Hajj Guide

Three ways of performing the Hajj

Hajj al-Tamatt’u

This means entering into Ihram for the Umrah during in the months of Hajj. and after finishing his Umrah take off his Ihram.

And to put on Ihram again for the Hajj from Makkah on the 8th day of Dhul-Hijjah during the same year in which the Umrah was performed.

Hajj al-Qu’ran

This means entering into Ihram for both the Umrah and the Hajj at the same time, not taking off the Ihram until the Day of sacrifice ( the day of Dhul-Hijjah )

Hajj al-ifrad

This signifies donning ihram for the Hajj either from the prescribed station of Ihram (al-miqat), or from Makkah if one resides there, or from a place in between al-miqat and Makkah in the event that one has brought a sacrificial animal with him, and to remain in ihram until the day of Sacrifice.

How to perform Hajj (Five days of Hajj)

8th Dhul Hijjah (Tarwiyah Day)

Sunnah requires a pilgrim to head for Mina on his way to Arafat on the eight of Dhul Hijjah, which is called the “Tarwiyah Day”. If you are performing Hajj al-tamatt’u or Hajj Efrad (the interrupted hajj), you enter into ihram for Hajj from your residence in Makkah on the 8th of Dhul-hijjah. Perform ghusl (shower or washing of the entire body), perfume yourself if possible, and put on the two garments of ihram. This applies to men. Women likewise perform ghusl but are not to use perfume. They may wear any suitable clothes they have as long as they do not show their adornments and cover every part of their bodies excepting the hands and face. After putting on ihram make your niyyah (intension) by Saying:

Labbayka Hajjan, then recite talbiyyah:
“Labbayka Allahumme Labbayk. Labbayka La Shareeka Laka Labbayk. Innal-hamda wan-n’imata Laka Wal-mulk La Shareeka Lak” Here I am at your service, O Lord, here I am no partner do you have. here I am Truly, the praise and the favor is yours, and the dominion no partner do you have. You then go to Mina, where you pray the Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha and fajr prayer at their proper time, shortening prayers of four rak’sto tow ak’as. Do not combine these prayers.

9th Dhul Hijjah (Arafat day)

When the sun has risen on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, proceed toward Arafat in a dignified manner and without harming your fellow pilgrims. At Arafat, pray the Dhuhr and Asr prayers, shortened and combined during the time of Dhuhr with one adhan and two iqamahs. Make sure that you are within the boundaries of Arafat. Stay within the boundaries of Araafat, except the valley of qranah, (reciting the praise of Allah the Most High, and offering supplications facing qibah with upraised hands, as was the practice of Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

Remain at Arafat until after sunset. From Arafat to Muzdalifah when the sun has set, proceed toward Muzdalifa in a peaceful and dignified manner, reciting talbiyyah. Do not harm or cause any discomfort to your fellow Muslims. When you arrive at Muzdalifah, pray the Maghrib and Isha prayers combined, shortening Isha to tow rak’ats and stay at Muzdalifa. for women or weak individuals, it is permissible to proceed to Mina at any time after midnight.

10th Dhul Hijjah (EID -AL-ADHA OR or YAUM-E-NAHAR)

You have prayed the fajr prayer. Then wait until brightness of the morning is wide spread, supplicate facing qiblah with upraised hands, following the practice of the Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be on him).
In Muzdalifa, pick up only 49 pebbles to throw them at the three Jamarat pillars. Upon arriving at the Mina, throw seven pebbles at Jamarah al-Aqabah in by uttering Allah-u-Akbar every time you throw a pebble. As soon as you start the throwing, discontinue the Talbbiyah.

(Here I am at your service, O Lord, here I am no partner do you have . here I am Truly, the praise and the favor is yours, and the dominion no partner do you have.)

Slaughter a sacrificial animal, eat from it and feed its meat to the needy and the poor. slaughtering is obligatory on Qarin and Mutamatt. Shave or shorten your head hair: shaving is better. As for women, she may shorten her hair equal to a finger tip length. At this stage you are allowed to put on normal clothes and use perfume and scent.

Prohibited acts during Hajj time, with the exception of sexual intercourse, no longer apply. This is called Tahallul al awwal. After throwing the pebbles go to Makkah to offer tawaf al-Ifadhah, after Tawaf, perform sa’i and by completion of sa’i you will return to normal life – this is called Tahallul Thani. Drink from Zam Zam water and pray Zuhr in Makkah. If possible. spend the remaining nights in Mina.

11th Dhul Hijjah (First day of Ayyam-e-Tashreeq)

After the spending the night in Mina you are advised to pray the five daily salahs in congregation. and it sunnah to repeat the Takbeer after every Salah whether you are staying or travelling and you are in Mina or anywhere else. Throwing of stones at the three Jamareahs is to be commended after Zuhr i.e. after the sun declines. Start Rami at Jamarah, begin with the junior, the middle and then at Jamarah consecutively and the Takbeer should be uttered every time a pebble is thrown.
The pebbles are to be collected from any place in Mina.

It is a Sunnah to keep Makkah on the left side and Mina on the right while throwing the pebbles. After completion of Rami at Jamarahs (Wusta & sughra ) go straight facing the Qibla and invoke Allah as the Messenger of Allah did so. After stoning Jamarah al-Aqabah leave immediately without any Dua’a.
Spend the night in Mina.

12th Dhul Hijjah (2nd day of Ayyam-e-Tashreeq)

Spend your time in performing of good deeds and remembering Allah. After Zuhr, throw the pebbles at the three Jamarahs as you did on the 11th day of Dhul Hijjah starting with the Jamarahs al Aqabah. Invoke Allah after throwing the pebbles at the Sughra and then Wusta. Today your hajj has been completed so you can leave Mina before maghrib.

Important Advice

Necessary Etiquette of your Hajj Journey – A meditation on the spiritual journey which we seek alongside our worldly one.

Dear Brothers and sisters! A form of worship is only acceptable when the following is true; One devotes it to Allah alone, with a desire for the Hereafter. It cannot be done with the intention of being seen among men or for worldly gain. One follows the Prophet’s example, in words & deeds. A pilgrim is a guest of Allah and his destination is the House of Allah. Hence this journey is most sacred, so every pilgrim should observe the following etiquette rigidly.

  1. Should make intention for Allah alone.
  2. Should keep away from indecency, abuses, angry conversations and quarrel.
  3. Should devote his time in prayers, supplication and reading Quran.
  4. Should attend the pious meetings instead of gossiping.
  5. Should respect co-travellers and forgive them for their acts and omissions.
  6. Should mix with people instead of keeping aloof.
  7. Should be polite and helpful to every one.
  8. Should look after old and weak pilgrims.
  9. Should bear patiently the anger and provocative talks of co-travellers.
  10. Should keep his eyes low in the crowd of men and women.
  11. Should offer prayers congregationally as far as possible.
  12. Dear brother! Good morals are greatest deeds and most appreciative to Allah and his messenger. Verily Allah loves noble morals trivial conducts and doesn’t like bad manners.
  13. Dear brother! Morals hold in Islam the highest position and uppermost degree.

Virtue is a kind disposition and vice is what rankles in your heart and that you disapprove that people come to know of it.

Good behavior is among the deeds that make one enter into paradise, as in a hadith reported by Abu Huraira: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was asked: “what mostly make people enter janat?” He said: “the fear of Allah, and good character”. When asked about what mostly leads people to enter hellfire, he said “The mouth and the private part”. (Ahmad, Tirmidi).

Good conduct is among the heaviest (deed) a Muslim will find in his scale of good deeds on the day of judgment. Verily a believer attains with good conduct the level of the one who fasts and he is upright . The closest people to the company of the Messenger of Allah on the day of judgment are the bearers of good distinguished manners.“The most lovable to me among you, and the closest to me in company on the day of judgement are those who bear better conducts; and verily the most detested to me, and farther from me on the day of judgement are the gossip mongers, those who are mutafaihiqun” (proud). They said: “O Messenger of Allah, we’ve known the thartharun (those who pratter), and the mutashadiqun (those who brag) what is Mutafaihiwun?”. He said: “Mutakabirun” (those who are arrogant, proud) . “Good behaviour is borne by the best out of this ummahh, the distinguished and the respected of the ummah”, The best among you are those who are the best in their character.

Dear distinguished brother! Surely good character with what you have just known about its merits and position, it all depend on you to decide, “Compensation is according to category of deed.” Allah does not have mercy upon those who do not have mercy upon others. (Muslim: vol.4/ p.1244/no.5737).Dear brothers and sisters! Some pilgrims and visitors see astonishing cases. He sees lies instead of truth, violence in place of mercy, betrayals instead of repression of anger and pardoning people. He sees harm instead of good deed, stinginess instead of generosity, inordinate, greedy desire of place, pride instead of humbleness, oppression in place of justice. He asks himself: Are these Muslims? Where is decency, trustworthiness and bashfulness. Where is mercy on the weak, compassion over the poor ones. Where is love, sympathy with Believers?

Dear Brothers and sisters! From Anas -may Allah be pleased with him, said: “I was walking with the Messenger of Allah while he was wearing a garment made in Najran with rough hems, and he was confronted by a Bedouin who pulled by his robe very harsh. Then I looked at the surface of his shoulder, it was affected by the edges of the robe from the harsh pull. Then he (the Bedouin) said : “O Muhammad, ordered for me from the wealth of Allah which is with you.” He (the prophet) then turned to him and laughed, and thereafter he ordered for him a present.” (Muslim & Bukhari).
Dear brother and sisters! Why we get involved in an uncontrollable anger for the least harm afflicted on us by our Muslim brother, reacting to the smallest mistake we find from our brother. We grudge and hustle as if we are engaged in a feud against the enemy.

“The believers are nothing else that brothers (in religion)” (Al-hujrat)

The similitude of believers in regard mutual love, affection of believers in regard mutual love affection, fellow-feeling is that of one body, when limb of it aches, the whole body aches, because of sleeplessness and fever. If we do not adorn with self-control and good conduct in these holy sites and preferable times, when are we going to? So we should come back to ourselves with the endeavour to do good, and make it accountable, so that our will guides us to the straight, correct path.

Dear brothers and sisters beware! Be carefull!
(Shetan) said: “Because you sent me astray surely, I will sit in wait against them (human beings) on your straight path. Then I will com to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left, and you will not find most of them as thankful ones (they will not be dutiful to you)”.

May Allah make you successful in what he loves and is pleasant with you. May he also make you reach again your family and your country safe and sound. Ameen