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We love it brothers and sisters, it brings a smile to the face to be back here so soon after the month of Ramadan that it gives the feeling that we are fasting.

May Allah Almighty grant us goodness and may He accept from us the fast we've engaged in.

And may we realize the fact that He has granted us the months of Hajj which are very blessed months that commence immediately after the month of Ramadan.

Today we are in the month of the Al-Qaeda which is just before the Al-Hijjah.

And many of the Hajjah are planning their trip, MashaAllah, perhaps some may have gone and some may be believing very very soon.

We ask Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala to take them with goodness and to make easy for them the Hajj that they will be engaging in to facilitate for them every form of comfort whilst they are in the house of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala and on that blessed journey and to bring them back with the Hajj Mabrul.

Mabrul in a condition that we would have all benefited from their dua at least.

Brothers and sisters, it is important for us to know that Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam.

If you take a look at the five pillars of Islam you will come to realize that some of these pillars are connected to a physical sacrifice whilst others are connected to a monetary sacrifice.

The pillar of Hajj is one pillar that is connected to both, physical as well as monetary.

Let me give you an example. For reading Salah you do not require cash, you require the physical movement.

For giving Zaka you do not require movement but your cash or your wealth needs to be given out.

When it comes to Hajj it is both. So this is Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala.

It is a pillar of Islam that the Almighty alone decides when it will be compensated upon you.

So if you are a Muslim and if you have arrived at the age of puberty and if you are saying and if you are a person who can afford the journey to Hajj and back

and you have enough wealth to look after your financial obligations during your absence or whilst you are on the journey of Hajj

then it would be necessary for you to go for the next possible Hajj which means you start applying.

Nowadays as you know it is not like it was before where we can decide last minute that we want to go for Hajj and the visa is available.

Some have applied for years on end and have still not had the good fortune of being accepted for this blessed journey.

So we start applying. If we do not show an interest in this pillar of Islam and we happen, may Allah protect us all to die in a condition where we were able and capable and it was compulsory upon us but we did not even try to go

then it is very dangerous and detrimental because it would be a pillar of Islam that perhaps we would not have held up yet we call ourselves Muslim.

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