How Hajj is performed-A step by step guide
Hajj is one of the foundations upon which
Islam firmly stands. Millions of Muslims gather in Mecca every year in
the month of Dhul Hijjah to
perform Hajj
at least once in their lifetime. Hajj is mandatory for every Muslim who
has the physical and financial ability to do so. As with the every
other aspect of Muslim life, there are instructions in Quran and Hadith
as to how one should fulfill their obligations properly. For one’s Hajj
to be accepted by Allah, it is necessary that he or she should follow
these instructions.
Allah instructs His Prophet (PBUH) to announce among his followers that they should perform pilgrimage to the
Holy Ka’bah. Allah Almighty says in Quran:
“And proclaim among men the Pilgrimage: they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, coming from every remote path.” (Surah Hajj: 27)
This pilgrimage is made to Ka’bah which is the focal point of Islam
and its followers. It is a place for the believers to purify themselves
of their sins. In order to do so, they are required to follow rituals
exactly the way Allah and the Prophet (PBUH) had intended for them.
Following is the step by step guide to perform Hajj.
1. Preparations and Ihram
The first step for Hajj is wearing the Ihram. The pilgrim sets niyyah
(intention) for Hajj and has to recite an intention called Talabiya. He
then has to
wear an Ihram before reaching Miqat
– a special boundary that surrounds the holy sites of Hajj. At Miqat,
one proceeds towards Ka’bah, reciting Talabiya. Ibn Umar narrates:
“I saw that Allah's Apostle used to ride on his Mount at
Dhul Hulaifa and used to start saying, ‘Labbaik’ when the Mount stood
upright.” (Bukhari 26:589)
2. The Visit to Ka’bah
Pilgrims then visit Ka’bah as is referred in the Quran in the following words.
“Then, they shall end their state of unkemptness, fulfill their vows and visit the Ancient House.” (Surah Hajj:29)
On entering Masjid-al-Haram, pilgrims perform Tawaaf. It is an
integral part of the pilgrimage in which the pilgrims circle around the
Ka’bah seven times in an anti-clockwise rotation.
3. Sae'y
After the Tawaaf, pilgrims proceed to perform the
Sae'y,
i.e., they travel the distance between the hills of Safa and Marwa
seven times. Allah directs Muslims to perform Sa’ey in the Quran saying:
“The Safa and Marwah are among the rites decreed by God.
Therefore anyone who observes Hajj at the House or observes Umrah
commits no error by passing by them.” (Quran 2:158)
Sae'y commemorates the journey of Prophet Ibrahim’s wife, Hajr (RA) to find water for her infant son, Ismail.
4. Departure to Mina
Pilgrims then leave for Mina, which is roughly eight kilometers away
from Mecca, after the Fajr prayer on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah. Here, they
stay for an entire day up till Fajr of next day, i.e., 9th Dhul Hijjah.
5. Departure for Arafat
After the Fajr prayer in Mina, Muslims move towards
the ground of Arafat.
Here they spend the rest of their day until sunset, praying and
repenting for their sins. After sunset, pilgrims move towards Muzdalifa,
where they offer the remaining two prayers of the day, and stay
overnight. They also collect pebbles for the next day to be thrown at
Jamarat. This is mentioned in Quran in the following words.
“When you file from `Arafaat, you shall commemorate God at
the Sacred Location (of Muzdalifah). You shall commemorate Him for
guiding you; before this, you had gone astray.” (Surah Baqarah: 198)
6. Three days of Eid
10th Dhul Hijjah marks the first day of Eid. On this day, pilgrims leave for Mina after Fajr prayers. In Mina, they
stone the devil by throwing pebbles at Jamarat-al-Qubra, and after that, they sacrifice animals. The
order and instructions for the sacrifice are mentioned in Quran as:
“The animal offerings are among the rites decreed by God for
your own good. You shall mention God's name on them while they are
standing in line. Once they are offered for sacrifice, you shall eat
therefrom and feed the poor and the needy. This is why we subdued them
for you, that you may show your appreciation.” (Surah Hajj: 36)
After sacrificing the animals, the pilgrims shave their heads and perform another Tawaf and Sae'y.
On the second day, pilgrims again proceed to Jamarat from Mina to
stone Satan and come back to Mina for night stay. This ritual is
performed once more on the third day of Eid, but after stoning, people
leave for Mecca before sunset and finally perform the farewell Tawaf. At
this stage, all of the obligatory rituals of Hajj are completed.
May Allah Almighty grant us the chance to perform the Hajj once in
our lifetime and accept it with utmost sincerity on our part (Amen).
Source: www.islamicfinder.org
