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Rituals of Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)

Introduction

5^th of the five pillars of Islam
Made obligatory in the 9th year of Hijra
The Holy Prophet sent off 300 Muslims under the leadership of Hazrat Abubakr Siddique (may Allah be pleased with him) to Mecca so that they could perform Hajj.
9^th year of Hijra was the year when it was banned for the Mushrikeen (those who associate partners with Allah) to enter Ka’baa.
It was also made unlawful to perform Tawaaf (circling of Ka’baa) with naked body.
The following year, 10th Hijra, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) announced ahead of time he himself would perform Hajj that year.
He led tens of thousands of Muslims to Hajj that year and demonstrated to Muslims how to perform all the rites and rituals of the Hajj.
This Hajj is known in history as Hajjatul Wida’ or Farewell Pilgrimage because this proved to be the last Hajj the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) performed.

Who has to perform and when

An adult Muslim of a sane mind, a physically able body, and financially able
Hajj is not obligatory for children, the sick, and those who are unable to bear the expenses for Hajj
All the essential duties of the pilgrimage have to be completed between 8th and the 13th day of Dul-Hajj
Additional tawaaf (circling around the Ka’baa), however, may be performed until the end of the month of Dul-Hajj

Pillars of Hajj

Pillar 1: Enter into state of “Ihram” and have the intention to perform the pilgrimage.
Pillar 2: Stay at the field of “Arafat” on the ninth of Dul-Hajj( If someone cannot go to the field of Arafat even for a short time then his/her pilgrimage will not be complete)Pillar 3: Additional circling of the “Ka’baa” that is done after the stay at the field of “Arafat” and performed from the tenth to the end of the month.

Sequence of Rites and Actions

Departure from Home
A Muslim must:
- Be mindful of his/her duties towards family and fellow human beings
- before departing for Hajj, ensure that his family is provided for during the period he is away
- Pay up his debt and seek forgiveness from fellow human being whom he might have caused harm in the past
- be careful in observing Salat (five daily prayers) and Sawm (fasting) in the month of Ramadhan as well as carrying out other religious obligations
- Must shun all arrogance and exhibit a character of modesty and humbleness
- Not use unlawfully acquired money or unlawful means to perform Hajj
- Should seek sincere repentance from Allah of all his past sins
In short, one should depart for Hajj just like one would wish to depart from this world.
A woman is not allowed to perform Hajj alone and must be accompanied by an adult Muslim Mahram (father, husband, son or brother etc.)
One should say two Rakat Nafl (supererogatory) prayer before leaving home for Hajj.
Ihram at Miqat
When one reaches “Miqat” (any one of the appointed places in Mecca where pilgrims make a vow of pilgrimage)
- One must perform ablution or take a bath
- Use perfume
- Put on two clean, unstitched [preferably white] pieces of cloth(Ihram)
- One sheet should be wrapped around the lower part of the body and the other sheet around the upper body
- The head should not be covered
- Women can perform pilgrimage in the cloths they are wearing
- During the five days of Hajj, all Muslims engaged in this worship must remain in this same simple dress.
- As soon as a pilgrim puts on Ihram and declares his intention to perform Hajj, he/she enters into the state of Ihram and his/her Hajj begins.
Talbiyah
- After putting on the Ihram, men and women offer two Raka’ts of Nafl (supererogatory) prayer followed by recitation of their “intention” and saying the following words:
- “Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik; La Shareeka-laka Labbaik; Innalhamda wan-na’mata-laka wal-mulka Lashreeka-laka" (Talbiyah)
- These words are an essential part of the state of Ihram and Ihram will not complete without reciting these words
- While one is in the state of Ihram it is strictly forbidden to engage in foul talk, arguments, or enter into a war.
Entering Masjid-al-Haram
- After reaching Mecca, one should head straight to Ka’aba and perform Tawaaf.
Istlam (Kissing Hajr-e-Aswad)
- If it is not possible to kiss the Hajr-e-Aswad, it is permissible just touch it with a hand
- If that is not possible, then just point to the Hajr-e-Aswad and blow a kiss to it.
Tawaaf
- After performing Istlam (kissing the Hajr-e-Aswad) as described above, a pilgrim should perform Tawaaf of Ka’ba
- Tawaaf: performed by going around Ka’ba seven times going counter clock-wise.
- Istlam should be performed during each circle.
- The seventh circle ends at the Hajr-e-Aswad.
Nawafal at Muqm-e-Ibrahim
- After completing the Tawaaf, the pilgrim should move to the Muqam-e-Ibrahim (Place of Ibrahim)
- At this place one should offer two Rakats of prayer while facing Ka’ba.
Sa’ay (running between Safa’ and Marwah)
- After praying two Rakats of prayer at Muqam-e-Ibrahim, the pilgrim then moves to “Safa”.
- At this place, he should face towards Ka’ba and recite Durood, Takbir and Talbiyah. Then he should walk briskly towards Marwah and recite the same at Marwah. This counts as one circuit.
- Now one should move to Safa’ and repeat the prayers.
- One should complete seven circuits between Safa’ and Marwah (Sa’ay)
Arriving at Mina
- On 8th day of Dul-Hajj the pilgrims reach at Mina early in the morning
- A pilgrim offers Duhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha’ prayers at Mina and camps there for the night.
Arriving at Arafat
- On 9th day of Dul-Hajj, after offering Fajr prayer, a pilgrim should move to Arafat.
- Stay at Arafat is called Waqoof and is the most important part of Hajj. [Without this, Hajj cannot be considered complete.]
- One listens to the sermon at the plane of Arafat and offers combined Zuhr and Asr prayers.
- One should stay at Arafat till sunset (Maghrib).
Arriving at Muzdalifah
- One leaves Arafat after sunset and reaches Muzdalifah in the evening of 9th Dul-Hajj.
- Combined Maghrib and Isha’ prayers are offered at Muzdalifah. Then pilgrims spend the night at Muzdalifah.
Departure from Muzdalifah
- On the 10th day of Dul-Hajj the pilgrims offer their Fajr prayer as early in the morning as possible.
- After the Fajr prayer a pilgrim leaves Muzdalifah and arrives at Mina.
- On the way to Mina one should pick up seventy small stones.
- As soon as he reaches Mina, he should cast seven stones at Jumrah-tul-Aqba.
- This act of throwing stones is called Rami.
- With the throwing of the first stone the requirement to repeatedly recite Talbiyah is lifted.
- If the pilgrim intends to sacrifice an animal then he should do that after casting stones ad Jumrah-tul-Aqba.
- After offering the sacrifices a male pilgrim should have his head shaven and female pilgrims are required to cut a small part of her hair.
- After the haircut, one can remove the Ihram and may now wear regular clothes.
Return to Makkah
- After the removal of Ihram the pilgrim is required to return to Mecca to perform another circuit of the Ka’ba.
- This particular circuit is called Tawaaf-e-Afaza (additional circuit) and is an essential part of the pilgrimage.
- After this circuit a pilgrim is permitted to return to normal life and all those lawful things that were forbidden are now allowed again.
Return to Mina
- After this additional circuit, the pilgrim should return to Mina and stay there for three days.
- During the stay at Mina on 11th, 12th and 13th day of Dul-Hajj the pilgrim cast seven stones on each of the Jumrah in the following order:
- Jumrah-tul-Oola
- Jamrah-tul-Wusta
- Juramh-tul-Aqba.
- It is permitted not to cast stones on the third day
Return to Ka’baa/Farewell
- On the 12th or the 13th day of Dul-Hajj, the pilgrim returns to the Ka’ba and performs a final circuit.
- This circuit is called Tawaf-al-Sadr or Tawaf-al-Wida (parting or farewell circuit).
- After this last circuit, the pilgrim should drink water from Zumzum, kiss the threshold of the door of the Ka’ba, and pray to Allah for forgiveness.

Prohibitions during Hajj

It is forbidden to:
- Have a haircut during Hajj
- Wear sewn clothes
- Hunt