Hajj & Umrah

Hajj is the pilgrimage to the Kaaba in Makkah, the fifth pillar of Islam. Allah says: “Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to Allah by those who are able to find a way there” (3:97). It is obligatory once in a lifetime on every Muslim who is an adult, sane, and able in health and means (including safe travel). The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit obscenity or disobedience returns as on the day his mother bore him” and “an accepted Hajj has no reward but Paradise” (Bukhari and Muslim). Scholars differ on the conditions for a woman travelling: many require a mahram, others accept a safe group.

A pilgrim chooses one of three forms:

• Tamattu' (most common, and the one the Prophet ﷺ urged): perform Umrah first, leave Ihram, then enter Ihram again on 8 Dhul-Hijjah for Hajj. A sacrificial animal (Hady) is required.
• Qiran: enter Ihram for Umrah and Hajj together and stay in Ihram until the Day of Sacrifice. A Hady is required.
• Ifrad: perform Hajj alone, without Umrah. No Hady is required.

Ihram is the sacred state entered before the Miqat, the boundary a pilgrim may not pass without it. The Miqats are Dhul-Hulayfah (for those coming from Madinah), Al-Juhfah, Qarn al-Manazil, Yalamlam, and Dhat 'Irq (Bukhari and Muslim); air travellers enter Ihram before their flight crosses it. Before entering: bathe (Ghusl), cut nails, put perfume on the body (not the Ihram clothes). Men wear two white unstitched cloths; women wear modest ordinary clothes. Then make the intention for Umrah or Hajj, and start saying the Talbiyah, repeated often until Tawaf begins (Umrah) or until stoning on the Day of Sacrifice (Hajj).

While in Ihram, a pilgrim avoids the following. Allah says: “There is to be no sexual relations, no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj” (2:197).

• Marital relations and everything that leads to them, and marriage contracts.
• Cutting or removing hair, and clipping nails.
• Using perfume on the body or clothes.
• Hunting land animals, or helping to hunt them, and cutting plants of the Haram.
• For men: stitched clothing and covering the head. For women: covering the face with a niqab and wearing gloves (the face may be covered from strangers by a cloth hanging without touching).
• Arguing, harming others, and any sin.

Umrah can be done at any time of the year (its reward in Ramadan is like a Hajj — Bukhari and Muslim). Scholars differ on whether it is an obligation or a strongly recommended Sunnah. Its four steps, in order:

• Enter Ihram at the Miqat and say the Talbiyah.
• Tawaf: seven circuits around the Kaaba, then two Rak'ahs behind the Station of Ibrahim, and drink Zamzam.
• Sa'i: seven laps between Safa and Marwah.
• Shave or trim the hair (men: shaving is better; women: trim a fingertip's length). Then Ihram ends and the Umrah is complete.

Tawaf means seven circuits of the Kaaba, keeping it on your left, starting and ending at the line of the Black Stone. Most scholars require Wudu for Tawaf. Begin at the Black Stone by pointing to it and saying “Bismillah, Allahu Akbar”; you may kiss or touch it if easy, but never push. In the first three circuits of the arrival Tawaf men walk briskly (Ramal) with the right shoulder uncovered (Idtiba). Between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone, say the Dua below. After seven circuits, pray two Rak'ahs behind the Station of Ibrahim, if possible, and drink Zamzam: “Zamzam is for whatever it is drunk for” (Ibn Majah).

Sa'i recalls Hajar's search for water for her son Ismail. Go up Safa and face the Kaaba, reciting: “Indeed, Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah” (2:158), and raise your hands in Dua. Walk to Marwah (one lap), then back to Safa (a second lap), and so on: seven laps, ending at Marwah. Men jog lightly between the green lights. Wudu is recommended but not required by most scholars. Sa'i comes after Tawaf and is done once for the Umrah, and again for Hajj if one is performing Tamattu'.

Hajj begins. Those in Tamattu' enter Ihram again from their lodging, with the intention of Hajj, and say the Talbiyah. Travel to Mina, pray Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha and Fajr there (shortening the four-Rak'ah prayers, without combining), and spend the day and night in remembrance and Dua.

After sunrise go to Arafah. Standing at Arafah is the heart of Hajj: “Hajj is Arafah” (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud). Its time runs from after noon until sunset (or to dawn of the next day for one who was delayed). Pray Dhuhr and Asr combined and shortened, then spend the afternoon facing the Qibla, hands raised, in Dua, Dhikr and Istighfar. The Prophet ﷺ said the best Dua is the Dua of the Day of Arafah, and the best of what he and the prophets before him said was:

After sunset leave Arafah calmly for Muzdalifah, saying the Talbiyah. Pray Maghrib and Isha there, combined (Isha shortened), and rest. Pray Fajr early, then stand facing the Qibla in Dua until it is very bright. Collect pebbles, about the size of a chickpea, for the stoning (seventy for all the days, or forty-nine if leaving early). Weak persons and those caring for them may leave after midnight.

The busiest day, with four rites in this order (the Prophet ﷺ allowed some flexibility in the order):

• Stone Jamrat al-Aqabah (the big pillar) with seven pebbles, saying “Allahu Akbar” with each; stop the Talbiyah when you begin.
• Sacrifice the Hady (for Tamattu' and Qiran). If unable, fast three days during Hajj and seven when back home (2:196).
• Shave the head (better for men) or trim; women trim a fingertip's length. Now the first release begins: everything is permitted except marital relations.
• Go to Makkah for Tawaf al-Ifadah (a pillar of Hajj) and Sa'i (for Tamattu'). Then the complete release: all restrictions end.

Spend these nights in Mina in remembrance of Allah: “Remember Allah during the appointed days” (2:203). Each day, after noon, stone the three pillars in order — the small one, the middle one, then the big one (Jamrat al-Aqabah) — with seven pebbles each, saying “Allahu Akbar” with every pebble, and making Dua after the first two. One may leave Mina after stoning on the 12th before sunset, or stay for the 13th, which is better. Allah says: “Whoever hastens in two days, there is no sin upon him, and whoever delays, there is no sin upon him” (2:203). The days of Tashriq are days of eating, drinking and remembrance (Muslim).

Before leaving Makkah, the pilgrim performs a final Tawaf, so that the last thing they do is at the House: “Let none of you leave until his last act is at the House” (Muslim). Most scholars consider it obligatory for pilgrims leaving Makkah; a woman in menstruation or postnatal bleeding is excused (Bukhari and Muslim). Nothing is added after it except necessary things, like packing or praying.

Visiting Madinah is not a rite of Hajj, but it is a blessed journey to the mosque of the Prophet ﷺ. He said: “One prayer in my mosque is better than a thousand prayers elsewhere, except Masjid al-Haram” (Bukhari and Muslim). The intention is to visit the Prophet's Mosque and pray in it, then greet the Prophet ﷺ and his two companions Abu Bakr and Umar with respect and a low voice, and visit Masjid Quba: “Whoever purifies at home then comes to Quba and prays there, has the reward of an Umrah” (Ibn Majah, Ahmad).

A good Hajj begins before the journey:

• Sincerity: do it for Allah alone, not to be seen or to earn a title.
• Halal money: Allah accepts only what is pure. Repay debts and return what you owe.
• Repent, make your will, and ask forgiveness of those you wronged.
• Learn the rites before you go, and choose a reliable, knowledgeable group.
• Be patient in crowds, gentle with people, and never push or argue.
• Keep making Dua — especially at Arafah, and pray for the Ummah and for those who asked you to.