General
Hajj consists of the performance of a set of devotional rites in
and around Mecca (i.e., in Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah) in a
prescribed order. The rites of Umra form an integral part of
Hajj. They have already been described above.
Types Of Hajj
There are three different types of Hajj a pilgrim may perform.
All of them involve the performance of essentially the same
rites and acts of worship. The difference consists basically in the
niyyah pronounced by the pilgrim at Meeqat. The specifics of
the Hajj then follow directly from this niyyah. The three types
of Hajj are described below:
In Hajj ul Ifrad, you will pronounce the intention of
performing only Hajj at Meeqat. The rites that follow from
this niyyah are given below in order:
a.Tawaf ul Qudoom, followed by two rakah of salat us
sunnah, partaking of the waters of Zam-Zam, and the Sai
in that order.
b.After step (a) above, you will not take off your
Ihram,and will continue to observe all of its
obligations and prohibitions.
c.You will then complete the rites of Hajj on the 8th
through the 10th of Zul Hijjah in Mina, Arafat,and
Muzdalifah. See Section 5.6. These rites will culminate in
Rummy of Jamrat ul Kubra in Mina on the 10th of Zul
Hijjah.
d.A sacrifice is not obligatory for Hajj ul Ifrad. It is,
however, recommended (i.e., mustahab) that you do
offer a sacrifice.
e.Halq or Taqseer will follow. You may then shave, shower,
and change into street clothes. You are no longer bound
by the prohibitions of the Hajj, except that you may not
engage in conjugal relations with your spouse until you
have performed Tawaf ul Ifadah.
f.Tawaf ul Ifadah will follow in Mecca as soon after step (e)
as possible. The sunnah prayers and the Sai associated
with Tawaf ul Qudoom, are not required after Tawaf ul
Ifadah. The Sai performed after Tawaf ul Qudoom will
suffice since you are performing only Hajj. You may,
however, perform Sai once again if you so desire. You
will return to Mina after the above rites.
g.You will stay in Mina until at least the 12th of Zul Hijjah
as Rummy on the 13th is optional. Rummy of Jamrat ul
Oola, Jamrat ul Wusta, and Jamrat ul Kubra, in that
order, will follow on the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Zul
Hijjah.
h.You will perform Tawaf ul Wuda just before departing
from Mecca on your way to your next destination. Again,
the two rakah of salat us sunnah and the Sai are not
required after Tawaf ul Wuda. The sunnah of Rasool Allah
(pbuh) directs that you leave Haram ash Shareef and
Mecca as soon after Tawaf ul Wuda as possible and do not
linger in town.
You have completed Hajj ul Ifrad and are, now, a
Mufrid.
For Hajj ul Qiran, you will pronounce your niyyah of
performing both Hajj and Umra simultaneously with
the same Ihram. Thereafter, the rites to be performed are as
below in order:
a.Tawaf ul Qudoom followed by two rakah of salat us
sunnah, partaking of the waters of Zam-Zam, and the Sai.
These rites will qualify as your Umra.
b.You will not take off your Ihram after step (a) and will
continue to observe all of its obligations.
c.You will then fulfill the rites of Hajj on the 8th through
the 10th of Zul Hijjah in Mina as detailed under Hajj ul
Ifrad.
d.A sacrifice is required for Hajj ul Qiran. In the days of
Rasool Allah (pbuh), people who brought their sacrificial
animals to Mecca with them were instructed to perform
Hajj ul Qiran. Those, who did not bring their animals,
were instructed to perform Hajj ut Tamattu. Sacrificial
animals are available in Mina these days. Your agent will
help you arrange for one.
e.Halq or Taqseer, Tawaf ul Ifadah, Rummy on the 11th
through the 13th of Zul Hijjah and Tawaf ul Wuda will
follow, exactly as in Hajj ul Ifrad.
You have completed Hajj ul Qiran and are, now, a
Qarin.
For Hajj ut Tamattu, you will pronounce your niyyah
of performing Umra only at Meeqat. A second niyyah for
Hajj will follow later as described below. Thereafter, the rites of
Hajj will be as follows in order:
a.Tawaf ul Qudoom followed by two rakah of salat us
sunnah, partaking of the waters of Zam-Zam, and Sai.
b.Halq or Taqseer will follow. You will now shave, shower,
and change into street clothes. This will complete your
Umra. All restrictions of the Ihram are now temporarily
lifted from you. You will wait for the 8th of Zul Hijjah to
start the rites of Hajj.
c.On the 8th Zul Hijjah, you will pronounce a new
niyyah to perform Hajj at your place of
residence. There is no need for you to go to Meeqat for
this. You will change into Ihram in the prescribed
manner and will proceed to Mina soon after the Fajr
prayers.
d.You will stay in Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah to perform
the prescribed rites as detailed in Hajj ul Ifrad.
e.A sacrifice is required for Hajj ut Tamattu.
f.Halq or Taqseer, Tawaf ul Ifadah with the sunnah
prayers, partaking of the waters of Zam-Zam, and a
second Sai will follow. This Sai is required simply because
your first Sai was performed for Umra.
g.Rummy on the 11th through the 13th of Zul Hijjah and
Tawaf ul Wuda will complete the rites of Hajj.
You have completed Hajj ut Tamattu and are, now, a
Mutamatti.
Mina, Arafat, And Muzdalifah (8th-13th of Zul
Hijjah)
The rites to be performed at Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah are an
integral part of Hajj. Since they are performed in all three types
of Hajj in an identical manner and since they require a
somewhat lengthy description, they are presented in a separate
section here. This keeps the treatment of Hajj short, concise,
and free of repetitions.
You will be staying at Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah in the
following sequence:
1.Mina: From after Fajr on 8th of Zul Hijjah to after Fajr
on 9th of Zul Hijjah.
2.Arafat: From after Fajr on 9th of Zul Hijjah to slightly
after sunset on the same day.
3.Muzdalifah: From after sunset on 9th of Zul Hijjah to
after Fajr on 10th of Zul Hijjah.
4.Mina and Mecca: (10th-13th of Zul Hijjah)
a.Arrive in Mina on 10th of Zul Hijjah, preferably before
midday, for the Rummy of Jamrat ul Kubra followed by
the sacrifice and Halq or Taqseer.
b.Go to Mecca for Tawaf ul Ifadah on 10th of Zul Hijjah.
c.Come back to Mina the same day to stay for Rummy of
the three Jamraat on 11th-13th of Zul Hijjah.
The details are as below:
Mina (8th of Zul Hijjah)
This day is called Yaum ut Tarwiyah. You will depart for Mina
from Mecca in the morning after Fajr. One of the following two
conditions applies to you:
1.If you are performing Hajj ul Ifrad or Hajj ul Qiran, you
are already in a state of Ihram since you did not take off
your Ihram after performing Umra.
2.If you are performing Hajj ut Tamattu, you took off your
Ihram after Umra. Therefore, you will now shower and
pronounce a new niyyah for Hajj after changing into
Ihram afresh at your place of residence. Contrary to
popular belief, it is not necessary to perform Sai after
putting on the Ihram for Hajj. You will offer the Fajr
prayers in Mecca before leaving for Mina:
3.Proceed to Mina after sunrise so as to arrive there before
midday. Recite the Talbiyah often and with devotion and
fervor during your journey.
4.After you settle down in your tents, you will offer Zuhr,
Asr, Maghrib, and Isha prayers in the "qasr" mode by
shortening them as if you are in the course of a journey.
This applies to every one regardless of whether he is a
resident of Mecca or is an outsider. While in your tent,
spend as much time as you can in prayers, and
supplications to Allah.
5.After spending the night in Mina, you will offer the Fajr
prayers there in the morning. Thus, you will have offered
a total of five obligatory prayers at Mina before departing
for Arafat after sunrise on the morning of the 9th of Zul
Hijjah.
6.You may collect some or all of the seventy pebbles
required later for Rummy in Mina during your stay there.
Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessary that you
collect all of them at Muzdalifah.
Arafat, and Muzdalifa (9th of Zul Hijjah)
(I) Arafat:
You will have arrived at Arafat before midday. This is the
Day of Arafat! Your Hajj will not be complete without
Qayam ul Arafat (see below) in accordance with the
sunnah of Rasool Allah (pbuh). You should spend as much
time in prayers and remembrance of Allah as possible. You may
never see this day again in your life. Make the most of it:
After settling down in your tent, you will offer the Zuhr and Asr
prayers in the qasr mode. You will also combine them, i.e. offer
them at the same time with one azan and two separate takbeer,
one each for Zuhr and Asr. Only two rakahs each will be offered
both in Zuhr and Asr prayers. No nafl, or any other prayers, will
be performed either before or after these obligatory prayers.
You will thereafter stay in Arafat until sunset. Spend your time
in reading The Quran, Talbiyah, and offering supplications to
Allah.
Qayam ul Arafat : In the late afternoon just before sunset,
stand in the open outside your tent facing the Qiblah and raise
your hands in supplication to Allah. Rasool Allah (pbuh) spent
this time in submitting himself in humility and total devotion to
Allah, raising his hands in prayers until after sunset. There are
no prescribed prayers for Qayam ul Arafat. During these sacred
moments, you are alone with Allah. Pray as you want to and ask
that your sins and lifelong shortcomings be forgiven. You may
pray in any language and in any manner you desire.
You will not offer Maghrib at Arafat. You will do so at
Muzdalifah later tonight.
After sunset, you will depart for Muzdalifah. Keep reciting the
Talbiyah and other prayers as you proceed towards Muzdalifah.
(II) Muzdalifah:
You will stay under the sky at Muzdalifah. No tents or other
residential facilities will be available. Arrangements for toilet
and wudu are, however, available. They are, understandably,
very crowded all the time. Give yourself plenty of time for your
needs and be patient with fellow pilgrims.
You will also collect seventy pebbles at Muzdalifah for Rummy
if you have not collected them at Mina already. Stay close to
your bus and memorize its location with respect to a prominent
and permanent landmark,such as a light pole or a wudu facility.
Light poles and buildings are usually marked with identification
numbers. It is very easy to get lost and equally difficult to get
back "home"!
You will offer Maghrib and Isha prayers combining them in the
qasr mode. Thus, after the azan, three rakahs of Maghrib will be
offered following the usual "iqamah". Another iqamah (but no
azan) will be called and then two rakahs of Isha will be offered.
Walk to the foot of the nearby hills, and collect seventy pea-size
pebbles for Rummy. It is a good idea to collect an additional ten
stones to make up for accidental losses. Do not collect the
pebbles lying around the bathroom facilities.
You will spend the night at Muzdalifah and offer Fajr there. You
will then leave for Mina before sunrise on the morning of the
10th of Zul Hijjah.
Mina (10th of Zul Hijjah)
The rites to be performed on this day are as follows:
You will perform Rummy of Jamrat ul Kubra only.
Preferably before midday, you will stone the pillar symbolizing
the devil seven times as you recite "Bismillah, Allah-o-Akbar"
with each pebble. Rummy for the elderly, the sick and women
may be performed by others delegated for this responsibility.
A sacrifice is now required for Hajj ul Qiran and Hajj ut Tamattu,
and is recommended for Hajj ul Ifrad.
You may now shave, shower, and change into street clothes.
You are no longer bound by the obligations of Ihram except
that you may not have conjugal relations with your spouse until
after Tawaf ul Ifadah.
You will now proceed to Masjid ul Haram in Mecca for Tawaf ul
Ifadah.
You will return to Mina after Tawaf ul Ifadah and stay there
until the 12th or the 13th of Zul Hijjah for Rummy.
Mina (11th-13th of Zul Hijjah)
You will perform Rummy of Jamrat ul Oola, Jamrat ul
Wusta and Jamrat ul Kubra, in that order, after midday
on all three days. Rummy on the 13th of Zul Hijjah is optional.
You may return to Mecca after Rummy on the 12th of Zul Hijjah
to perform Tawaf ul Wuda.
Tawaf ul Wuda
This is the Farewell Tawaf you will perform just before leaving
Mecca for your next destination. Spend as much time as you
can in Haram ash Shareef in Tawaf un Nafl, prayers and
supplications in the days preceding Tawaf ul Wuda. Make the
most of this golden opportunity Allah has provided you. You
may never see these times again.
There is no Ihram, Ramal, or Sai required in Tawaf ul Wuda.
You will offer two rakah salat us sunnah after Tawaf, offer any
supplications you desire, and leave Mecca as soon as you can.
Alhamdulillah, you have now completed your Hajj.
May Allah accept your Hajj, and may you be a better
person for your efforts in His path.