. J ; ; ;J; : ,;I•; (cont.)

Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi on them, they would tread him with their feet; similarly, sheep will come to their owner in the best state of health they ever had in this world and, if he had not paid their zakah, would tread him with their hooves and would butt him with their horns ... I do not want anyone of you to come to me on the Day of Resurrection carrying over his neck a sheep that will be bleating. Then he says, 'O Muhammad (please intercede for me).' I will say, 'I can't help you for I conveyed Allah's message to you.' Similarly, I do not want anyone of you to come to me carrying over his neck a camel that will be grunting. Such a person will say, 'O Muhammad (intercede for me).' I will say to him, 'I cannot help you for I conveyed Allah's Message to you."' The Prophet (peace be upon him) warned of the consequences of not paying such zakah. Note the following hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari: J,,,, / ... o .... J / ,,,. "' ,,,. "' ,,,,,. . “ ॰" '-E 0L::./· $ ; ;-i ५६ .Lill ;O ; $% $ ,.९ २lS";· ;;.J : I• "% ill &lfT ·. , ' ; ·-:J t___,J , -, i Y.. r.rJ Y.. r .) .Y / ... J ,,,. J J /. J / J , ... /. J ('.) Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi believed in zakah Instead, they fought them and treated them in the same manner as those who had openly apostatized. In other words, they considered them outside of the fold of Islam due to their actions. 1 "making the pilgrimage to the House" The Meaning of Hajj The next pillar of Islam mentioned in this narration of this hadith is making the pilgrimage to the House of Allah, or the Kaaba. Linguistically, hajj means, "He repaired, or betook himself, to, or towards a person ... or towards an object of reverence, veneration, respect or honour."2 In the shareeah, it means a particular going or traveling at a particular time to a particular place for the purpose of worshipping Allah. In other words, it is the journeying to Makkah during the months designated for the performance of Hajj as an act of worship for the sake of Allah. The Importance of Hajj The performance of Hajj is an obligation upon every Muslim who has the means to perform it. This can be clearly proven from the Quran and sunnah. However, it is much more than an obligation. It is one of the foundations or pillars of Islam itself. The reward for the performance of the Hajj is great. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, • I / / • / • , // * / ଇ1 +:U/ • / / ""' / / J " ;11,., / .  .:U I I ǹ ..._;S' W' J ଅ I J b ୎Jc ..._;S' I Ǜ; I; : .:U I I ".. d. i!; i.:r ._:_r.. # . i - r - . :r-- > ;..r. ஀ - ,,. ,,. / / ,,,. ,,,,. "O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain taqwa [self-restraint, piety and God-consciousness]" (al-Baqara 183). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that fasting is a protection from the Hell-fire: JG.Ji ;.