Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam and one of the most significant annual religious events, is performed in a five or six-day duration. The rituals of Hajj are performed in a five or six-day duration, officially beginning on the 8th Dhul-Hijjah to ending on the 13th of the same month; Hajj is the largest annual religious event in Islam. Here are some tips and advice on how to perform your Hajj successfully!
There are many benefits to performing Hajj and Umrah. The act of completing this sacred Islamic prayer has the capacity to rejuvenate and bless the soul, allowing you to grow spiritually, in knowledge, and in faith. By incorporating Halal travel into your life, you’re bound to have a wider understanding of your faith and a deeper appreciation for tradition. Before embarking on your pilgrimage, there are a few things for you to consider so that your sacred journey may be free from obstacles; here is your complete step-by-step guide to hajj!
- Step 1 – Ihram and Intentions
- Step 2 – Mina aka “City of tents”
- Step 3 – Mina to Arafat, 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah
- Step 4 – Muzdalifah
- Step 5 – Rami – Stoning the devil
- Step 6 – Nahr
- Step 7 – Farewell Tawaf
Ihram and Intentions
Wearing the Ihram and making pure intention are the first two essential steps in Hajj. The Ihram is worn by Muslim pilgrims after making the niyat – two pieces of unstitched white sheets for men and a loose, white abaya for women. Before entering Miqat – the outer boundaries of Makkah – pilgrims are advised to wear Ihram on Dhul-Hijjah. The five entry points or relevant Miqats for pilgrims are as follows:
Abyar Ali (Dhu’l Hulaifah) – This is the point of Miqat for pilgrims coming through Madina or from Saudi Arabia. They are advised to perform Hajj al-Tamatt’u.
(As-Sail Al-Kabeer) Qarn-al Manzil – This is the point of Miqat for pilgrims coming through or from Taif or Najd.
Al- Juhfah – Located near Rabigh, it is the point of Miqat for pilgrims coming through or from Egypt, Syria, or Morocco.
Dhat’Irq – This is the point of Miqat for pilgrims coming from or through Iraq.
Sa’adiyah (Yalamlam) – This is the point of Miqat for pilgrims coming through or from Yemen, India, or Pakistan.
Also, once in Ihram, pilgrims are advised to recite Talbiyah while abstaining from all sinful acts. The Talibyah should be recited in a loud voice:
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، انَّالْحَمْدَ، وَالنِّعْمَةَ، لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
Labbayk Allaahumma labbayk, labbayk laa shareeka laka labbayk, ‘innal-hamda, wanni’mata, laka walmulk, laa shareeka laka.
“Ever at Your service, O Allah, every at Your service. Ever at Your Service, You have no partner, ever at Your service. Verily all praise, blessings, and dominions are Yours. You have no partner.” (Muslim 2:841)
After arriving at Makkah, Muslims intending to perform Hajj al-Tamatt’u should combine the rituals of Umrah with Hajj. For this, Muslims walk around the Holy Kaaba 7 times in an anti-clockwise direction, also known as Tawaf. They then perform the ritual of Hajr-e-Aswad (Black Stone) and move towards the next stage of Umrah, running between the Safa and Marwa hills. Once the Umrah is complete, pilgrims start their journey toward Mina.
Mina aka “City of Tents”
Mina is a small town located 5-6 kilometers from Makkah. Pilgrims are advised to rest at Mina until the next day after they reach the tent city. During their stay in Mina, pilgrims recite all five Salahs, starting at noon with Zuhr and ending at dawn with Fajr. As of today, all essential amenities are available in modern tents on the land of Mina. Muslims should recite both compulsory and non-compulsory prayers while staying at Mina.
Mina to Arafat, 9th Day of Dhul-Hijjah
The pilgrims begin moving in the direction of Arafat while saying Talbiyah aloud on the morning of the second day of Hajj, or 9th Dhul-Hijjah. When Muslim pilgrims arrive at Mount Arafat, they do Zuhrain, which combines the Zuhr and Asr prayers with the Qasar prayer. This is observed close to the Jabal al-Rahmah from noon till sunset and is known as Waquf, the act of standing before Allah (SWT).
Mount Mercy, also known as Jabal al Rahmah of the Arafat, is 14.4 kilometers from Mina and is the site of the revered Prophet Muhammad (SAW) lecture.
Muzdalifah
The next stop for the pilgrims is Muzdalifah, a small village situated halfway between Mina and Mount Arafat. When the pilgrims arrive at Muzdalifah’s grounds at dusk, they offer Maghribaen, which combines Maghrib with Isha. For the Rami ceremony, Muslims spend an entire night outside collecting 49 stones of matching sizes (stoning of the Devil). On the morning of the tenth day of Dhul-Hijjah, they then depart from Muzdalifah.
Sa’i and Tawaf al-Ifadah
To perform Tawaf al-ibadah and Sa’I, the act of running between the Safa and Marwa hills, the pilgrims now return to Makkah. After finishing, Muslims return to Mina to carry out the Rami, Nahr, and Halq rituals.
Rami (Stoning the Devil)
When they arrive at Mina, travelers carry out the Rami deed by stoning the Jamraat al-Aqabah. Seven rocks are hurled toward the column design. The stoning of Jamrat is done in remembrance of the devil’s unsuccessful attempt to stop Prophet Ibrahim (AS) from following Allah (SWTorder. )’s Prophet Ibrahim (AS) responded by hurling a few pebbles to drive the devil away. Rami should be performed every day at noon. On the 11th and 12th of Dhul-Hijjah, Rami is performed.
Nahr
Muslim pilgrims are recommended to offer an animal sacrifice on the 12th of Dhul-Hijjah, once Ramadan is over. The sacrifice can be of a camel or a lamb. Pilgrims can do this by purchasing sacrifice certificates or coupons, both of which state that the sacrifice has been made on their behalf. The needy should receive the flesh from the slaughtered animal.
Taqsir and Halq
The terms “halq” and “taqsir,” respectively, refer to shaving the head. Men pilgrims are advised to get their heads fully shaved or cropped after offering the sacred sacrifice. Women are recommended to get a strand or lock of their hair cut, even though shaving their heads is prohibited. Halq and Taqsir represent a Muslim’s total dedication to Allah (SWT) and disengagement from outward manifestations.
Farewell Tawaf
The “Tawaf al-Ifadah,” also known as the “Farewell Tawaf,” and Sa’I are performed at the Holy Kaaba in Makkah after the ritual is finished. Even though this is the official end of the Hajj, many pilgrims continue on to Madinah before returning home.
Why Do Muslims Go Around the Kaaba 7 Times?
Muslims visit the Kaaba seven times, however, there is no known reason for this. Muslims are instructed to make five daily prayer trips and to circle the Holy Kaaba seven times while conducting Umrah or Hajj. However, the act of Tawaf is a reflection of the notion that a Muslim’s life should only be focused on adhering to Allah’s (SWT) instructions and observing the Prophet Muhammad’s Sunnah (PBUH).
If you’re planning to embark on a spiritual journey to Mecca for Umrah, you’ll need to secure an Umrah visa before your trip. Our easy-to-use Umrah visa form simplifies the process and helps you obtain your visa quickly and efficiently. Simply fill out the form with your personal and travel information, and we’ll take care of the rest.
