Hajj- The complete guideline for the spiritual Journey

The Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is a religious duty that every non-disabled Muslim must perform at least once in their lifetime if they can afford it. The Hajj is an event that can trace back to the time of the Prophet Muhammad, who encouraged his followers to make a spiritual journey to Mecca to connect with God.

During the Hajj, Muslims walk around the Kaaba, one of Islam's most sacred sites. They also visit different mosques and temples throughout Saudi Arabia. Finally, they fasted and worshipped at Mount Arafat. The Hajj is a spiritual experience that helps Muslims connect with their faith.

Hajj and it's important:

Hajj is an important pilgrimage to make to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Muslims perform this pilgrimage once in their lifetime if they are able, and it is considered one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Hajj is a time for Muslims to come together and focus on their faith, as well as commemorate the journey of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina. The Hajj is also a time for Muslims to seek forgiveness for their sins and seek guidance from Allah.

Hajj is one of the most extraordinary Muslim pilgrimages in the final month of the Lunar Calendar. Muslims who make this journey must perform a series of rituals and ceremonies at Mecca, including walking around the Kaaba and performing various other tasks.

Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was questioned;

"Which is the best deed?"

He (PBUH) replied, "To believe in Allah and His Apostle."

He (PBUH) was then acquired, "Which is next (in goodness)?"

He (PBUH) again replied, "To participate in Jihad in Allah's Cause."

After that, He (PBUH) was asked, "Which is the next?"

He (PBUH) said, "To perform Hajj-Mabrur. "

Journey of Hajj- Step to Step Guideline:

Hajj is the journey of five days from the 08th to the 12th of Dhul Hajjah. A complete journey of Hajj is here:

1. First Day of Hajj (08 Dhul Hijjah):

· Make Intention (Niyyah) for Hajj:

On the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah, the initial step after arriving at Holy Makkah to start Hajj is vital to make a pure intention for the Hajj. Before the journey begins, every hajji should be virtuous about their purpose. The objective must be to perform the Hajj for the sake of Allah with the desires of Jannah. It should not be done to be shown by others or for worldly.

· State of Ihram:

The most crucial step is to enter into the state of Ihram. Ihram is related to the states of concentration and pureness necessary while crossing the borders of Mecca, known as Miqat.

Pilgrims are guided to wear the Ihram, which consists of two white clothes that pilgrims wrap one piece around the shoulder and one around the waist. Ladies can wear loose clothes but should follow the rules of the Hijab; covering the face is not permitted.

Hajj is [during] well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of ihrām], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj. And whatever good you do – Allāh knows it. And take provisions, but the best provision is fear of Allāh. And fear Me, O you of understanding. (AlQuran 2:197)

· Talbiyah:

Talbiyah is a slogan that Muslims recite while performing Hajj or Umrah. It is recited from when Muslims wear Ihram to the final ritual of Hajj or Umrah. Talbiyah teaches a soul the importance of being sincere with Allah (SWT).

labbayka llāhumma labbayka, labbayka lā šharīka laka labbayka, ʾinnal-ḥamda wa-na-mata laka wa-l-mulka lā šharīka lak

· Tawaf-e-Kabbah:

Hajj involves a series of rituals in and around Mecca over five to six days. The first is Tawaf-e-Kaabah, in which Muslims walk seven times around the Holy Kabbah in the anti-clockwise direction.

Muslims have faith that the Tawaf-e-Kaabah have its origin in the time of the Prophet Ibrahim himself in 632.

Once the pilgrims finish their Tawaf, they offer two Rakat Nafal at Maqam-e- Ibrahim (The place of Prophet Ibrahim, where he prayed when building the Kabbah)

· Sa'i (Safa and Marwa):

Sa'i is part of the ritual of Hajj, walking back and forth seven times between two mountains known as Safa and Marwa. This act of running or walking between the two mountains reminds Prophet Ibrahim's wife, Bibi Hajjrah and son Ismail.

After completing Umrah rituals, Hajj al-Tamatt'u (the relaxation of the Ihram in the sacred state between the Umrah and Hajj) pilgrims must accept the state of Ihram and declare their intentions and repeat Ihram to do Hajj again.

· Stay in Mina;

Mina, a small town known as the "City of Tents", is nearly 8 kilometres southeast of Makkah. The pilgrims are instructed to stay there the same day and offer the five prayers, starting with the noon prayer Zuhr, Asr, then Maghrib, Isha and ending with the dawn prayer Fajr.

Pilgrims spend the day and the whole night in Mina, and on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, after offering the dawn prayer, Fajr, the pilgrims make their way to Arafat, almost 14 kilometres away.

2. Second Day of Hajj - 09 Dhul Hijjah

· Mount Arafat:

The 9th Dhul Hijjah is the Day of Arafat; after the Dawn Prayer, Pilgrims start marching towards Arafat while reciting Talbiyah, seeking forgiveness of Allah and making the prayers. A sermon will be delivered from Masjid-e-Nimra on Mount Arafat on the Day of Arafat. Upon reaching Mount Arafat, pilgrims observe Dhuhr and Asar prayer combined and shortened offer two rakats instead of Four.

The Day of Arafat is considered one of the most integral days in the Islamic Calendar. Hajj is invalid without the Day of Arafat. Simply put, any pilgrim who misses the Day of Arafat misses the whole Hajj.

· Rami al-Jamarat: Collecting stones at Muzdalifah.

On the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, after sunset, the pilgrims move to Muzdalifah, a valley between Arafat and Mina, where they spend the whole night under the sky and gather small stones for tomorrow's rite.

3. Third-Day of Hajj- 10 Dhul Hijjah

· Stoning of Jamarat: Throwing stones at the pillars

On the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, the Day of Eid-ul-Adha, After the dawn prayer, Pilgrims leave Muzdalifah and continue to Mina, where they perform the first Rami, throwing stones at the three pillars.

The stoning of Jamarat is conducted in the memory of the act of the Prophet Ibrahim (AS) when the devil tried to dismay him from following Allah's command. Prophet Ibrahim (AS) threw small stones to make evil go away. The act of stoning Jamarat should be done at noon daily until the 12th of Dhul Hijjah.

· Animal Sacrifice- Nahr

After the Rami, the pilgrims are directed to perform the Nahr or purchase sacrifice vouchers, declaring that the sacrifice has been made on their behalf.

This ritual also reminds the act of Prophet Ibrahim when Allah commanded him to sacrifice His son Ismail (AS) as a tribute of faith. Prophet Ibrahim was willing to execute when Allah commanded him to sacrifice an animal instead of His Son to reward his unwavering faith at the last minute.

Pilgrims followed Prophet Muhammad's teachings during His farewell pilgrimage when he sacrificed a few camels, ate little from what they sacrificed then gave the rest for charity.

· Halq and Taqsir:

Halq is an act of shaving the head, and Taqsir refers to the trimming of hair. Taqsir is also recommended for women who perform Umrah.

After slaughtering animals, Pilgrim men must trim their hair or shave their heads completely. And for the women, it's cutting just a single lock of hair.

4. Fourth day & Fifth day- 11th and 12th of Dhul Hijjah

· Tawaf and Sa'i:

After performing Halq and Taqsir, Pilgrims head back to Mecca to perform Tawaf and Sa'i. They continue performing back and forth seven times.

· Stoning of Jamarat:

Pilgrims would stone each pillar with seven small stones while repeating "Allahu Akbar".

· Tawaf Al-Ifadha

The final step is the departure of Tawaf called Tawaf Al-Ifadha, circumambulation of the Holy Kabbah anti-clockwise seven times as per the teaching of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) guidance and then praying two Rakat in Masjid Al-Haram.

Way to Medina:

The virtues of Hajj are complete on the 12th of Dhul Hijjah. Before returning home, you must visit Medina, the second holiest city in Islam and Saudi Arabia. However, it is not a part of Hajj but the place where the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is buried with His companions.