HAJJ Guide
Journey of a lifetime
Learning how to perform Haj
Haj is performed from the 8-13 of Dhul – Hijjah.
The Manasik (rites) of Haj At – Tamattu are described below and has been summarized on the right.
Early on the Day of Tarwiyah, the pilgrim assumes Ihram for Haj as he did for Umrah, but says ‘’Labbayk Allahumma Hajjan’’ and begins reciting the Talbiyyah. All the rules of Ihram which applied to Umrah also holds for Haj. He then proceeds to Mina where he spends the day in worship and performs Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha shortened but not joined .He spends the night there.
After Fajr on 9th Dhul Hijjah, the Day of Arafah , he leaves for Arafah. At the time of Dhuhr he prays Dhuhr and Asr shortened and combined with one Adhan and two Iqamah. He remains there until Maghrib, standing with hands raised in supplication anywhere within the boundaries of Arafah.
After sunset he proceeds to Muzdalifah where he performs Maghrib and Isha shortened and combined with one Adhan and two Iqamah. He then goes to sleep until Fajr. After performing Fajr at its earliest time on 10th Dhul Hijjah, the Day of Sacrifice he leaves Mudalifah before sunrise and returns to Mina. He continues reciting the Talbiyah.
He collects seven pebbles and does stoning of the Big Jamarah some time between sunrise and night, standing with Makkah to his left and Mina to hs right. He says ‘’Allahu Akbar’’ with each stone throw.
The slaughter must be done and then he may partially come out of the state of Ihram by shaving the head or cutting hair for men and trimming the hair for Women.
Perform Tawaf Al –Ifadah walking normally, then do Sa’ee, one is now completely out of Ihram.
On the 11th -13th Dhul Hijjah, the Days of Tashreeq, one stays in Mina and performs stoning of three Jamarat each day between Zawal (sun is at its peak)and night
21 pepples must be collected for this, ten the Jamarah is stoned first , then the medium then the big one. After stoning at the first two one may face the Qiblah and supplicate to Allah.
On the 13th after stoning the Jamarat one leaves Mina.
One must perform the Farewell Tawaf prior to leaving Makkah.
This completes the Manasik of Haj, May Allah grant all pilgrims Haj Mabroor (an accepted Haj, the reward of which is nothing but Jannah)
Pillars of Haj:
(1) Ihram
(2) Standing on Arafat
(3) Tawaf Al- Ifaadah
(4) Sa’ ee
Note: Intentionally or unintentionally missing any of these pillars invalidates one’s Haj but Allah the Almighty is the best judge of all.
8Dhul HijjahDays of Tarwiyyah
Assume Ihram
Go to Mina
Pray 5 Salaat, start with Dhuhr ( shortened but not joined ) stay until sunrise of 9th 9 Dhul HijjahDay of Arafat
Go to Arafat
Join and shorten Dhuhr and Asr at time of Dhuhr
Make such Dua until sunset
Leave after sunset for Muzdalifah
Pray Magrib and Isha in Muzdalifah and spend night there
10 Dhul HijjahPray Fajr as early as possible then go to Mina before sunrise
Pick up seven pebbles
Stone Jamarat Al- Aqabah
Do sacrifice
Cut hair (partially out of Islam)
Do Tawaf Al- Ifadah ( and sa’ee ) before sunset ( fully out of Ihram)
Stay in Mina
11 Dhul HijjahPick up 21 pebbles
Throw pebbles in afternoon as small, medium and big Jamarat
Stay in Mina for night
12 Dhul HijjahPick up 21 pebbles
Throw pebbles in afternoon at small, medium and big Jamarat
Stay in Mina for night or leave before sunset
13 Dhul HijjahPick up 21 pebbles
Throw pebbles in afternoon at small, medium and big Jamarat
Stay in Mina for night or leave before sunset
Fatwas Haj on Someone’s behalfQ - Is it permissible for a person to perform the obligation of the Haj on behalf of someone else who is financially able ( to perform the Haj himself ) in exchange for money ?
A - Whoever is able to perform the obligation of the Haj himself then it is not permissible for him to appoint someone else to perform the Haj on his behalf, and he will not be rewarded for it ( by Allah ) if he does so.
As for the one who is unable to perform the Haj himself due to a condition which permanently prevents him from doing so, then it is permissible for him to appoint someone else to perform the Haj on his behalf.
And there is no harm in him taking money (for performing the Haj ) if he intends to use it for the Haj and not intending (to seek) any financial benefit. And we have a rule which some of the scholars use which has been extracted from the authentic sources which says:
Whoever (makes the intention to) perform the Haj to seek financial gain , then he should not perform the Haj. And whoever takes money in order to perform the Haj, then he should (go ahead and) perform the Haj.
(Majmoo Al – Fatawa of Ibn Taymiyyah volume 26, page 19)
The meaning of this is, whoever uses money uses money as a means to perform the Haj, there is no harm in that (but) whoever uses (performing) Haj as a means to earn money then that is not permissible.
(Sheikh Saleh Bin Foezan ; Fatawa – volume 3 page 190 , Fatwa No291)
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3 Types of Haj
Haj Al – Qiran
At a Meeqat in the months of Haj one enters into Ihram for Haj and Umrah at the same time not coming out of state of Ihram until the day of sacrifice (10th Dhul Hijjah) .
Alternatively, one may enter to Ihram for Umrah and before beginning the Tawaf, the intention of Ihram for Haj may be made. The Sa’ee may be done after the Tawaf of Umrah or left to be done after Tawaf Al – Ifadah. One performing this type of Haj is called a Qarin.
Haj Al- Ifrad – At a Meeqat, in the months of Haj one enters into Ihram for Haj alone. Like the Qarin he remains in the state of Ihram until the 10th Dhul Hijjah. It is not obligatory on him to sacrifice animal. No Umrah is required.
Haj At- Tamattu - Many scholars consider this the best type of Haj, as it is what the prophet ( peace be upon him ) urged his companions to do. One performing this type of Haj is call a Muttamatti. This involves performing Umrah first during any of the months of Haj ( Shawwal,Dhul Qada and the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah ) removes the Ihram clothes after Umrah, and then reassumes the Ihram state for Haj on the eighth day of Dhul Hijjah of the same year.
Note : For those who choose to do At –Tamattu or Al-Qiran, a mandatory sacrifice is required from them during the days of Eid.
Those who live in Makkah are exempted from this requirement.
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Some Common mistakes during Haj Entering Ihram
Some pilgrims bypass the designated Meeqat ( Station of Ihram) on their route without either being in Ihram or entering into Ihram there, proceeding until they reach Jeddah or some other place at which they enter into Ihram. This is against the command of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) that every pilgrim should enter into Ihram at the Meeqat
which lies on his route. If this be the case with someone, he must either go back to the Meeqat lying on his route and enter into Ihram, or he must make expiation by sacrificing a sheep in Makkah and feeding all its meat to the poor.
This applies to all pilgrims regardless of whether one passes the Meeqat by air,sea or land.
If one did not pass through one of the five designated Meeqat points, he should enter into Ihram at a point which is nearest to the Meeqat on his route.
Starting the Tawaf at some point other than the site of the Black Stone, while it is obligatory to begin Tawaf from the Black Stone.
Doing Tawaf inside the Hijr Ismail, which means going around a portion of the Ka’ba rather than the whole of it since the Hijr Isma’il is a part of the Ka’ba which would then be left out of Tawaf, such a Tawaf is invalid.
Doing Ramal (ie.walking briskly with one’s right shoulder bared) during all seven circuits while Ramal is to be done only during the first three of the Tawaf of Arrival
(Tawaf Al- Qudum).
Pushing and jostling to kiss the Black Stone in this process and hitting people ; such acts, which may harm other Muslims are not permissible.
The Tawaf remains perfectly valid without kissing the Black Stone. If one does not or cannot kiss the Black stone, it is sufficient simply to point to it saying ‘’Allahu Akbar’’ when one comes parallel to it – although one may be at a distance from it.
Wiping hands over the Black Stone with the ‘’ intention of seeking blessings ‘’
is an innovation (Bid’ah) with no basis in the Shariah of Islam. The Sunnah is to touch it or kiss it when it can be done easily.
Touching the four corners of the Ka’ba or its walls , and wiping hands over them.
The Prophet (peace be on him) touched only the Black Stone and the Yemeni Corner.
Reserving specific supplications for each circuit.The Prophet (peace be on him)
did not specify any supplications except to say ‘’Allahu Akbar ‘’ when he reached the Black stone and at the end of each circuit between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone ,he said
‘’Rabbana , Aatina Fid- Dunya Hasanatan Wa Fil- Aakhirati Hasanah Wa Qina Adhaaban Naar ‘’.
(Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter and save us from the punishment of the Fire.)
Raising one’s voice above the voices of others - whether in following someone or a group or leading the Tawaf as it causes confusion among the worshippers.
Struggling and hurting other pilgrims to pray at the Maqam (station) of Ibrahim.
If one is unable to pray behind the Maqam of Ibrahim it is sufficient to pray the two Rak’at of Tawaf anywhere within the Sacred Mosque.
Accelerating one’s pace throughout the entire distance between the two hills.
The sunnah is to accelerate one’s pace only between the two green posts, while walking at normal pace in the remainder of the way.
Some pilgrims camp outside the boundaries of Arafat and remain there until sunset; then they depart for Muzdalifah without staying at Arafat properly. This is a serious error which invalidates their Haj since the attendance in Arafat is the essence of Haj, and it is obligatory to be within its boundaries and not outside them. If it is not easy to do that they one may enter before sunset and remain there until sunset. It is quite acceptable to stay in Arafat during the night of sacrifice in particular.
Departing from Arafat before the sunset is not permissible, because the Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) stayed at Arafat until the sun had set completely.
Struggling through crowds in order to climb the Mount of Mercy in Arafat is not permissible, because it may harm and causes injuries others. The entire plain of Arafat is a place of attendance, and neither climbing the Jabal Al – Rahman nor offering Salah there has been recommended.
Making heaps of earth or pebbles on the day of Arafat, at particular places has no bases in the Shariah.
Some pilgrims start collecting pebbles to throw at the jamarat (stone pillars) in Mina as soon as they arrive in Muzdalifah, even before praying the Maghrib and ‘Isha prayers. This is not correct, and so is the practice that all the pebbles must be collected from Muzdalifah (not correct).
The correct position is that the pebbles can be collected from anywhere within the boundaries of Al – Haram.
The Prophet ( peace be on him) did not ask that the pebbles for Jamrat Al – Aqabah be picked up for him from Muzdalifah.
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Haj tips for Pilgrims
Always have drinking water as you may become dehydrated.
Use your time wisely – be busy with Dhikr, Dua and recitation of the Qur’an.
Wear Comfortable footwear.
Be very careful to stay within the specific boundaries during the days of Haj, especially
in Arafat – overstepping them may affect the correctness of your Haj.
If you wear spectacles, secure them with a spectacle cord.
Take some rest in the night of Muzdalifah because the following day is full of activity and requires energy.
Observe landmarks when going out so you can find your way back..
Arrange a meeting place with your group in case you get lost.
Keep the phone number of your hotel / flat and the group leader with you whenever you go out.
Don’t go out alone on the days of Haj as it is very easy to get lost.
Always inform someone in the group when you go out and when you are expected to return.
Have some cash with you when you go out, incase you get lost.
Bathrooms are aplenty at Haj sites, select one which is clean.
