Hajj - Step by Step

 

TYPES OF HAJJ: IFRAD, QIRAN, TAMATTU

 

PERFORMING 'IFRAD' HAJJ

1. Entering into Ihram from Miqat

?                         Taking a bath. 

?                         Using perfume if possible.

?                         Wearing Ihram attire, which consists of a loincloth and an apparel, with the head uncovered for men, whereas women are to wear their Islamic custom, wearing neither face cover nor gloves. However, a woman may cover her face with a slight veil only if her beauty is tempting enough to cause seduction. 

?                         Declaring intention to perform Hajj and chanting Labbayk:

?                         "Labbayka-Allahumma-Hajjan". 

?                         After taking these steps it is prohibited for the pilgrims to wear sewn clothes, remove or pluck hairs, clip nails, cover their heads, use perfume, hunt, enter into marriage contracts, have sexual intercourse, or cut the trees of the Sacred Precinct. 

?                         Men should raise their voice while chanting Labbayk, saying: "Labbayka-Allahumma-Labbayk. Labbayka La Sharika Laka Labbayk. Inna Al-Hamda Wan-Ni`mata Laka Wal-Mulk. Laa Sharika Lak." 

?                         "Here I am, O Lord, here I am! Here I am, there is none that is a partner to You, here I am! Surely, all praise; all bounty is Yours, and all power. There is none that is a partner to You." 

?                         But woman should let her voice audible only to herself."

2. The 8th of Dhul Hijjah

?                         On getting to the Sacred Mosque, the pilgrim should start with Tawaf (circumambulation around the Ka`bah), rather than 2-unit prayer of greeting the Mosque

?                         On seeing the Ka`bah, one should say: "O Allah, let the honor greatness, grandeur and magnificence of this House be ever-increasing, and let all this be reflected on the people visiting it (for Hajj or Umrah). O Allah, You are the Peace and the Source of peace. So make us live in peace and die in peace, and permit us into Paradise, the abode of peace."  

3. Arrival Tawaf

?                         Stop chanting Labbayk and go around the Ka`bah for seven circles.
Start Tawaf from the Black Stone.
Men are to leave their right shoulder bare.
Hasten during the first three rounds of Tawaf and walk during the other four. 
On starting Tawaf from the Black Stone say: "In the Name of Allah; Allah is Greatest."

?                         Kiss the Black Stone if possible or even point at it with your right hand. But do not stand still in front of it.

?                         Rub the Yamani Corner with right hand every time you pass by it if possible, but neither kiss nor point at it.

?                         In making Dhikr and Du`a' during Tawaf, do not raise your voice.

?                         Passing between the two corners say: "O Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter and save us from the torment of the Fire."

4. Kissing the Black Stone During Tawaf

?                         On starting Tawaf from the Black Stone say: "In the Name of Allah; Allah is Greatest."

?                         Kiss the Black Stone if possible or even point at it with your right hand. But do not stand still in front of it.

5. Perform 2-unit Prayer behind Maqam Ibrahim

?                         Perform 2-unit Prayer behind Maqam Ibrahim or a little bit away from it. Recite Surat Al-Kafirun (Chap. "The Polytheists") in the first Rak`ah (unit) and Surat Al-Ikhlas (Chap. "The Sincerity of Faith") in the second Rak`ah.

6. Go to the Well of Zamzam

?                         Drink therefrom and pour on your head. Then go back to the Black Stone and kiss it if possible. If not, just point at it.

7. Sa`y (Going Between Safa and Marwah)

?                         Ascend Mount-Safa and recite the Qur'anic verse which goes, "Behold! Safa and Marwa are among the Symbols of Allah. So if those who visit the House in the Season or at other times, should compass them round, it is no sin in them. And if any one obeyeth his own impulse to good,- be sure that Allah is He Who recogniseth and knoweth." (Al-Baqarah: 157)

?                         Face the Ka`bah and raise your hands for supplication while saying the following thrice: "There is no god but Allah, Who fulfilled His Promise, gave victory to His servant, and defeated the confederates single-handedly." 

?                         Start performing the Sa`y from Safa to Marwah walking, and when you reach the two green signs hasten your walk for a while, but do not run. Then return to your normal phase of walk. On getting to Marwah, ascend it, face the Ka`bah and say as you've said on Safa. 

?                         Going back to Safa walk easily and hasten on reaching the aforementioned green sign.

?                         Keep on remembering Allah, supplicating Him and reciting the Our'an while going between Safa and Marwah, because there is no specific supplication to be said while making Sa`y except those recited on ascending Safa and Marwah. 

?                         The same steps are repeated in each of the seven circuits. But beware that going from Safa to Marwah is reckoned as one circuit and coming back from Marwah to Safa is another circuit.

8. Spending the Night at Mina 

?                         It is commendable for pilgrims to go to Mina and spend there the night on the eve of `Arafat Day until the sun of the ninth day rises. Then go to `Arafat chanting Labbayk and celebrating Allah's Greatness.

9. On the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah (The Day of `Arafat)

?                         It is recommended for pilgrims, on reaching `Arafat, to go to the Mosque of Namirah and perform prayer in the congregation, joining both Zuhr (noon) and `Asr (afternoon) Prayers together shortened at the time of Zuhr. In this case, one Azan (Prayer Call) is made and two Iqamah (Prayer Commencement). 

?                         It is necessary to be within the borderlines of `Arafat, but it is not necessary to ascend Jabal Ar-Rahmah (Mount of Mercy). 
Keep on remembering Allah, supplicating Him, seeking His Mercy.

?                         At the sunset, go to Muzdalifah very calm and peacefully, chanting Labbayk throughout the way.

10. Spending the Night at Muzdalifah:

?                         On reaching Muzdalifah, join both Maghrib (Sunset Prayer) and `Isha' (Evening Prayer) at the time of the latter; three Rak`ahs for Maghrib and two for `Isha'.

?                         If you fear that you may miss these prayers due to throng of people at Muzdalifah, then you may perform prayer on your way to it. Then when you reach Muzdalifah, you can sleep till dawn. But, women and unhealthy people may leave Muzdalifah to Mina after midnight.

?                         Do not forget to take 7 pebbles to throw them on the first day of `Eid Al-Adha (Greater Bairam), and 21 for the second day, and another 21 for the third day, so that the number of all the pebbles would be 49. 

?                         Before the sunrise, go to Mina to throw the pebbles there.
Walk in calmness and keep on chanting Labbayk throughout the way.

11. On the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah: 

?                         Throwing the Stones at Al-`Aqabah

?                         On reaching Mina, perform the ritual of throwing the stones (pebbles) of Al-`Aqabah successively, one after the other.

?                         Stop chanting Labbayk on reaching Al-`Aqabah, and celebrate Allah's Greatness (by saying "Allah Akbar"!) with each stone you throw.

12. Shaving or Haircut:

?                         After throwing the stones at Al-`Aqabah, men should have their hair cut or shaven altogether, whereas women have to cut part of their hair equal to a finger's tip. Doing so, the pilgrims get partially out of Ihram (the state of a pilgrim's sanctity), so that they wear their usual clothes and use perfume, without offering Hady (immolation).

13. Tawaf Al-Ifadah: (Circumambulation performed after returning from Muzdalifah)

?                         After performing all the aforementioned steps, you are to go to Makkah to perform Tawaf Al-Ifadah. Follow the same steps of Arrival Tawaf as mentioned above. On finishing Tawaf Al-Ifadah you can undertake everything previously prohibited for you due to Hajj rituals.

14. Sa`y Between Safa and Marwah

?                         If you have missed Sa`y between Safa and Marwah for some reason whatsoever, you can perform it after Tawaf Al-Ifadah, and after it you get completely released of Ihram.

15. The 11th of Dhul-Hijjah: Spending the Night at Mina

?                         It is preferable for you to spend the night at Mina if you can. 

?                         This is the starting day of the Days of Tashreeq, about which the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "On the Days of Tashreeq, enjoy foods and drinks and remember Allah." So it is commendable to celebrate Allah's Greatness recurrently after prayer and at every time and place; at markets, streets … etc.

16. Throwing the Stones (at Al-`Aqabah) 

?                         The time for throwing the stones at the three Jamarat (the appointed places at which the stones are to be thrown) starts afternoon (after zenith).

?                         They are to be thrown in ascending order; the smaller, the middle, then the greater.

?                         Each one of the Jamarat is to be thrown with seven stones successively, one after the other.

?                         While throwing each stone celebrate Allah's Greatness, saying "Allahu-Akbar" (Allah is Greatest).

?                         While throwing the stones at the three Jamarat it is commendable, first, to make the smaller one between you and the Qiblah (Prayer Direction); second, to proceed to the middle one, facing Qiblah and supplicate Allah for a long time and then throw the stones; finally, to proceed to the greater Jamarat, putting Qiblah to your left and Mina to your right and throw the stones. After throwing the stones at the greater Jamarat (Al-`Aqabah), do not wait for supplication, because the Prophet, peace be upon him, did not wait after throwing the last Jamarat.

17. The 12th of Dhul-Hijjah: Spending the Night at Mina During the Days of Tashreeq

?                         Make use of the period before zenith by doing good deeds, helping others and remembering Allah, and after zenith throw the stones at the three Jamarat, exactly as you did on the previous day, and with the same order.

?                         After this you can go before the time of sunset, but it is better to stay at Mina till the following day.

18. The 13th of Dhul-Hijjah: Throwing the Pebbles

?                         You are to throw the stones at the three Jamarat in the afternoon, exactly as you did on the last two days.

19. Tawaf Al-Wada` (Farewell Circumambulation Around the Ka`bah)

?                         When you intend to go home, go to Makkah and make Farewell Tawaf around the Ka`bah. However, women in their menstrual or postnatal period are exempted from this Tawaf.

 

These are the rituals of Hajj, step by step.

May Allah accept your Hajj and give you the best reward for it.

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