, go for it. But I just don't think that the same context can apply to Hajj.
Nice blog, by the way. :)
Agreed to Saadat. Without sounding negative...HAJJ is farz and only once. You will get enough opporunities to do good but the earlier one gets to go for HAJJ, the earlier he comes on track...do even better good...exponentially...
Nice post...
A very nice question you've put forth. I'd agree with what Saadat has said. He has put it very nicely.
Saadat, UTP, Hina: Thanx for your input guys!
Well Ibadah like prayers and fasts can't be mixed with Hajj. Hajj is not even MUST once, it's must only if you can afford to pay all the expenses and also if there is no other social or righteous bound on you.
In today's society, do you think many of us would have heart to spend the 150-200K on a good deed for other's sake? I dont think so. May be we'll say I cant afford to go to Hajj but hey let's go and plan a tour to Singapore. Or let's go shopping some gold. But spending it for the sake of fulfilling Haqooq ul Ibad, I dont think so.
harsh realities of today's world.
Asma: Hmmm yeah... :-|
kamran m sorry bt i disagree and would ask u will u do this if ur in any situation like this?
n i completly agree wht asma is sayin coz its da reality:)
Sakina: Don't be sorry girl, this place is welcome to all the opinions! and as far as I am concerned, I would think if there is a much more important thing to do than Hajj at that particular time, if not, I'll go for Hajj.