Shakirah Hunter

Your lifetime dream has been to go for Hajj. You have been saving for years and years and trying to fulfill this incredible part of your Deen. The last two years saw a pandemic which brought those dreams to a hold. And now finally, finally it is twenty twenty-two and your name is called out. Your excitement levels reach levels that you cannot explain and your heart bounces with excitement.  Your mind races with all the possibilitites and all the realites to be sorted out before hajj.

And then suddenly comes the crash. The reality of the financial situation over the last few years has devalued your savings. The years and years of savings have led to only a portion of what you actually need for the Hajj journey this year. This is the exact case scenario with many Muslim brothers and sisters. As they receive the exciting news of a Hajj that is so coveted and desired – they now must make a miserable decision – can we afford this Hajj or not?

A couple in this situation – first decided to sell their car, but slowly realized that they would not be able to make the shortfall. They looked at every possibility and was at the point of deciding to mortgage their home when they finally admitted defeat. Deferring your Hajj – is something that you never deem possible. You don’t think that you will be that person and you find yourself disappointed and even depressed.

Yet in those moments, when your mind is racing with the possibilities of a Hajj and thinking of every possible financial solution. The focus must always remain on Allah Ta’ala. For your Hajj and all the finance and every solution has already been predetermined by Him. Our savings and effort are merely the work that we do from our side to show Allah our desire – the reality is that every single aspect of our journey has been predetermined by Him. As your heart might be breaking – know and understand that Allah Ta’ala has taken every consideration into deciding your Hajj journey. As logic and reasoning and finances enter your mind – break down these whispers of Shaitaan and remind yourself that it is only Allah Himself that allows finance to make or break us. Our Hajj is a hajj of dua , yaqeen amd tawakkul. Supplication, firm faith and trust.

This brings to mind a beautiful story of Hatim Al-Asam (ra) who was a great servant of Allah Ta’ala with many sons and daughters. He was incredibly poor and yet an intense desire to go for Hajj entered his heart. He gathered his children and wife- and asked them for permission to go for Hajj – knowing that they would be left in extreme poverty.

Hātim al-Asam was one of the righteous persons who relied on Allāh (SWT). Though he had no money for himself or his children in his absence, he desired to perform Hajj. As the time of the Hajj drew near, his financial inability to complete the pilgrimage upset him until his daughter asked why he was crying, to which he replied his lack of expenses meant he would not able to go for Hajj.

The entire family was immediately filled with worry whilst a young daughter spoke up and encouraged her siblings to let their father go.She advised them all saying: “Allāh will provide for you from sources you could never imagine!”He said: “What about your expenses?”She replied: “Allāh will provide for us what we need.”Eventually, the daughter convinced and reassured her mother that they would survive in their father’s absence.

A few days after Hātim (ra) left, the provisions he left behind had depleted and hunger began to affect his family members. Naturally, his family blamed the daughter who convinced them to allow their father to go in the first place. However, they were shocked at her reaction—she could not stop laughing!“What makes you laugh while hunger is about to finish us all off?!”She answered: “What do you think of our father? Is he a sustainer or a consumer of Allāh’s provision?!”They assuredly answered: “A consumer of Allāh’s provision and Allāh is the Sustainer, Glory be His!”She said: “Though the consumer of provision has left, the Sustainer of all provisions has always been there!”Soon after, a knock was heard at the door; it was a man asking for some drinking water for the caliphwho was lost in that part of the land.When he asked from which household the water was bought, his companions answered, “From Hātim’s house”.  He said: “Bring him to me so that I give him a good reward”. They said: “He is performing the ritual of Hajj”.

So the caliph threw this belt, adorned with jewels and gems, at Hātim’s door and said “This is for Hātim’s household. Whoever loves me, let him do just as I did.” All the wealthy merchants and ministers obeyed this command until the belts were piled at their door. One of the wealthy merchants bought all the belts for a price that filled the house with gold that would be enough for them until their last day.

Undoubtedly, the family became elated but the daughter began to cry. Her mother asked: “How strange you are my dear daughter! We were crying out of hunger while you were laughing. And now, Allāh the Almighty removed our hardship and provided for us a great provision and you are crying. Why is that?”

The daughter replied: “This creature who can do his own self neither good nor harm (i.e. the Caliph) gave us a kind look which made us rich up until the end of days. How would it be if the Generous Creator of all gives us a kind look of His?!”

Subhaanallah it is in the understanding of this little girl that allows the faith of her family to become complete and her father to complete His Hajj whislt his family were taken care of.