Hajj is the major Islamic pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. During Hajj, Muslims from all over the world gather in Mecca. Everyone there performs the same sacred rituals in the same sacred place to complete their Hajj. Many of these rituals carry significant history behind them.
If you are going for Hajj this year or in the future In Sha Allah, it will be helpful for you to know about these rituals beforehand. You can properly prepare yourself for Hajj and make this once in a lifetime experience more rewarding. Before diving into Hajj rituals, let's see what things you should do before Hajj.
Hajj is a profound spiritual journey for every eligible Muslim. It requires not only physical preparation but also spiritual, financial, and logistical readiness. Before embarking on this sacred pilgrimage, it is good to fulfill certain prerequisites and preparations to ensure that the Hajj is performed correctly and with sincerity, in accordance with Islamic teachings. This includes:
1. Istikhara (Seeking Guidance):
Before deciding on Hajj or any matter, pray two non-obligatory rak’ahs, recite the Istikhara dua, and seek Allah’s guidance. It’s recommended to read Surah Al-Kafirun in the first rak’ah and Surah Al-Ikhlas in the second. Then follow what your heart feels at ease with.
2. Repentance & Settling Debts:
Repent from sins, return wronged property, settle debts, and ask forgiveness from those you had wronged before.
3. Writing a Will:
Prepare a will outlining debts and owed matters, as life and death are with Allah. The Prophet (PBUH) advised Muslims with property to have a will ready. Hadtih narrated by Abdullah bin Umar:
"Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said, "It is not permissible for any Muslim who has something to will to stay for two nights without having his last will and testament written and kept ready with him."
[Sahih al-Bukhari 2738]
4. Pleasing Parents & Spouse:
Hajj rituals are spread over a few days. And if you are going to perform Hajj from foreign countries, it usually takes a somewhat long period of time to complete it. Since you will be away, it is a good practice to make sure your parents and spouse are taken care of during you are away for Hajj. Women should seek their husband’s approval, and it’s recommended that the husband accompany his wife for Hajj.
5. Ensuring Halal Funds:
Use only lawful (halal) money for Hajj, avoiding doubtful sources.
6. Avoiding Disputes in Purchases:
Avoid haggling or disputes over Hajj-related purchases or anything bringing you closer to Allah.
7. Bidding Farewell:
Say goodbye to family, neighbors, and friends, seeking their forgiveness before departing for Hajj.
8. Supplication When Leaving Home:
Recite:
اَللَّهُـمَّ إِنِّي أَعُـوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَضِـلَّ أَوْ أُضَـلَّ، أَوْ أَزِلَّ أَوْ أُزَلَّ، أَوْ أَظْلِـمَ أَوْ أَُظْلَـمَ، أَوْ أَجْهَلَ أَوْ يُـجْهَلَ عَلَـيَّ .
"Allahumma innee aAAoothu bika an adilla aw odal, aw azilla aw ozall, aw athlima aw othlam, aw ajhala aw yujhala AAalay."
“O Allah, I take refuge with You lest I should stray or be led astray, or slip or be tripped, or oppress or be oppressed, or behave foolishly or be treated foolishly."
9. Giving Charity Before Departure:
Give charity before departing for Hajj as a means of seeking Allah’s blessings.
You’re getting ready for Hajj, and that’s a big step. Every part of Hajj has a meaning, and it's important to do everything with a pure heart and a sincere intention.
First, let’s walk through the process together before 8th Dhul Hijjah.
Before you reach Makkah to begin Hajj, you need to make the intention (niyyah) in your heart. This intention should be only for the sake of Allah, seeking His reward in the Hereafter. Don’t say it aloud, keep it for Allah alone. Hajj is not for showing off or gaining praise from others. It's a private act of worship in which only Allah should see your heart and reward your efforts.
Before you reach Makkah, you need to get ready to enter Ihram. Do this before you pass the Miqat, which is a set point on the way to Makkah. Each route to Makkah has its own Miqat.
Ihram is a sacred state and an obligatory step for any pilgrim when they do Hajj or Umrah. It has some set rules and characteristics that you must follow. It is also characterized by special Ihram clothing.
Before putting on the Ihram clothes, you should cut your nails, trim your hair, and take a shower. Then, put on the special Ihram clothing.
Before entering Makkah to perform Hajj or Umrah, pilgrims must stop at a designated station known as a Miqat (مِيقات) to enter into the state of Ihram. There are five main Miqat points, and which one you use depends on where you're coming from.
| No. | Miqat Name | Location Description | Applicable For Pilgrims Coming From | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dhul Hulayfah | ~15 km SW of Masjid al-Nabawi, Madinah; 450 km from Makkah | Madinah, Bahrain, and anyone passing through Madinah | Known as Abyar Ali; train travelers must wear Ihram before boarding |
| 2 | Al-Juhfah | Near Rabigh, ~190 km NW of Makkah | Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Europe, North America, and African countries | Historically for Syrians and Egyptians |
| 3 | Qarn al-Manazil | Near Taif, ~85 km east of Makkah | Najd, Taif, Riyadh, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Malaysia, Singapore | Also called Qarn al-Asfal; Angel Jibril appeared here to the Prophet (PBUH) |
| 4 | Dhat Irq | ~85 km northeast of Makkah | Iraq, Iran | Designated by Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) after Islamic expansion into Iraq |
| 5 | Yalamlam | ~100 km southeast of Makkah | Yemen, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, East Africa | Common for pilgrims arriving by sea or air from South Asia and Africa |
Once you know your miqat location, you should enter Ihram and put on the clothing. After that, it’s best to say your intention out loud using the right words depending on the type of Hajj:
Then say: “Allaahumma hadhihi hijjah la riyaa’a fiha wa la sum’ah,”
which means: “O Allah, this is a pilgrimage in which there is no showing off or seeking reputation.”
Once in Ihram, avoid cutting hair or nails. Don’t use perfume. Men and women must avoid sexual relations. Men and women alike must avoid arguments, using foul language, or causing harm to others. The goal is to stay peaceful, focused on worship, and connected to Allah. Allah clearly commands in the Qur’an:
"ٱلۡحَجُّ أَشۡهُرٞ مَّعۡلُومَٰتٞۚ فَمَن فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ ٱلۡحَجَّ فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوقَ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِي ٱلۡحَجِّۗ وَمَا تَفۡعَلُواْ مِنۡ خَيۡرٖ يَعۡلَمۡهُ ٱللَّهُۗ وَتَزَوَّدُواْ فَإِنَّ خَيۡرَ ٱلزَّادِ ٱلتَّقۡوَىٰۖ وَٱتَّقُونِ يَـٰٓأُوْلِي ٱلۡأَلۡبَٰبِ"
"Hajj is [during] well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of ihram], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj. And whatever good you do – Allah knows it. And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah. And fear Me, O you of understanding."
[Quran 2:197]
As soon as you enter into Ihram, start saying the Talbiyah. Men should say it out loud. Women should say it quietly.
The words are:
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ،
إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ،
لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
“Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am.
Surely all praise, all blessings, and all authority belong to You.
You have no partner.”
Say this often and with sincerity. It reminds you that you are here for Allah alone. Keep repeating it until the next part of Hajj begins.
When you arrive in Makkah, go to Masjid al-Haram. Start by doing Tawaf. Walk around the Kaaba seven times, starting and ending at the Black Stone. Walk in an anti-clockwise direction. After finishing Tawaf, pray if you're able to.
After tawaf, you perform sa’i by walking and running seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa. Be patient during sa’i. You’ll probably feel tired after tawaf, and others around you might be rushing. Don’t worry, go at your own pace. Take short breaks when needed, and drink Zamzam water, which is available between Safa and Marwa.
After completing Sa’i, men should either shave their heads or trim their hair. Women just cut a small amount of hair, about the length of a fingertip. This marks the end of your Umrah. You can now come out of Ihram. Take time to rest and get ready.
The main Hajj rituals will begin on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah. You will start with entering the Ihram state.
Follow the Ihram Rules as mentioned before. And recite the Talbiyah
After you put on your Ihram and say the Talbiyah, travel with your group from Makkah to the city of Mina. It’s about 8 kilometers away. Stay close to your group and follow your guide so you don’t get lost.
When you arrive in Mina, you’ll go to your tent. The area will be crowded, and space will be tight. Stay calm and be patient. Make sure to pray all five daily prayers. Use your time to remember Allah and think about the purpose of your Hajj. Stay focused and get ready for the next day.
On the day of Arafah, perform the following steps 8, 9, and 10 of Hajj.
After praying Fajr in Mina, you should leave for Arafah. Start your journey after the sun rises. On the way, keep saying the Talbiyah and Takbeer, ask Allah for forgiveness (Istighfar), and make lots of dua (supplications).
The Day of Arafah is a special time to ask Allah (SWT) to forgive your sins and get closer to Him. Try to stay focused on Allah during this journey.
Make sure you reach Arafah before the Dhuhr prayer begins. Arafah is about 15 kilometers from Mina and about 20 kilometers southeast of Makkah.
The Imam delivers the sermon (khutbah) from Masjid-e-Namirah at Arafah. Try to listen to the Khutbah. Some groups even offer translation. Then pray Dhuhr and Asr together behind the Imam. Offer two rakats for each prayer.
But if you are not praying behind the Imam, then don’t combine the prayers. Pray Dhuhr and Asr separately in your tent.
Make lots of dua (supplication) for yourself and for others. Ask Allah to forgive you, have mercy on you, and bless your family and all Muslims.
Don’t climb Mount Arafah. There’s no special reward for climbing it.
The important act is to stay in Arafah and stand (wuqūf) there, which is a required part of Hajj. Stay on the open plain of Arafah until sunset. Do not pray Maghrib in Arafah. You’ll pray it later, combined with Isha, when you reach Muzdalifah.
Use the toilets before leaving Arafah because the toilets in Muzdalifah are usually very busy.
After the sun sets, you leave Arafah and go to Muzdalifah, which is an open area between Mina and Arafah.
On the way, keep saying Talbiyah and Takbeer. When you get to Muzdalifah, pray Maghrib and then Isha prayers right after each other. Shorten the Isha prayer to two rak’ahs. Hadith narrated by Ibn `Umar in this regard:
"The Prophet (PBUH) offered the Maghrib and Isha prayers together at Jam' (i.e. Al-Muzdalifa) with a separate Iqama for each of them and did not offer any optional prayer in between them or after each of them."
[Sahih al-Bukhari 1673]
You will spend the night in Muzdalifah. You can rest or pray as much as you want. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) rested here, so you can also rest to have energy for the next day. Stay close to your group and do not go alone.
You need small pebbles to throw at the Jamarat over the course of the next three days of Hajj. The pebbles should be about the size of date seeds. Try to carry your pebbles in four small bags per person to make it easier. You will need a total of 49 pebbles for the three days:
However, it’s best to take 70 pebbles to be safe, in case you drop some or miss. You can also collect more pebbles later in Mina if you need. Make sure to keep your pebbles safe for the next day.
Steps to be performed on this day are as follows.
11. Stone at Jamarah Al-Aqabah
12. Offer the Sacrifice (Nahr)
13. Shave or Trim Hair (Halq or Taqsir)
14. Tawaf al-Ifadah and Sa’i
After praying Fajr in Muzdalifah, travel to Mina. Keep reciting the Talbiyah along the way. After you arrive in Mina, go to the Jamarah al-‘Aqabah, the large stone pillar. Only after reaching Jamarah, stop saying the Talbiyah!
Throw seven small pebbles at it, one at a time, saying “Allahu Akbar” with each throw. Don’t rush. Follow the instructions and time slot given by the authorities.
After performing Rami (stoning the Jamarat), offer your Qurbani (sacrifice).
You may do it yourself or appoint someone to do it on your behalf. As the animal is sacrificed, say:
بِسْمِ اللهِ واللهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُمَّ مِنْكَ ولَكَ اللَّهُمَّ تَقَبَّلْ مِنِّي
"Bismillaahi wallaahu ‘Akbar [Allaahumma minka wa laka] Allaahumma taqabbal minnee"
"In the name of Allah, and Allah is the Greatest. O Allah, [this is] from You and for You. O Allah, accept it from me."
This act of sacrifice is part of the rituals of Hajj and also marks the celebration of Eid al-Adha.
After offering the sacrifice (Qurbani), you should either shave your head (for men) or trim a small portion of your hair (for women). This marks your partial exit from the state of Ihram. Now you are allowed to wear normal clothes again, but getting intimate with your spouse is still not allowed.
It is also Sunnah to apply perfume at this stage, as the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was noted to have had a strong scent of musk after this part of Hajj.
However, make sure to follow these steps in the correct order. Skipping or changing the sequence without a valid reason is not allowed.
After Rami, sacrifice, and shaving/trimming, go to Masjid al-Haram for Tawaf al-Ifadah and Sa’i—both are required.
Pray two Rak’ah at Maqam Ibrahim, then drink water from Zamzam. These are optional setps.
These can be done from 10th to 12th Dhul Hijjah. Once done, all restrictions of ihram end.
Return to Mina and spend the night there to complete the remaining Hajj rites.
On day 4 of Hajj, you have the task of stoning at 3 Jamarahs. If you get time, don't forget to make supplications for rewards.
On the fourth day, stay in Mina. Wait until Dhuhr time. Then offer your Dhuhr salah in Mina. This day is part of the days of Tashreeq, which are considered the days of Eid during Hajj.
After praying, prepare for Rami al-Jamarat. Take 21 small pebbles with you. You will throw seven pebbles at each of the three Jamrat.
First, go to the small Jamarah, called Jamarat al-Ula, which is also known as amarat al-Sughra.
Stand facing the pillar. Throw seven small pebbles, one by one, saying “Allahu Akbar” with each throw. Take your time and do not rush. Try to make sure each pebble hits the pillar. When you finish, move on to the next Jamarah.
Now go to the middle pillar, called Jamarat al-Wusta. Throw seven pebbles at it, saying "Allahu Akbar" with each throw. Make sure you don’t miss any pebbles. After finishing, go to the last pillar, which is Jamarat al-Aqabah.
Lastly, go to the largest pillar, called Jamarat al-‘Aqabah. Throw seven small stones at it, one at a time. Say “Allahu Akbar” with each stone you throw. Do not look back after throwing.
Once you finish throwing the stones, go back to your tent. Stay in Mina overnight. This completes your Day 4 of Hajj.
Steps 16 and 17 are performed on this day of Hajj.
Begin your day in Mina. Offer Dhuhr prayer there. Then go perform Rami. Throw seven pebbles on each Jamarah like the day before. Start from the small, then the middle, and end with the big Jamarah.
Make sure to finish all three before Maghrib (sunset). After that, prepare to leave for Makkah.
After you finish Rami (stone-throwing), try to leave Mina before sunset. If you are still in Mina after sunset without a valid reason, then you must stay there until the next day and do Rami again. So, try to leave for Makkah on time.
But don’t worry, there is no sin in either leaving after two days or staying for a third. Both are allowed in Islam, as stated in Quran:
"وَٱذۡكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ فِيٓ أَيَّامٖ مَّعۡدُودَٰتٖۚ فَمَن تَعَجَّلَ فِي يَوۡمَيۡنِ فَلَآ إِثۡمَ عَلَيۡهِ وَمَن تَأَخَّرَ فَلَآ إِثۡمَ عَلَيۡهِۖ لِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰۗ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّكُمۡ إِلَيۡهِ تُحۡشَرُونَ"
"And remember Allah during [specific] numbered days. Then whoever hastens [his departure] in two days – there is no sin upon him; and whoever delays [until the third] – there is no sin upon him – for him who fears Allah. And fear Allah and know that unto Him you will be gathered."
[Quran 2:203]
Now perform the Tawaf al-Wida or Tawaf al-Wada (farewell Tawaf). You do not need to wear Ihram for this. You also do not need to do Sa’i.
Just make one Tawaf (seven rounds) around the Kaaba, and then pray two Rak‘ahs near Maqam Ibrahim, if possible.
This is a wajib step of Hajj. Only women who are menstruating are excused from this Tawaf.
This is also the final step of Hajj.
If you stayed in Mina till the 13th, then perform Rami again. Throw pebbles at all three Jamarat as mentioned in the previous steps.
After completing Rami, leave for Makkah. Then perform Tawaf al-Wida in the Kaaba. Offer two Raka’hs at Maqam E Ibrahim. You do not need to perform Sa’i.
If this is your first time going for Hajj, start preparing early. Get your body and heart ready. Learn the steps carefully and keep your intention clear. Here are some easy tips to help you have a good Hajj experience.
So you’ve completed Hajj. That’s a great blessing. Now it’s time to hold on to what you gained. You became closer to Allah, felt peace, and found meaning in life. Don’t let that fade away.
Here are some simple steps to keep your heart strong and your path clear.
Hajj stays in your heart and helps you feel closer to your faith. It gives you a fresh purpose in life. Hajj can be little challenging for some pilgrims but the lessons you learn during Hajj stay with you long after the pilgrimage is over. May it bring you peace, understanding, and growth. Keep the spirit of Hajj with you wherever you go.
