Step by step guide to Hajj
The goals of Hajj are:
1. Consciousness of Allah, remembrance of Allah
2. Thankfulness to Allah and thankfulness to other human beings. Thanking others encourages good.
Part of the character that comes out of hajj is a thankful nature – one who remembers to thank Allah
and other humans
3. Quality of being a Universalist. Hajj is the ultimate United Nations. Muslim representatives coming
for the worship of Allah. This should instil in us a consciousness of the universality of Islam. That it
isn’t about tribe, nation, race. Think about the prophet’s farewell sermon (Arabs over non-Arabs). The
only differentiator is Taqwa. We can’t tell how much taqwa one has – only Allah does because it’s in
the heart. We are all one brotherhood – Allah invites us to this. Members of the human race. Yes, the
colonial powers have instilled in our minds the existence of difference races (Mongols, Negroes, etc).
The reality is that it is a lie. There is only one race – the human race. Allah has left in us a sign of this –
blood. For example, the Caucasian call themselves ‘first world’ and the others ‘third world’. To
demonstrate the gap, they skipped ‘second world’. The fact is blood from another group can save one
whose fellow’s blood cannot. Who is closer now? One God, One race, One religion.
4. Partisanship. A realisation that it’s not about being Pakistani, Indian, Mauritian, etc. We shouldn’t
be rooting for particular groups, this partisanship with sides based on such characteristic. It’s about
taqwa. How can we root for these footballers when we know that after they finish they’ll go to the
bar and get drunk and womanise. The only nation is the nation of islam. We should strive to invite
people back to this – one nation under god. ‘national anthems’, ‘flags’ are the product of colonisation
of our ummah. Tribalism, nationalism, this is all evil, corruption, a product of satan's refusal to bow to
Aadam. He said ‘I am better than him’. The one with a mustard seeds of pride in his heart will not
enter paradise. Therefore hajj is to eliminate and purify us of these. The Universalist concept
generalises to all things, e.g. marriage – not marrying based on nationalism, cast, etc.
5. Obedience. The prophet said ‘take your rights of hajj from me’. Do it the way the prophet did it.
Today we have ‘express’ hajj – just ‘Arafat – finish it in 4 days. They are making hajj not the one the
prophet did. You must be aware of this. Ibrahim (as) was told to drop his wife (Hajar) and child and to
drop them off in the middle of the desert and pack up and leave them. Ibrahim (as) obeyed because
there is good in Allah’s command. It may appear harmful, but ultimately we believe that there is good
in it. The second sacrifice of ‘cutting the neck’ of his son was the ultimate sacrifice. Even his son said
‘do as you’re commanded’ – this is obedience. Submission, ‘Ibadah, this is taught in hajj. Hajj
combines fasting, zakat, and all other obligations. It is a major trial. The key is the QUALITY of the HAJJ
not the QUANTITY. To do this, we must have knowledge of the principles of hajj. Prevent yourself
from any corruption – that’s’ the only way for an accepted hajj. ‘For the sake of Allah’ – if it isn’t for
this, then we are on a vacation. We must make sure that our reason is for the sake of Allah.
We need to prepare to achieve the above goals. We want to come out with a hajj acceptable by Allah,
earning us the reward of paradise, returning us as the way we were born. The Tawaaf reminds us to
remember Allah while walking, turning to Him in repentance while we are walking. It is worship while
walking – teaching us that we don’t separate our worship from the other actions that we do. Turn to
Allah with our hearts open. There’s no special dua except for the ‘Yemeni to black stone quadrant’.
The ihram is the intention, not the garment. You can take it off, have a bath (non fragrance) etc –
Islam invites us to cleanliness.
We need to establish Islam within ourselves first before we can spread Islam to our families, friends,
the world. That is our primary responsibility – if Allah provides us with the means to establish it
beyond ourselves, then Alhamdulillah. The reward for an accepted Hajj is no less than JANNAH
Pillars of Hajj
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2.
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4.
IHRAAM (With Niyah) – Labbayk Allahumma Hajjan
Standing at ‘Arafah
Tawaaf Al-Ifaadah (women are illegal to their husbands until they’ve done it)
Sa’I for Hajj
Obligatory aspects of Hajj
If one of the following are missed, then sacrifice will be required.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Ihraam at Meeqat (i.e. having the ihram on by the meeqat point)
Standing at ‘Arafat at Sunset
Spending part of the night in Muzdalifah
Ramy
Cutting hair
Tashreek nights in Mina
Tawaaf Al-Wada (Farewell tawaaf – women may omit this without expiation)
Hajj is 4, 5, or 6 days – the prophet (saw) did 6 days. The summary of Hajj is as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Makkah to Mina
Mina to Arafat
Arafat to Muzdalifah
Muzdalifah to Mina
Mina to Makkah back and forth
Back to Makkah
Go home
DAY 1 – 8th OF DHUL HIJJAH
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Adopt Ihraam with niyyah for Hajj
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Depart for Mina
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Perform 5 Salawaat in Mina: Dhur (2 Rakah), Asr (2 Asr), Maghrib (3 Rakah), Isha (2 Rakah), Fajr (2
Rakah). Fajr is the only salah that you can pray the 2 Rakah sunnah.
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Remember, the salah for hajj is Not related to travelling
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The prophet always prayed WITR and FAJR SUNNAH (2 Rakah)
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The reward for Fajr sunnah is ‘the world and everything in it”
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Ishraak/Tahajjud (Nawaafil) can be prayed. You can’t pray the Sunnah Raatibah
DAY 2 – ‘ARAFAT, 9th OF DHUL HIJJAH
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The prophet said: ‘Allah be my witness that I have now conveyed the message’
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Allay says: ‘Today, I have perfected for you, your religion’
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You’ll feel a cool breeze, you can feel the presence of Allah
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The day of ‘Arafah is like the Day of Al-Qiyaamah. The Hajj is ‘ARAFAT
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Listen to the Khutbah (get a radio)
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Dhur and ‘Asr joined (2 rakah/2 rakah), One Adhaan, 2 Iqaamah
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Wuqoof starts
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DO NOT Sleep/chat/eat – make du’a
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SUPPLICATE!
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The best du’a is ‘La ilaha illallah, wahdahu la sharikalah, lahul mulku wa lahul hamd, wahuwa ‘ala
kulli shayin qadeer’
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On this day, Allah is face to face with the servants and is proud before the angels of the pilgrims. Allah
says to the angels:
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‘WHAT IS IT THEY WANT?’
Allah comes to the lowest heaven and asks this question.
On no other day does Allah set free more slaves from the fire than this day
When are you going to get another chance to stand before Allah and find Him saying: What do you
want?
When you ask, always ask for the best
Ask for the brothers and sisters in different countries
Pray for the different masjids (Al-Aqsa)
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Pray for brother/sisters in jail
Ask Allah to keep you strong
Die as a muslim - Hold on to the rope of Allah
Stay on the straight path
Allah only changes our situation if we attempt to change our condition ourselves
Ask Allah to help you understand how to come back to Quran and sunnah
We violate the 5 pillars everyday
Ask Allah to have mercy on us
Ask Allah to Make us better Muslims, make us strong in our adversities
We are living in the time about which the prophet said 'There will come a time'
ASK FOR STRENGTH
Subhanallah, Allah has moved Asr to Dhur time and Maghrib to Isha time, all so that you can have the
time, one to one, to talk to Allah.
Day of Wuqoof is a day of STANDING. The prophet stood all day with hands raised to the sky.
MUZDALIFAH – Mash’ar-il-Haraam
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Allah says that you must go to Muzdalifah after ‘Arafat and Pray and Seek Forgiveness
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We are ALL on the ground/Sand sleeping counting the stars
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Use toilets in ‘Arafat as much as you can before going to Muzdalifah (especially for women) – you can
be queing for up to two hours
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Minimise eating in ‘Arafat so that you don’t have to do ‘number 2’ in Muzdalifah
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Always keep diaoareha tablets
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There is no EID SALAH FOR PILGRIMS.
DAY 3 – ‘EID DAY, 10th OF DHUL HIJJAH
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Perform Salatul Fajr in Muzdalifah
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Include the sunnah salah for Fajr
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SUPPLICATE
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Leave for MINA shortly BEFORE SUNRISE
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Collect pebbles on your way
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Proceed to the JAMRAH
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You normally pass the camps first
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5 ACTIONS TO BE DONE:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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RAMEE – AQABA (Big one) – Only 7 stones saying ‘Allahuakbar’ with each.
PERFORM SACRIFICE – HADY
CUT/SHAVE THE HAIR – HALQ
TAWAAF AL-IFDAH
SA’EE FOR HAJJ
Points 4 and 5 can be done at another time if one is unfit
The prophet (saw) sacrificed 100 camels (63 himself, and the rest by Ali (ra))
The sisters cut ONE INCH of hair from ONE PLACE
Points 2 and 3 can be done in any order
After you’ve cut hair, you are OUT OF IHRAAM MINUS SEX. THE OTHER RESTRICTIONS ARE NOW
REMOVED.
You now start reciting ‘Allahuakbar, allahuakbar, la ilaha illallahu Allahuakbar Allahuakbar, wa lillahil
hamd’ NOT THE TALBEEYAH ANYMORE.
You may now shower, and perfume (men), and adopt normal clothes
Proceed to Makkah if convenient to perform Tawaaf-al-Ifadah and the Sa’ee for Hajj (This is the only
time Sa’ee is performed without Ihraam)
ALL IHRAAM RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED ONCE TAWAAF AND SA’EE ARE DONE
4 PILLARS ARE NOW COMPLETE
Return to tents in Mina.
DAY 4 – 11th OF DHUL HIJJAH
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Casting of pebbles for 3 days
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Collect 21 stones (each day) and proceed to JAMARAH for RAMY
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Start after Zawwal until sunset (or later)
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Pebbles to fall WITHIN THE CIRCLED AREA
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Don’t use pebbles that have already been cast
Start at the SMALL jamarah and cast 7 pebbles (one at a time) saying ‘ALLAHUAKBAR’
Move to side, face qibla and supplicate
Proceed to MIDDLE jamarah and cast 7 pebbles (one at a time) saying ‘Allahuakbar’
Move to side, face qibla and supplicate
Proceed to LARGE Jamarah and ramy but NO SUPPLICATION AT END OF BIG JAMARAH
DAY 5 – 12TH OF DHUL HIJJAH
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Ramy as the day before
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If you haven’t done Tawaaf Al-Ifadah and Sa’ee for Hajj yet, you can proceed to Makkah and do it.
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If you plan to stay for TWO DAYS only, then proceed to Makkah after Ramy
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You must DECIDE TO LEAVE BEFORE SUNSET, or else you must stay until the 13th
DAY 6 – 13th OF DHUL HIJJAH
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Ramy as the day before
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Proceed to Makkah after Ramy
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If you haven’t done tawaf al-ifadah and sa’ee for Hajj yet, you can do it now
TAMATTU
= 3 TAWAAFS (Initial Umrah, Tawaaf Ifadah, Tawaaf al-Wadaa)
= 2 SA’EEs (Initial Umrah and Sa’ee for Hajj)
TAWAAF AL-WADAA
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The last rite of Hajj
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Tawaaf only, NO SA’EE
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Menstruating women may omit this
HAJJ IS NOW COMPLETE
OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER
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You need wudu during Tawaaf
Touching non-mahram women doesn’t invalidate wudu (This is probably controversial for some
madhabs)
THINGS TO TAKE TO MINA AND ARAFAT
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Sleeping bag AND food (leave the other stuff in MINA)
Toilet tissues
Umbrella
Shades
Don’t share razor blades
Don’t drink tap water – stick to mineral water
Don’t eat open (non-skinned) fruits
Take a two-pin plug
SHOWER AND TOILET
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Take a plastic bag – put everything in the bag and put over the shower hose
Take a towel and thobe and throw over the door
Soap – Don’t use the bar, take those hook shower gels
Once finished showering, dry yourself, put your clothes on, come out of the shower
Brush your teeth on a second trip
BEST TIME to go is when everybody else is EATING – by the time you’re back, the food is still there.
ALWAYS KEEP YOUR ID WITH YOU
TAKE A SLEEPING BAG
JAMARAH
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Stay calm in busy situations
Don’t go in congested times
BEST TIME for JAMARAH is to be on the bridge around ‘Asr time.