'As Sinless as on the Day he was Born'

09/10/2010| IslamWeb

Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “I heard the Prophet  saying: “Whoever performs Hajj for Allah and does not do Rafath (approach his wife for sexual relations) nor commits sins (while performing Hajj), he will return as sinless as he was on the day he was born.” [Al-Bukhari] Another narration reads: “Whoever performs Hajj to this House (Ka‘bah) and does not approach his wife for sexual relations nor commits sins (while performing Hajj), he will return as sinless as he was on the day he was born.” [Al-Bukhari (Muslim narrated a similar Hadeeth)]

Commentary on the Hadeeth:

Commentators of Hadeeth (narrations) said that the Hadeeths mentioned in this chapter are derived from the verse (which means): {Hajj is [during] well-known months, so whoever has madeHajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of Ihraam], there is [to be for him] no Rafath (sexual relations) and no disobedience and no disputing duringHajj} [Quran 2:197]

“Performs Hajj for Allah” means for the sake of Allah The Almighty and seeking His pleasure. It means that the Hajj should be sincere for Allah The Almighty and that one’s main intention should not be trade, tourism, or the like of that.

Rafath in this Hadeeth, according to some scholars, means lewd speech, sexual intercourse or mentioning sexual intercourse explicitly, and some scholars said it is a comprehensive term for everything that a man desires from a woman.

‘Umar and Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with them, used to specify this term with sexual talk that is directed to women. Ibn Hajar said that although the majority of scholars interpreted this term to mean sexual intercourse, some of them said that the word in the Hadeeth is more comprehensive than sexual intercourse. Ibn Hajar says in Al-Fat-h, “It appears that the intended meaning in the Hadeeth is more general than sexual intercourse. Al-Qurtubi inclines to this opinion. It is the meaning intended in the Hadeeth of fasting: “When one of you is fasting, he should not do Rafath.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Accordingly, Rafath in Hadeeth means sexual intercourse, foreplay and every erotic speech.”

“As on the day he was born,” means that he would become sinless. Ibn Hajar said, “The apparent meaning of the Hadeeth is the forgiveness of minor and major sins and grievances.”

“Nor commits sins,” means that he does not disobey Allah The Almighty and abandon His injunctions by leaving the straight path through committing sin, arguing, disputing or quarrelling with a friend or travel companion.

This Hadeeth indicates that the accepted Hajj is a way leading to the pleasure of Allah The Almighty. The fruit of this Hajj is that the servant would be of the people of Paradise and among those upon whom Allah The Almighty has bestowed favor similar to that granted  to the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous -- and excellent are those as companions.