7. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘ Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from ‘ Abd Allah ibn Yahya al-Kahiliy who has said the following:

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah , speaking of Hajj, say, ‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “It (Hajj) is one of the two kinds of Jihad (striving for a cause). This is the Jihad for the weak ones and we are the weak ones. However, no other thing is better than Hajj except salat (prayer). In Hajj nowadays is salat (prayer) and there was no salat (prayer) in Hajj before you. Do not ignore Hajj when you are able to perform it. Consider how your hairs become dusty during performing Hajj and your skin rough and you abstain from looking at women. We are here and near. We have water but still arrive (in Makkah) for Hajj with a great deal of difficulty. The case of those who live far away from Makkah is much more difficult. All kings and subjects arrive (in Makkah) for Hajj after facing a great deal of difficulties, such as changes in their diet, water, air and sun, which they cannot avoid. This is in the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘They carry your loads to a town that you could only do so with causing a great deal of hardships to souls. Your Lord is compassionate and kind.’” (16:7)