Hajj-e-baitullah mubarak ho.... Hajj (the Pilgrimage to Makkah) is the fifth pillar of Islam. The Prophet (s.a.w., sallallahu' alayhi wa sallam meaning: may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Islam has been built upon five things: declaring that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah; the establishment of salaah (five compulsory daily prayers; the payment of zakaah (obligatory charity); the Hajj (pilgrimage to the House of Allah, if one is able); and sawm of Ramadan (fasting in the month of Ramadan).” (Bukhari 1/ 7) This final pillar of Islam is obligatory, at least once in a lifetime, upon all sane Muslims, who reach the age of puberty, and are physically and financially able to make the journey. Allah the Almighty tells us in His Book: “... And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka‘bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses (for conveyance, provision and residence); and whoever disbelieves (i.e. denies Hajj, then he is a disbeliever of Allah), then Allah stands not in need of any of the ‘Alâmin (mankind and jinn).” (Qur’an 3:97) Forgiveness of Sins When we perform the Hajj rites properly we attain tremendous rewards. One of which is Allah’s forgiveness of all our past sins. This means our eternal happiness and success in Paradise. In the following authentic Ahâdîth we learn the following very inspiring teachings from the Prophet (s.a.w.): “He who came to this House (the Ka’bah) (with the intention in performing Hajj) without speaking or committing indecencies, would return (free from sin) as on the day his mother bore him.” (Muslim, 2/3129) “From one ‘Umrah to another is expiation for what is between them and Hajj Mabrûr has no reward except Paradise.” (Bukhari and Muslim) By Hajj Mabrûr it means the Hajj accepted by Allah for being performed perfectly according to the Prophet’s Sunnah with legally earned money avoiding sinful and evil deeds during Hajj.