Information

Introduction to Holly Kabba and Hajj/Umrah performing

Merits of Looking at the Ka'bah:
Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "Looking at the Ka'bah is pure faith."
Also, Hammad bin Abi Salamah (may Allah have mercy upon him) said, "The one who looks at the Ka'bah is very much like he who tirelessly worships Allah in any other place." In addition, Mujahid said, "Looking at the Ka'bah is a sort of worship." `Ata' also said,
"Looking at the House is a sort of worship." Furthermore, Sa`id bin Al-Musaiyib said,
"Whoever looks at the Ka'bah, out of sincere faith, will become free of sins as if he has
just been born."

Temporal Miqats [Fixed Times]
From the beginning of Shawwal to the tenth of Dhul-Hijjah.
Location of the Routes [A`lam] Leading to the Sanctuary
Al-Tan`im : It is 6 kilometers away from Mecca in the way to Medina.
Wadi Nakhlah : It is 41 kilometers away from Mecca in the north-east towards Iraq.
Al-Ju`ranah : It is 16 kilometers east of Mecca.
Adah : It is 12 kilometers away from Mecca in the way to Yemen.
Al-Hudaibiah : It is 15 kilometers away from Mecca to the west of Jeddah route. Now, it is called Al-Shumaisi.
The Arabic word "A`lam" refers to the smartly carved stones of about one meter high along all the previous routes.
 

Locational Miqats [Fixed Places]
These Miqats [fixed places for putting on Ihram] are stated by the Prophet (peace be upon him). Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) specified Dhul-Hulaifah for the people of Medina; Juhfah for the people of Syria; Qarn Al-Manazil for the people of Najd; Yalamlam for the people of Yemen (as Miqats). Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) then said, "These (Miqats) are meant for people living at these (places) as well as for others who pass by them on their way to perform Hajj or 'Umrah. People living within these boundaries, should enter upon the state of Ihram at these very places. But people living in the suburbs of Mecca or within Mecca, should enter upon the state of Ihram from within Mecca."
There is an agreement among scholars regarding these places.
Al-Juhfah:
It is the locational Miqat [place of Ihram] specified for the people Egypt, Syria and countries farther to them.
Dhul-Hulaifah
It is the locational Miqat [place of Ihram] specified for the people of Medina. It is a water place for Banu Jathm. It is the farthest Miqat, for it is 450 kilometers from Mecca. Camels used to take 9 days to cover the distance from Abyar `Ali to Mecca, making 50-kilometer march a day (4 kilometers per hour). The Arabs used to call each 4 kilometers "a stage".
Qarn Al-Manazil
It is a mountain near `Arafah. It is the place of putting on Ihram for the people of Al-Ta'if and those farther to them.
Dhat `Irq
It is so called because it has a mountain called "`Irq" close to the Valley of Al-`Aqiq. It is a village 94 kilometers to the north-east of Mecca. Despite the fact that this Miqat is not fixed by the Prophet (peace be upon him), scholars have unanimously agreed on it.
Yalamlam
It is a mountain in Tuhamah located two stages (8 kilometers) away from Mecca. It is the Miqat for those coming from Yemen.

The Merit of the Black Stone
It is a well-known fact that the Prophet (peace be upon him) kissed the Black Stone, and
so did his Companions; and Muslims will follow him in doing so till the Day of Judgment.
`Umar bin Al-Khattab warned the community against the belief that anyone other than
Allah can cause harm or good. It has been narrated in an authentic hadith that `Umar said,
" By Allah! I know that you are a stone, and that you can cause neither harm nor good; and
if I had not seen Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) kissing you, I would have never
kissed you."

Proceeding from `Arafah to Muzdalifah
The Almighty Allah says, "Then when ye pour down from (Mount) `Arafah, celebrate the
praises of Allah at the Sacred Monument and celebrate His praises as He has directed you, even though, before this ye went astray." It is desirable to increasingly repeat Talbiah on every occasion, and this is one of the most outstanding amongst them all. Also, the pilgrim should recite the Holy Qur'an, and supplicate for Allah earnestly and abundantly. It is preferred for him to say, "There is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest", then, to pronounce the following invocation: "To You, O Allah! I long. And only You, O Allah! I desire. Accept my acts of worship, guide me, provide me with more than what I ask Thee for, do not frustrate me, for Thou art the most Generous One. O Allah! I ask Thee to bestow on me, in this sacred place, all kinds of good, and to mend all my affairs, and to protect me against all kinds of evil. Only You can do this and only You can bestow these upon me." Then, one should pick up seven pebbles in the size of a pea.