When people say that, does that mean they’re making an excuse?
Re: "I'm not ready for hajj"
It is between them and their Allah , sanoon key ?
Re: "I'm not ready for hajj"
I partially think so... they realise they cant be the same old self post-haj and they are not ready to make the changes. I've heard this from a few people around me (excuses like when i do haj, i want to come back wearing a hijab, and i just dont know if i can, etc etc). Haj is farz as soon as you can afford it... if only people realised that.
Re: "I'm not ready for hajj"
maybe they can't afford it?
Re: "I'm not ready for hajj"
I don't think you can guess people's intentions. I often say this about other things in life. I like to be mentally prepared for something when I want to 'absorb' it fully. I would not willingly wish to perform hajj in a rush but at the same time, if the opportunity arises, I shouldn't pass it up.
As for the changing thing. I think it is ridiculous. It has become the norm now that people think they need to do outwardly changes to show the world they have 'changed' and therefore their hajj has been accepted - wearing hijab, keeping a beard etc. If you want to use it as a new start fair enough. Or if you think those things are important, do them anyway. What I don't like is when people feel these things are expected and then shy away from Hajj... just take it for what it is. Either you will feel closer to your religion and want to make changes or you might not. Or those changes might be more personal, you may be more committed to prayer/worship, you may feel a character reformation - gossip less, be kinder, less arrogant, less materialistic... are these things any less than changes in appearance?
Re: "I'm not ready for hajj"
people say the exact same thing about the Hijab as well.
Re: "I'm not ready for hajj"
It's just empty excuses. I think the only actual reason for not going on hajj is not being able to afford it. Aside from that, it's just looking for a reason not to go.
Related story: When I went for hajj, one of the imams in my group pointed out the sad story that most adults he spoke to who live in Mecca have never been on Hajj despite the fact that for them it is just a case of going out of town to Mina and Arafat for a handful of days.
Re: "I'm not ready for hajj"
people say the exact same thing about the Hijab as well.
I think you meant headscarf. People have different opinions regarding it but hajj as a pillar of Islam is totally a different matter.
Re: "I'm not ready for hajj"
no, i meant hijab.
well in my opinion, hijab is fardh, just like hajj.
really mad scientist? that's interesting. my cousins live in Mecca and they said on the day of Arafat, the haram is all full of the local ladies since all the men go to Arafat.
Re: "I'm not ready for hajj"
no, i meant hijab.
well in my opinion, hijab is fardh, just like hajj.
When people say they're not ready for hijab, they mean headscarf or niqab and abaya.
Re: "I'm not ready for hajj"
Anyway, I think I'm not ready for hajj and it's not an excuse. People can go ahead and judge me all they want but I believe I have to prepare my soul for the sacred journey.
Once I went to meet a family who were off to umra, few days before they were going, they were sitting down and watching a dance competition on some Indian channel. I don't expect people to grow beard or wear burqa after umra/hajj but there should be some sort of improvement in our behaviour otherwise what's the point of hajj?
Re: "I'm not ready for hajj"
my opinion is of that as soon as one can afford to perform Hajj, just do it.
Waiting for the epiphany that I should be a better Muslim might happen there at the Hajj. Who knows?
And who knows that when one thinks they are ready to perform hajj, they might be financially able to perform it. Or they may have other responsiblities that need to be taken care of, for example, having young children or taking care of elder parents.
Only Allah knows of what lies in our future, and one should leave each day like it's their last.
Re: "I'm not ready for hajj"
When people say they're not ready for hijab, they mean headscarf or niqab and abaya.
yes, that is what I said.
Re: "I'm not ready for hajj"
Anyway, I think I'm not ready for hajj and it's not an excuse. People can go ahead and judge me all they want but I believe I have to prepare my soul for the sacred journey.
Once I went to meet a family who were off to umra, few days before they were going, they were sitting down and watching a dance competition on some Indian channel. I don't expect people to grow beard or wear burqa after umra/hajj but there should be some sort of improvement in our behaviour otherwise what's the point of hajj?
The point is that Allah SWT commands that YOU MUST DO HAJJ and you should obey as soon as you actually can.
My soul wasn't ready for hajj, I didn't work on changing my behavior to be a better muslim before hajj, but I was acutely afraid of what would happen if I was killed the next day and then was asked by Allah SWT on the Day of Judgement why I never made the effort to go for hajj when I had the means to do so.
Somehow, I have the feeling that saying "Meh, I didn't feel ready inside" would not cut the ice.
You should go for hajj the first year that you can afford it, because you don't know if you will be alive for it whenever you feel ready. You could die in a car crash tomorrow, or suddenly suffer a brain aneurysm and drop into a coma tomorrow, or any other means of random death.
In the Quran Allah SWT says, in 3:97 that " "Hajj to the House is a duty owed to Allah by all mankind – those who can find a way to do it. But if anyone rejects, Allah is Rich beyond need of any being."
It doesn't say that Hajj is a duty by those who can afford it and who feel ready for it.
Re: "I'm not ready for hajj"
very well said maddy.
Re: "I'm not ready for hajj"
Hajj is another fardh just like prayer. People do all sort of un-islamic stuff yet they still pray 5 times a day. What makes hajj extra special than other fradhs that your soul has to be prepared for it? If you pray and fast and do zaakat while your regular self you can do hajj as well.
Re: "I'm not ready for hajj"
^^^^to all the posts above, okay makes sense.
So having young kids is a valid excuse for not going to hajj?
Re: "I'm not ready for hajj"
yes, that is what I said.
But headscarf, abaya and niqab aren't fraidh. As I said there are different forms of hijab and if I'm in a country where people would stare at me for not wearing chador or burqa then I'm gonna have to dress up accordingly to blend in.
There is sttar for reading Quran or salah which is to cover oneself from head to toe but I disagree with the new trend of wearing an arab style scarf and calling yourself hijabi.
Re: "I'm not ready for hajj"
^^^^to all the posts above, okay makes sense.
So having young kids is a valid excuse for not going to hajj?
i didn't say valid. I said excuse. I knwo tons of couples that say don't want to go to hajj yet because their kids are too young and they don't know of anyone that would take care of them.
Re: "I'm not ready for hajj"
But headscarf, abaya and niqab aren't fraidh.
well that is just your opinion about the headscarf. I have my own.
but this is a totally different topic all together.