🕋 Hajj

🕋 About Hajj

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam, obligatory once in a lifetime for every able Muslim. The Hajj season runs through Shawwal, Dhul-Qa'dah, and Dhul-Hijjah, with the core rites performed from 8 to 13 Dhul-Hijjah — known as the great days of Hajj.

🧭 Types of Hajj

• Tamattu': Enter ihram for Umrah in the Hajj months, complete it, then re-enter ihram for Hajj on the 8th from Makkah (the preferred type; requires sacrifice).
• Qiran: Enter ihram for Umrah and Hajj together without breaking between them (requires sacrifice).
• Ifrad: Enter ihram for Hajj only without Umrah (no sacrifice required).

📅 Hajj Day by Day

🟢 Day 1 — 8 Dhul-Hijjah (Yawm al-Tarwiyah)

• Pilgrim enters ihram for Hajj from his accommodation in Makkah (for Tamattu') or from the miqat.
• Travels to Mina before noon and spends the night there.
• Prays Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha, and the next Fajr in Mina — shortened but not combined.
• Named "Tarwiyah" (the day of watering) because pilgrims used to fill up on water in preparation for Arafah.

🟣 Day 2 — 9 Dhul-Hijjah (Yawm Arafah) — The Greatest Pillar

• After sunrise, pilgrim travels from Mina to Arafah.
• Prays Dhuhr and Asr combined and shortened at Masjid Namira.
• Standing at Arafah from after noon until sunset (whoever misses this misses Hajj entirely).
• Engages in dua, dhikr, and istighfar — especially: "La ilaha illa Allah wahdahu la sharika lahu..."
• After sunset, travels to Muzdalifah, prays Maghrib and Isha combined (with Isha shortened), and spends the night.
• Collects 7 small pebbles for the next day's stoning of Jamrat al-Aqabah.
• For non-pilgrims: fasting on Arafah is highly recommended — it expiates two years of sins.

🔴 Day 3 — 10 Dhul-Hijjah (Yawm al-Nahr / Eid al-Adha)

• After Fajr in Muzdalifah, travels back to Mina.
• Stoning of Jamrat al-Aqabah with 7 pebbles (saying Takbeer with each).
• Sacrifice (Hady) for Tamattu' and Qiran pilgrims.
• Shaving or trimming hair (shaving is preferred for men; trimming for women) — this is the first release (Tahallul Awwal).
• Travels to Makkah for Tawaf al-Ifadah (pillar of Hajj).
• Sa'i between Safa and Marwah (for Tamattu' pilgrims; Mufrid and Qarin did it with arrival tawaf).
• This completes the full release; pilgrim returns to Mina to spend the night.

🟡 Day 4 — 11 Dhul-Hijjah (First Day of Tashreeq)

• Spending the night in Mina is obligatory.
• Stoning of all three Jamarat after noon in order: Sughra, Wusta, then Aqabah — 7 pebbles each.
• Dua after stoning Sughra and Wusta is recommended.
• Dhikr and Takbeer: "Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la ilaha illa Allah..."

🟡 Day 5 — 12 Dhul-Hijjah (First Day of Nafr)

• Stoning of the three Jamarat after noon (7 pebbles each).
• Those who choose to leave early (Nafr Awwal): must exit Mina before sunset (permitted with no harm).
• Those who stay past sunset must spend the night of the 13th and stone again the next day.

🟡 Day 6 — 13 Dhul-Hijjah (Second Day of Nafr)

• Stoning of the three Jamarat after noon for those who stayed.
• Perform Tawaf al-Wada' (farewell tawaf) when leaving Makkah (obligatory except for menstruating women).

🏛️ Pillars of Hajj (omitting any invalidates Hajj)

1. Entering ihram with the intention of Hajj.
2. Standing at Arafah (9 Dhul-Hijjah).
3. Tawaf al-Ifadah (10 Dhul-Hijjah onwards).
4. Sa'i between Safa and Marwah.

📜 Obligations of Hajj (compensated by sacrifice if missed)

1. Entering ihram from the designated miqat.
2. Staying at Arafah until sunset (for daytime arrivals).
3. Spending the night at Muzdalifah on the 10th.
4. Spending nights of Tashreeq in Mina.
5. Stoning all three Jamarat.
6. Shaving or trimming hair.
7. Farewell Tawaf.

🚫 Ihram Prohibitions

• Men: wearing sewn clothing, covering the head.
• Women: wearing face veil (niqab) and gloves.
• Everyone: perfume, cutting nails, removing hair, hunting, marital relations, and contracting marriage.

🎒 What a Pilgrim Needs

• Ihram clothing (for men) and loose modest clothing (for women).
• Comfortable, lightweight shoes and sandals for the Haram.
• Personal medication and a small first-aid kit.
• ID, Hajj permit, and camp identification cards.
• Sun umbrella and water bottle.
• Small pouch for collecting pebbles.