Chapter on the Reasons Behind Hajj

Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 2|Book 3|Chapter 1

Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh

Volume 2, Book 3, Chapter 1

Chapter on the Reasons Behind Hajj

Hadith #14

2121 - وَ سُئِلَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ : عَنْ قَوْلِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ: «۝ سَوٰاءً اَلْعٰاكِفُ فِيهِ وَ اَلْبٰادِ ۝» فَقَالَ «لَمْ يَكُنْ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُصْنَعَ عَلَى دُورِ مَكَّةَ أَبْوَابٌ لِأَنَّ لِلْحَاجِّ أَنْ يَنْزِلُوا مَعَهُمْ فِي دُورِهِمْ فِي سَاحَةِ اَلدَّارِ حَتَّى يَقْضُوا مَنَاسِكَهُمْ فَإِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَنْ جَعَلَ لِدُورِ مَكَّةَ أَبْوَاباً مُعَاوِيَةُ ».

Hadith.2121 - And it is narrated: Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq was asked about the saying of Allah , the Mighty and Glorious: “...wherein the residents and the visitors are equal...” (Surah Al-Hajj 22:25). Imam replied: "It was not appropriate to construct doors on the houses of Mecca because the pilgrims had the right to stay with the residents in their courtyards until they completed their rituals. The first to place doors on the houses of Mecca was Muawiyah."

It is discouraged to reside permanently in Mecca because the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, was driven out from it. Living there can harden one's heart to the extent that a person may commit deeds in Mecca similar to what they would commit elsewhere. The water of Zamzam was not originally salty, but it acted arrogantly toward other waters. Therefore, Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Glorious, caused a spring of patience to flow into it. Zamzam's water becomes salty at certain times because a spring flows into it from beneath the stone. When the spring's water overpowers Zamzam's natural flow, its taste changes to salty. The name "Safa" comes from the "chosen one" (Mustafa), as Prophet Adam عليه السلام descended upon it. The mountain was named after Adam because of Allah’s سبحانه وتعالى words: “Indeed, Allah سبحانه وتعالى chose Adam and Noah...” (Surah Aal-E-Imran 3:33). Hawa (Eve) descended upon "Marwah," and the mountain was named after her because it took part of the woman's (mar'ah) name.