Chapter :3 Section: Meaning of `Afford' in the Ayah

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There are several categories of "the ability to under take the journey''. There is the physical ability of the person himself and the ability that is related to other things as mentioned in the books of jurisprudence. Abu `Isa At-Tirmidhi recorded that Ibn `Umar said, "A man stood up and asked the Messenger of Allah , `O Messenger of Allah! Who is the pilgrim' He said, `He who has untidy hair and clothes.' Another man asked, `Which Hajj is better, O Messenger of Allah' He said, `The noisy (with supplication to Allah) and bloody (with sacrifice).' Another man asked, `What is the ability to undertake the journey, O Messenger of Allah' He said, `Having provision and a means of transportation.''' This is the narration that Ibn Majah collected. Al-Hakim narrated that Anas said that the Messenger of Allah was asked about Allah's statement,

﴿مَنِ اسْتَطَـعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً﴾

(for those who are able to undertake the journey;) ﴿3:97﴾ "What does `able to undertake the journey' mean'' The Prophet answered, "Having sufficient provision and a means of transportation.'' Al-Hakim stated that this Hadith's chain of narration is authentic, following the guidelines of Muslim in his Sahih, but the Two Sahihs did not collect it. Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that the Messenger of Allah said,

«مَنْ أَرَادَ الْحَجَّ فَلْيَتَعَجَّل»

(Whoever intends to perform Hajj, let him rush to perform it.) Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.


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