Q. Does one have to ask everyone for forgiveness before going to Hajj? Is this not a bidah (innovation) to do so? I get calls from people I have never spoken to all year. Then all of a sudden they ask me for forgiveness.
A. 1) You do not have to ask people for forgiveness before going for Hajj. Asking for forgiveness is for those of us who may have violated the rights of others as a result of our interaction with them. As humans, we must try to mend our ways, and the best way to achieve this is to ask for forgiveness. Therefore, we must ask those individuals whose rights we have transgressed, either as a result of backbiting, slander, etc. Due to violating the rights of others, seeking their forgiveness becomes imperative and it is hoped that they would be kind to forgive us and let go of unwanted baggage.
A.2) The Qur’an talks about forgiveness, the Hadith talks about forgiveness. How can it be a bid’ah? (I really don’t think the following Hadith is ‘bid’ah!’)
Sayidinah Aisha (radiAllahu anha), mentions that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
Forgive the people of good qualities (due to) their slips.
Sunnan abu dawood Book 38, Number 4362
Allah certainly knows best.
