Sheikh Maher Al Muaiqly calls upon Muslims to forge unity, saying it would surely lead to salvation of the Ummah in addition to averting & discords or divisions
MAKKAH Al-MUKARRAMAH, June 15 (SABAH): Chanting “Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik”, around Hundreds of thousands Hujjaj performed Rukn-e-Azam of Hajj Waqoof-e-Arafah on Saturday afternoon.
The ritual at Mount Arafat, known as the hill of mercy, is considered the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage.
Delivering Hajj sermon at Masjid-e-Nimrah in Maidan-e-Arafat, Sheikh Maher Al Muaiqly called Muslims to forge unity, saying it would surely lead to salvation of the Ummah in addition to averting any discords or divisions.
He said Muslims should exhibit best of the manners as only those who will have good manners will be close to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on the day of judgment.
Imam Sheikh Dr. Maher said Allah has ordered Muslims to keep praying and paying zakat to the needy people.
He urged the public to respect each others’ rights, not to kill unjustly and to make decisions with justice.
The Hajj Sermon was live telecasted and translated into 50 different languages.
The Imam said “Almighty Allah is one in His Self. The Oneness of Allah and the Prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH) is the fundamental tenet of Islam. Allah has sent Muhammad (PBUH) as the Rehmat-ul-lil- Aalameen for the universe. A man should opt for the way of Taqwah as this is the only way to success and prosperity. “
He cautioned the Muslims about deceiving nature of this temporary worldly life. “He who opts Taqwah will be forgiven for his mistakes and granted Rizq (Livelihood) from means he would never have imagined”, he emphasised.
The Imam further said “Allah is the disposer of all affairs, the Hold Quran leads us to straight path, he who believes in Allah, succeeds in this life and hereafter. At various places in the Quran, Allah has ordered us to offer prayers as He showers His blessings on homes of those who say prayers. “
He reminded the pilgrims of paying Zakat and taking immense care of human rights. Islam calls for betterment and success of all as it doesn’t direct us to harm anyone.
The Imam instructed to maintain better manners as one with good etiquettes will be successful in this life and hereafter. He also highlighted the important of obedience to parents as one who is disobedient with his parents is doomed to fail in both worlds. Similarly, he warned of Allah’s displeasure over abandoning relatives. He also emphasised on justice and dissuaded Muslims from committing injustice.
The Imam precluded in his sermon from alcohol, gambling and infidelity.
The Imam doubled down on behaving kindly with family and avoiding doubts. He also asked Muslims to avoid backbiting.
At the end of the sermon, he reminded people of The Khutba- Hujja-Tul Widaa which was delivered by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in which he prayed at length for ‘Maghfirat’ (Forgiveness) of his Ummah.
The Imam also prayed for the Muslims of Palestine and safe departure of Hajj pilgrims to their home countries.
Sheikh Maher Al-Muaiqly, an imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saturday stressed cooperation and creating a spirit of helping each other in the annual Hajj sermon delivered at the Masjid-e-Nimrah.
In the sermon, the imam urged pilgrims to pray to Allah for themselves, for their parents, and those related to them.
“Whoever supplicates for his brother in the back of the unseen, the angel entrusted to him will say to him, Ameen, and the same for you.”
The Saudi imam emphasised the significance of the Sharia in leading one’s way of life to help flourish and achieve development.
“It prevents harming others or harming them. It enjoins justice, virtuous morals, honouring one’s parents, maintaining ties of kinship, telling the truth, preserving rights while delivering them to their rightful owners, performing trusts, and fulfilling contracts,” he said.
The sermon came after more than 1.5 Muslims reached Mount Arafat today for the high point of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, praying for hours, especially for Palestinians in war-ravaged Gaza.
Sheikh Al-Muaiqly also prayed for Palestinians suffering at the hands of Israeli brutality for the last eight months.
“Pray for our brothers in Palestine who have been under brutal oppression and denied liberty and provisions,” the imam said.
The Hujjaj offered Zuhr and Asr prayers together. After stay in Arafat, the Hujjaj will travel to Muzdalifa to collect pebbles that they will use in the symbolic stoning of Satans in Mina.
Pilgrims then return to Mina for three days, coinciding with the festive Eid Al-Adha and to sacrifice animals following sunna of Hazrat Ibrahim and Hazrat Ismael Allyhissalam.
Afterwards, they return to Makkah for a final circumambulation, known as Farewell Tawaf.
Once the Hajj is over, men will shave their heads and women to snip a lock of hair in a sign of renewal.
Most of the pilgrims then leave Makkah for Medina to pray in Prophet Muhammad’s mosque.