Hajj Simple Guide

Day 1 – 8th Day of Tarwiyah (Watering)

1 – Prepare for Ihram

• Shower, shave underarms and pubic hair, and put on perfume before wearing the white towels.

2 – Make a vocal intention for Ihram and begin

• Say: Labbayk Allaahumma Hajjan
  I am here at Your service, O Allah, to perform Hajj

In Ihram, the following restrictions apply for all:

• Do not cut your hair

• Do not trim your nails

• Do not apply perfume (including scented soap, shampoo, or wet towels that come with meals)

• Do not wear gloves

• Do not touch your wife/husband with desire

• Do not consummate a marriage contract

• Do not hunt any wild animals

Additional specific prohibition for Men:

• Do not cover your head, not even with your Ihram towel

• Do not wear clothes sewn to the shape of your body. That includes undergarments.

Additional specific prohibition for Women:

• Do not cover your face or hands. However, in the presence of men you may cover your face as Aisha used to do.

3 – Go to Mina

• Pray in Mina the following five Salah at their proper time: Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha, Fajr

• Pray Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha: 2 Raka’at only

• Spend the day and night in Mina

• Remember to do the Talbiyah constantly (Labbayk Alla- huma labbayk)

Day 2 – 9th Day of Arafah

4 – In the morning, proceed to Arafah

• Arafah begins after Dhuhr. Try not to stress yourself with worship in the morning at the expense of the afternoon

• After listening to the Khutbah, pray Dhuhr and Asr together shortened (2- 2) at Dhuhr time

• Pray and remember Allah ta’ala immensely on this day. Arafah is the essence of Hajj! Make lots of Dua.

• Remain in Arafah until sunset

• Delay your Maghrib/Isha – which you shall pray together – until you reach Muzdalifah

5 – At sunset, proceed to Muzdalifah

• The Islamic day ends at Maghrib, not 12:00 A.M. like we may be accustomed to in Western countries. Please keep this in mind

6 – Pray Maghrib/ Isha in Muzdalifah

• If the bus is taking too long in traffic, do not delay your prayer past half the night. If it is nearing half the night, pray wherever you are on the road.

7 – Spend the night in Muzdalifah

• The Prophet, sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam, prayed Fajr in Muzdalifah, and then he stood and supplicated before moving on

• In an authentic hadith, permission was given for the elderly and women to leave halfway through the night

Day 3 – 10th Day of Nahr (Sacrifice)

8 – After Fajr, proceed to Mina

Today you shall be doing the following insha’Allah:

1. Stone the Aqabah Jamarat – the largest Jamarat – with seven pebbles

2. Slaughter your sacrificial animal

3. Shave or trim your hair. Shaving is preferred for men

4. Go to the Ka’bah and perform Tawaf Al-Ifadah (also known as Tawaf Az-Ziyarah)

5. Go to Safa/Marwa and perform Sai’. This is for Hajj Tamattu’. (And others who may have missed their Sai’ when they first came)

Coming out of Ihram has two stages:

• First: After you have completed (1-3 above), you come out of Ihram in the first stage.

• Second: After you have completed (4) everything that was forbidden in Ihram is now permissible. You may delay (4) to day four or five or six.

At Maghrib the next day begins. Return to Mina to spend the night there.

Day 4 – 11th Day of Tashreeq 1/3

9 – Spend the night in Mina

• You must spend the night in Mina

10 – Beginning from Dhuhr time, stone the three Jamarat: (small-med-large)

• Do not throw before Dhuhr

• Although the time begins at Dhuhr, it is safer to delay stoning until after Asr, or even until late night when the crowd lightens up

• Say “Allahu Akbar” with each individual throw

• Step to the side after the small and medium Jamarat, and make dua

• During the Tashreeq days, you should pray each Salah at it’s proper time. However, Dhuhr, Asr and Isha should be prayed 2 rak’at only

• In the Qur’an: [And remember Allah during the appointed days (i.e. the Days of Tashreeq). Anyone who hastens to leave in two days, there is no sin on him, and whoever stays on (for the 3rd day), there is no sin on him, if his aim is to do good. And obey Allah and know that you will be surely be gathered unto Him.] Qur’an 2:203

Day 5 – 12th Day of Tashreeq 2/3

11 – Spend the night in Mina

• You must spend the night in Mina

12 – Beginning from Dhuhr time, stone the three Jamarat: (small-med-large)

• Do not throw before Dhuhr

• Although the time begins at Dhuhr, it is safer to delay stoning until after Asr, or even until late night when the crowd lightens up

• Say “Allahu Akbar” with each individual throw

• Step to the side after the small and medium Jamarat, and make dua

• At Maghrib the next day begins. You must leave Mina before Maghrib if you do not wish to stay for the following day. Although Day Six is originally optional, if you delay your departure, you must stay

• If you choose not to stay for Day Six, you have now completed Hajj minus Tawaf Al-Wada’ (the Farewell Tawaf). If you choose to stay an extra day, then move to Day Six, otherwise, go to step 13

Day 6 – 13th Day of Tahreeq 3/3

11 – Spend the night in Mina

• You must spend the night in Mina

12 – Beginning from Dhuhr time, stone the three Jamarat: (small-med-large)

• Do not throw before Dhuhr

• Although the time begins at Dhuhr, it is safer to delay stoning until after Asr, or even until late night when the crowd lightens up

• Say “Allahu Akbar” with each individual throw

• Step to the side after the small and medium Jamarat, and make dua

• You have now completed Hajj minus Tawaf Al-Wada’ (the Farewell Tawaf)

Before You Leave

13 – Perform Tawaf Al-Wada’

• Commonly misunderstood, Tawaf Al-Wada’ cannot be done whenever. It should be done prior to departure. You cannot perform it and then leave the next day, for in such a case it would not be considered a farewell. Perform it and then leave Makkah without delay

• Women in their menses may leave without performing Tawaf Al-Wada’

• No one can leave until they have performed Tawaf Az-Ziyarah (see step 8 above), and that includes women in their menses. The second stage of coming out of Ihram shall remain until you perform it.