Hajj is the greater Muslim pilgrimage that occurs to Mecca. It happens in the last month of the year. All Muslims need to at least perform Hajj once in their lifetime, if they are able to afford to do so. It is also one of the Five Pillars that Islam has.
There are three forms of Hajj ie. Tamattu, Ifraad and Qiran. The following tells you about the Tamattu form of Hajj. This is what the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) encourages people to perform. It consists of:
- Preparation and Intention – You need to make niyyah or intention before going to perform Hajj
- Going into the state of Ihram- Next you will go into the state of Ihram or ritual purity.
- When you arrive in Makkah, you need to first perform Umrah. You will need to do Tawaf and Sa’i. Tawaf is when the pilgrim walks in circles around the Kaa’bah. A single Tawaf consists of seven complete circles. You can even offer voluntary prayers so as to thank Allah (SWT) for reaching safely and to begin this special journey.
- Safa and Marwa- When you have performed Tawaf, you will need to perform Sa’i. This includes walking and running particularly between the two hills that are Called Safa and Marwa.
- Clip or shave the hair- When Sai is completed, the men need to get their hair clipped or shaved. A women will clip her hair which will be to the length of her fingertip. When this is done, the completion of Umrah occurs. You can then leave Ihram till the 8th of Dhul Hijjah.
- Resting plus praying- When Umrah has been performed, for the rest of the month, you will remain in Makkah to finish the Hajj. You should perform sincere acts of worship at this time. The Hajj will start on the 8th Dhul Hijjah.
- Re-entering the state of Ihram- The 8th day of Dhul Hijjah will be the start of the days of Hajj. It will be the next stage of the spiritual journey. You need to purify yourself then go into the state of thram again.
- Arrive at Mina- Here you will go to your allocated tent. You need to pray Salah or obligatory prayers. This will encompass Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and isha . You need to shorten the four-unit prayers to two units each. You will stay there and pray, reading the Qur’an. You will prepare for day two.
- Day of Arafat – You will go to the plains of ‘Arafat. You will recite Istaghfar and make supplications.
- Arrival in Muzdalifah- After sunset you will leave ‘Arafat and go to Muzdalifah. When you reach Muzdalifah you need to perform Maghrib and Isha Salah. You can collect pebbles from here to perform Rami.
- Rami and adahi -The 10th of Dhul Hijjah is the Day of Sacrifice. You will perform the adahi and start the first of three days of “stoning the devil’ rite which is called rami.
- Eid al-Adha- This will be on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah. You will offer Qurbani or sacrifice.
- Shaving the head- After the Qurbani you will shave or trim the hair if you are a man. A women will trim her hair that will be by the length of a fingertip. You can leave ihram now.
- Tawaf al-Ifadha and Saar- Now you will go to Haram where you will perform Tawaf al-Ifadha.
- Second day of Rami- On the 11th of Dhul Hijjah you will carry out second day of Rami
- Spend night in Mina-, You will go to your camp in Mina then spend the time in worship Any time between 10th Duhl Hijjah to 13th.(Not obligatory)
- Third day of Rami- On the afternoon of the 12th of Dhul Hijjah will be the final stoning day.
Tawaf al-Wida- This Tawaf will be performed before leaving the boundaries of the Haram.