Performing Hajj is a religious obligation for Muslims around the world. It is considered to be the fifth pillar of Islam, and every Muslim who is physically and financially capable must perform the Hajj at least once in their lifetime. The Hajj takes place in the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, which is the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. In this guide, we will go through the step-by-step process of performing Hajj.
PREPARATION FOR HAJJ
The first step in Hajj is to prepare for the journey. This involves both physical and spiritual preparation. Muslim pilgrims from all over the world gather in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to perform Hajj. Here are a few things you should consider before embarking on the journey:
1. Make sure you are financially and physically capable of performing Hajj. Hajj can be physically demanding, and you need to be in good health to perform it. Also, the cost of Hajj can be quite expensive, so make sure you have enough money to cover the cost.
2. Learn about Hajj and its rituals. It’s essential to familiarize yourself with the different rituals of Hajj before performing it. You can read books or watch videos online to learn about Hajj.
3. Get vaccinated. If you plan to travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj, you must get vaccinated against different diseases such as meningitis.
4. Pack appropriately. You should pack enough clothes and other essentials for the duration of your stay in Saudi Arabia. Also, make sure you bring comfortable shoes as you will be doing a lot of walking during Hajj.
5. Perform Umrah before Hajj. It’s recommended to perform Umrah before Hajj if possible, as it helps you get into the right mindset for Hajj.
THE IHRAM
Before starting the Hajj, you need to enter a state of purity called Ihram. Ihram is a state of mind and body where you distance yourself from worldly distractions and focus solely on your spiritual journey. Here are the steps to enter Ihram:
1. Take a shower. It’s important to take a shower before entering Ihram.
2. Put on Ihram clothing. Men wear two pieces of unstitched white cloth, while women can wear regular clothes that cover their entire body except for their hands and face.
3. Intend to perform Hajj. You need to make the intention to perform Hajj once you have entered Ihram.
4. Recite Talbiyah. While in Ihram, Muslims recite Talbiyah, which is a declaration of their intention to perform Hajj. The Talbiyah is recited as follows: “Labbaik Allahumma labbaik, labbaika laa sharika laka labbaik, innal-hamda wan-ni’mata laka wal-mulk, laa sharika lak.” This translates to, “Here I am, O Allah, at Your service. Here I am, You have no partner. Yours alone is all praise and all bounty, and Yours alone is sovereignty. You have no partner.”
THE TAWAF
After entering Ihram, pilgrims perform Tawaf around the Kaaba. The Kaaba is a cube-shaped structure located in the center of the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. Here are the steps to perform Tawaf:
1. Start at the Black Stone. The Black Stone is a rock set into the eastern corner of the Kaaba. Touching or kissing the Black Stone is considered an essential part of Tawaf. If it’s not possible to touch the stone due to the crowds, simply raise your right hand towards the stone and say “Bismillah Allahu Akbar” (In the name of Allah, Allah is the greatest).
2. Walk around the Kaaba seven times counterclockwise.
3. Recite prayers during Tawaf. During Tawaf, you can recite any prayer you like, but it’s recommended to recite Surah Al-Fatihah and other verses from the Quran.
4. Complete the Tawaf. Once you have completed seven rounds of Tawaf, the Tawaf is complete.
THE SA’I:
After completing Tawaf, pilgrims perform Sa’i between the hills of Safa and Marwa. Here are the steps to perform Sa’i:
1. Start at Safa. You should start at the hill of Safa, located in Masjid Al-Haram.
2. Walk to Marwah. Walk towards the hill of Marwah, located about 400 meters away from Safa. This walk between Safa and Marwah is known as one circuit.
3. Repeat the circuit. Once you reach Marwah, turn around and walk back to Safa. This is considered one circuit. You need to complete seven circuits of the Sa’i.
4. Recite prayers during the Sa’i. You can recite any prayer you like during the Sa’i, but it’s recommended to recite Surah Al-Fatihah and other verses from the Quran.
5. Complete the Sa’i. Once you have completed seven circuits of the Sa’i, the Sa’i is complete.
THE DAY OF ARAFAH
The most important day of Hajj is the day of Arafah. On this day, pilgrims gather in the plain of Arafah, located about 20 kilometers east of Mecca, and spend the entire day in prayer and supplication. Here are the steps to perform the Day of Arafah:
1. Travel to Arafah. On the ninth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, pilgrims travel to the plain of Arafah.
2. Spend the day in prayer. Once you reach Arafah, spend the entire day in prayer and supplication. This is considered the peak of Hajj.
3. Listen to the Khutbah. In the afternoon, a sermon (Khutbah) is delivered by the Imam of Masjid Al-Namirah. All Muslims listen to the Khutbah.
4. Continue with Dhul-Hijjah rituals. After the Day of Arafah, pilgrims continue with the remaining rituals of Hajj.
THE STONING OF THE DEVIL
After the Day of Arafah, pilgrims perform the ritual of stoning the devil. Here are the steps to perform the Stoning of the Devil:
1. Travel to Mina. On the 10th, 11th, and 12th days of Dhu al-Hijjah, pilgrims travel to Mina, located about 5 kilometers east of Mecca.
2. Stone the Jamarat. In Mina, there are three stone pillars called Jamarat, which represent the devil. Pilgrims must stone each of these pillars with seven pebbles.
3. Recite prayers during the stoning. While stoning the Jamarat, recite “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is the greatest).
4. Complete the stoning. Once you have stoned all three Jamarat, the Stoning of the Devil is complete.
THE SACRIFICE
After the Stoning of the Devil, pilgrims perform the sacrifice of an animal. Here are the steps to perform the Sacrifice
Performing the sacrifice during Hajj involves several steps, which are as follows: