Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … The wording of the authentic narration of Abu Dawud is as follows: Sayyidah Umm Ma‘qil radi Allahu anha says: When the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam performed the Farewell Pilgrimage (Hajjat al-Wada‘), at that time we had a camel. Sayyiduna Abu Ma‘qil radi Allahu anhu had dedicated it in the way of Allah (i.e., for jihad). During those days, we fell ill and Sayyiduna Abu Ma‘qil radi Allahu anhu passed away, and the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam set out on this journey. When he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam completed the Hajj, he said: “Umm Ma‘qil! What prevented you from coming out with us?” I said: We had made preparations, but Sayyiduna Abu Ma‘qil radi Allahu anhu passed away, and the other thing was that the camel on which we used to perform Hajj, he had dedicated it in the way of Allah. He sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “So why did you not come out with us, for Hajj is also in the way of Allah. In any case, now this Hajj with us has passed. You should do this: perform ‘Umrah in Ramadan, for it is like Hajj.”

From this and other ahadith on this subject, it is established that Hajj is also related to the way of Allah (fi sabilillah). If a person dedicates something for jihad, it can also be used in the journey of Hajj and ‘Umrah. In hadith number (4061), it has already been mentioned that whatever is spent for both Hajj and jihad, its reward is up to seven hundred times. And in the benefits of hadith (4062), we have already discussed that the Hajj of women is considered as jihad for them; the only difference is that in jihad, one has to fight, whereas Hajj has nothing to do with fighting. The rest—traveling, enduring many hardships, arranging for travel expenses, and being away from family and children—all these matters are present in jihad, and likewise, they are present in the journey of Hajj and ‘Umrah.