Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. Hajj is a very important and complex ‘ibadah. For people performing Hajj this year and for everyone who wants to know, below is a description of how Hajj is performed.

Hajj is performed in three ways:

  • Ifraad
  • Qiraan
  • Tamatu’

All three variants are very similar so to make them easier to understand we have described ifraad in detail and will highlight the differences in the other two variants where they exist.

Ifraad

To do’s before the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah

  • A pilgrim has to enter the state of ihram from the Meeqat station designated for him/her and recite the relevant talbiyah.
  • The pilgrim may perform the Tawaaf-ul-Qudoom (Tawaaf performed upon arrival). This is optional (sunnah) and not fard.
  • The pilgrim may perform sa’i. If they do not perform sa’i after tawaaf-al-qudoom, or go straight to Mina, they must perform it after the tawaaf–ul-ifaadah (Tawaaf of Hajj)
  • One must remain in the state of Ihram until the day of slaughter (10th Dhul-Hijjah). 

Difference

Qiraan: no difference

Tamatu’: A pilgrim has to enter the state of ihram from the Meeqat station designated for him/her and say the relevant talbiyah and perform an ‘umrah. A pilgrim must then take off their Ihram and wear normal clothes until the 8th of Zul Hajj where they will again enter the state of Ihram and follow the steps as in case of Ifraad. 

The 8th of Dhul Hijjah

  • The pilgrim has to leave for Mina.
  • They have to perform the Dhur, Asr, Maghrib and Isha prayers at Mina as well as the Fajr prayer of the next morning. The Dhur, Asr and Ishaa prayers should be shortened to two rakaats. Dhur and Asr or Magrib and Isha should NOT be combined. 

The 9th of Dhul-Hijjah (Day of Arafat)

  • After sunrise, the pilgrim has to proceed to Arafat. There they should shorten the Dhur and Asr prayer to 2 rakat’s and pray them together at the time of Dhur, with one Azaan and 2 Iqamat’s. They should then supplicate (make dua) and glorify Allah as much as possible.
  • While doing this they should face the Qiblah. It is a Sunnah that one raises their hand during supplication.
  • It is Makrooh for the pilgrim to fast on the day of Arafat. The valley of Uranah is not within the boundaries of Arafat so a pilgrim cannot stay there.
  • The pilgrims have to leave Arafat after sunset to go to Muzdalifah.
  • After arriving at Muzdalifah, the pilgrim should combine and pray the Maghrib and Isha prayer by shortening them to 2 rakat’s and with one Azaan and 2 Iqamat’s.
  • At Muzdalifah they should collect 7 pebbles to throw at the Jamaraat. These pebbles should be approximately the size of a chick pea or hazelnut.
  • The pilgrim has to spend the night at Muzdalifah. At Muzdalifah they should then pray Fajr at its earliest time and then supplicate and glorify Allah as much as possible after the prayer. It is preferable to stay and supplicate till the light of dawn becomes bright but the pilgrim should start proceeding towards Mina before the sun rises. It is permissible for the weak and incapable people to leave Muzdalifah after the middle of the night (after the moon sets). 

The 10th of Dhul-Hijjah

  • The pilgrim should throw seven pebbles at the Jamarat-ul-Aqabah saying Allahu Akbar with each one.
  • A man must shave or evenly trim the hair on his head (shaving is preferable). Women should clip their hair equal to the length of a fingertip (1 portion of the finger out of three).
  • The pilgrim can now take off the Ihram and put on normal clothes. This is called at-Tahallul al-Asghar.
  • After this, everything forbidden in the state of Ihram becomes permissible except sexual relations.
  • The pilgrim should then perform Tawaaf-ul-Ifaadah. It is permissible to delay it till the 11th or 12th of Dhul-Hijjah, or until the Tawaaf ul Wadaa’.
  • After this, all restrictions of the Ihram are lifted. This is called at-Tahallul al-Akbar.
  • One should perform the sa’i after the Tawaf-ul-Ifaadah if he/she had not done it after the Tawaf-ul-Qudoom.
  • The pilgrim has to spend the night following the tenth day in Mina.

Difference

Qiraan & Tamatu’: Just like in Ifraad, the pilgrim should throw seven pebbles at the Jamarat-ul-Aqabah saying Allahu Akbar with each one. However, after this the pilgrim performing Qiraan or Tamatu’ have to sacrifice their animal. Inhabitants of Makkah do not need to do it.

The 11th of Dhul-Hijjah

  • After awakening on the 11th of Dhul Hijjah, the pilgrim has to throw 7 pebbles at each of the 3 Jamaraat after midday. They should start with the smallest Jamara then proceed to the middle and then the Jamarat-ul-Aqabah. After throwing pebbles at the small and middle Jamaraat they should pause and supplicate. The pilgrim should not pause and supplicate after throwing stones at Jamarat-ul-Aqaba
  • One should spend the night of the 11thday in Mina.

The 12th of Dhul-Hijjah

  • After awakening on the 12th, the pilgrim has to throw 7 pebbles at each of the 3 Jamaraat after midday. They should start with the smallest Jamara then proceed to the middle and then the Jamarat-ul-Aqabah. After throwing pebbles at small and middle Jamaraat they should pause and supplicate. The pilgrim should not pause and supplicate after throwing stones at Jamarat-ul-Aqaba
  • It is permissible for the pilgrim to leave Mina on the 12th, or stay another day at Mina. But if they decide to leave, they must leave mina before the sun sets, or they must stay another day. They should perform the Tawaaf-ul-Wadaa’ before leaving Makkah.
  • If they decide to stay, they should spend the night of the 12thin Mina.

The 13th of Dhul-Hijjah

  • After awakening on the 13th the pilgrim has to throw 7 pebbles at each of the 3 Jamaraat after midday. They should start with smallest Jamara then proceed to the middle and then the Jamarat-ul-Aqabah. After throwing pebbles at small and middle Jamaraat they should pause and supplicate. The pilgrim should not pause and supplicate after throwing stones at Jamarat-ul-Aqaba
  • One should then leave Mina and perform the Tawaaf-ul-Wadaa’ before leaving Makkah. Women experiencing menstruation or post-partum bleeding may leave Makkah without performing it.

Note: This is only a summary of this great act of worship in order to give the reader an idea about the rituals of Hajj. Please consult an ‘alim in order to better acquaint yourself with the Hajj.