Giving Preference to Others (Ahadith 1580 – 1581)

Bismillah.

Volume 3, Book 29, Number 85:

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu):

The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “A woman should not travel except with a Dhu-Mahram (her husband or a man with whom that woman cannot marry at all according to the Islamic Jurisprudence), and no man may visit her except in the presence of a Dhu-Mahram.” A man got up and said, “O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)! I intend to go to such and such an army and my wife wants to perform Hajj.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said (to him), “Go along with her (to Hajj).”

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Volume 3, Book 29, Number 86:

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu):

When the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) returned after performing his Hajj, he asked Um Sinan Al-Ansari (radiallaahu `anhaa), “What did forbid you to perform Hajj?” She replied, “Father of so-and-so (i.e. her husband) had two camels and he performed Hajj on one of them, and the second is used for the irrigation of our land.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said (to her), “Perform ‘Umra in the month of Ramadan, (as it is equivalent to Hajj or Hajj with me (in reward).”

1. The ruling on a woman travelling alone can be read upon here.

2. I repeat this statement to emphasize on it: “no man may visit her except in the presence of a Dhu-Mahram“. PLEASE follow this advice. Visiting can be physical and virtual (online/phone etc.), if you know what I mean..

3. Sometimes one must give preference to their spouse’s needs instead of their own. In the above (top) narration, Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) asked the husband to (forget about going with the army and) take his wife to Hajj. Aww. :P
And in the second narration, the wife herself stayed back and sacrificed so her husband could perform Hajj easily.. Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) consoled her advising her to perform `Umrah in Ramadan so she wouldn’t miss out on the reward.

Hajj Tamattu` – Differences in Opinions (Hadith No. 1447)

Bismillah.

Volume 2, Book 26, Number 747:

Narrated Abu Jamra:

I asked Ibn Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu) about Hajj-at-Tamattu’. He ordered me to perform it. I asked him about the Hadi (sacrifice). He said, “You have to slaughter a camel, a cow or a sheep, or you may share the Hadi with the others.” It seemed that some people disliked it (Hajj-at-Tamattu). I slept and dreamt as if a person was announcing: “Hajj Mabrur and accepted Mut’ah (Hajj-At-Tamattu’)” I went to Ibn Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu) and narrated it to him. He said, “Allah is Greater. (That was) the tradition of Abu Al-Qasim (i.e. Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)). Narrated Shu’ba that the call in the dream was. “An accepted ‘Umra and Hajj-Mabrur. “

So Ibn `Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu) ordered Abu Jamra  (the narrator) to perform Hajj Tamattu`, even though some of the companions used to advise against it. Abu Jamra did perform Tamattu` and saw his dream in which he was told his Hajj was accepted. When he told this to Ibn `Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu), he affirmed it by saying that Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) preferred Tamattu` as well.

Lesson: people may have their opinions and reasons, and they may be very genuine. But when you know the opinion and preference of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam), just go with it!