The call for Hajj and its reasons

On orders from the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), the announcement for Hajj was made that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is going for Hajj this year.  With this announcement, the Companions also resolved to go for Hajj along with the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  There were various reasons to make this special announcement:

One of the reasons was that the majority of the Companions should see the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) performing the different rites and articles of Hajj and learn the correct method of performing Hajj.  For this reason, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) ordered all the mothers of the believers (the blessed wives of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) travel along with Him.

Another reason was that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) wanted to give some advice to the Ummah while wishing them farewell.

In the months of the Hajj, Muslims started arriving in large numbers to Madina, so that they could have the privilege of performing Hajj along with the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and to benefit from His blessed company.

At the end of Dhul Qa'ada, on a Thursday, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) bathed and wore aTahband and a chador.  He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) then offered Salaat Ul Zuhr in Masjid Nabawi and started for Makkah from Madina.  Six miles from Madina, at Dhul Hulaifa, the Meeqat for the people of Madina, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) wore Ihraam, offered 2 Raka’at of Salaat, recited the Talbiya with the intention of Hajj Qiran, then mounted Qaswa, the she-camel and recited Talbiya in a loud voice.

He offered the Salaat Ul Fajr of 4th Dhul Hijjah at Dhi Tuwa, then took a bath and entered Makkah and entered the Masjid Haraam at the time of Salaat Ul Chaasht.  When the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) came before Hajjr Aswad, He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) placed His blessed hands on it and kissed and performed the circumambulation (Tawaaf) of the Ka’aba after it.  In the first 3 rounds, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) performed Raml and in the remaining 4 rounds performed the Tawaaf without Raml. 

Sometimes, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) kissed the Hajjr Aswad with His blessed lips, sometimes the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi w sallam) performed Istelaam, i.e. kissed it with a gesture of His blessed hands, sometimes with a gesture of His blessed stick.  After the Tawaf, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) performed 2 Raka’at of Salaat.  Then again performed Istelaam of the Heavenly Black Stone (Hajr Al Aswad) and started for Safa.  He then performed the Sae’e of Safa and Marwah.  As this Hajj was Hajj Qiran and the animals for slaughter were along with Him, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) did not open His Ihram after Umrah.