About three years ago, I had the opportunity of going to Hajj with my mom. Since she and a few family friends were elderly, we decided to go with one of the most expensive companies in Canada. Throughout my journey, the group painstakingly took care of our every desire. We had five-star hotels, air-conditioned bus shuttles and lavish buffets. Despite all the above perks, I would not recommend these groups to any one of my friends.
I saw that Hajj groups, especially the posh ones, are eager to bring in Hanafi customers, but are not willing to accommodate for Hanafi fiqh.
Here is my criteria for fiqh during Hajj. We understand that things are hectic and busy. We understand that we will have to compromise in our fiqh. My rule is: We are willing to compromise on the Sunnah and Nafl acts, but we will not compromise on the Fard and Wajib acts. Groups should be made responsible for fulfilling the fard and wajib elements of all their valued customers according to their respective fiqhs.
If you are a Hanafi, here are the three things that you should check in your potential Hajj group before making your decision. I understand that some Hanafi scholars are willing to compromise on the following, but this is a personal list.
- Jam’ Bayn al-Salatayn (Joining two prayers while travelling): Hanafi fiqh only allows a person to combine Salah at ‘Arafa and Muzdalifa. Hanafi adherents should not be asked to pray two Salahs in one time at any other occasion. Most of the posher groups do not make separate stops in the trip from Madinah to Makkah and ask their customers to join their prayers. I have faced a lot of challenges in getting groups to adhere to this.
An easier alternative could be to make one stop while traveling at the end of one Salah time and wait till the beginning of the next. This way, the followers can pray the first Salah at the end of its time and the second at the beginning of its time.
- The sequence of actions on the day of Eid is:
a) Ramy
b)Nahr (Sacrificing the animal)
c) Halaq (shaving the head)
d) Removing the Ihram cloth.
I have heard from a senior member from a Canadian group that in some groups they tell the followers that the animals have been slaughtered without being certain of it themselves. We should hold groups accountable to make sure that the animals have in fact been slaughtered.
- Some groups tend to make Ramy of Jamarat before Zawal on the 11th, 12th or 13th of Zul Hijjah. We cannot be flexible on that.
All in all, these are difficult conversations. I understand that there are valid opinions that differ from mine. However, the way forward is to embrace our differences and to accommodate as many opinions as possible. May Allah guide us all In Sha Allah.
Sheikh Abdullah Ayaz Mullanee is a scholar from the Greater Toronto Area. He is passionately involved in several initiatives around Toronto and is regularly invited to speak at youth and community based events. Shaykh Abdullah currently teaches at Khairul Ummah Academy and Mathabah Institute while conducting online classes for Lubab Academy’s Arabic Language program. He is also the editor in chief for ‘Bridging The Gap’, the official magazine for the Canadian Council of Muslim Theologians.