๐ Hajj, Day by Day
Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam โ obligatory once in a lifetime for those who can afford it. It happens once a year between the 8th and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah. This is a summary day-by-day guide covering the most common form (Hajj at-Tamattu โ Umrah first, then Hajj).
โ Always travel with a registered Hajj group and study under a qualified scholar before going. This guide is an overview, not a replacement for in-person fiqh learning.
Preparation
1. Repent sincerely โ make tawbah from all sins, return any wronged rights, settle debts.
2. Wills โ write a basic will if you don't have one. Hajj involves real risk.
3. Funds โ your money for Hajj must be halal. Selling forbidden things to fund Hajj invalidates the reward.
4. Forgive others โ ask for forgiveness from anyone you may have wronged.
5. Du'a list โ write down everyone you want to make du'a for, especially at Arafah.
6. Learn the rites โ read or attend a course. Don't rely on group leaders alone.
Ihram + Umrah (Tamattu' style)
For Hajj at-Tamattu' (the most common form for non-residents): start with Umrah first, exit ihram, then enter ihram again for Hajj on the 8th.
Before the miqat: ghusl, perfume the body, change into ihram clothing.
Men: two unsewn white sheets โ one wrapped around the waist (izar), one over the shoulder (rida).
Women: normal modest clothing covering everything except the face and hands. No niqab or gloves in ihram.
Pray 2 rak'ah, then make the intention for Umrah:
Then begin the Talbiyah and recite continuously until you reach the Kaaba:
At the Kaaba: perform Tawaf (7 anti-clockwise circuits), 2 rak'ah behind Maqam Ibrahim, drink Zamzam, then Sa'ee (7 walks between Safa and Marwa). End with Halq (men shave) or Taqseer (women cut a fingertip's length).
You're now out of ihram and free to wear normal clothes until the 8th.
Re-enter ihram โ travel to Mina
On the morning of the 8th, perform ghusl in your accommodation, put on ihram clothing again, and make the intention for Hajj:
Recite the Talbiyah continuously.
Travel to Mina (about 8 km east of Makkah). Spend the day and night there โ pray Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha, and Fajr (next morning) โ each on time, but Zuhr/Asr and Isha shortened to 2 rak'ah each (no combining).
Use the night to rest, recite Quran, make du'a โ tomorrow is the greatest day.
Standing at Arafah
After Fajr in Mina, travel to Arafah (about 13 km away). The standing on the plain of Arafah is the core pillar of Hajj โ without it, there is no Hajj.
"Hajj is Arafah." โ Prophet Muhammad ๏ทบ (Sahih)
At noon, listen to the khutbah (if delivered), then pray Dhuhr and Asr combined and shortened together at Dhuhr time (2 + 2 rak'ah).
From after Dhuhr until sunset: STAND, sit, raise your hands, and make du'a. This is the most accepted moment of the year. Du'a here is rarely refused.
The best du'a on this day:
Make du'a for everyone you wrote down, for the ummah, Palestine, your family, your sins. Cry. Hope. Hope.
At sunset (Maghrib): do NOT pray โ instead, leave Arafah for Muzdalifah immediately.
Sleeping under the open sky
Travel to Muzdalifah (about 9 km from Arafah). On arrival, pray Maghrib (3) + Isha (2 shortened) combined at Isha time, with one adhan and two iqamahs.
Sleep there under the open sky until dawn โ the Prophet ๏ทบ slept here.
Collect 49โ70 small pebbles here for the stoning at Mina (each pebble about the size of a chickpea โ slightly larger than a pea, smaller than a hazelnut).
Pray Fajr at its earliest time, then make du'a until just before sunrise.
Stoning + Sacrifice + Tawaf al-Ifadah
Leave Muzdalifah just before sunrise back to Mina. The order today (most common):
1. Stone the largest Jamrah (Jamrat al-สฟAqabah) โ throw 7 pebbles, saying "Allฤhu Akbar" with each. This is the only Jamrah stoned today.
2. Sacrifice (Hady) โ sheep, goat, or share in a cow/camel. Most pilgrims pay for this through their group; it's done at the Saudi government slaughterhouses on your behalf.
3. Halq or Taqseer โ men shave (halq is more rewarded than cutting), women cut a fingertip's length.
After step 3 you exit "first ihram" โ you can now change clothes and use perfume, but spousal relations remain prohibited until after step 4.
4. Tawaf al-Ifadah โ return to Makkah and perform 7 anti-clockwise circuits around the Kaaba, then 2 rak'ah behind Maqam Ibrahim. This is one of the essential pillars of Hajj.
If you didn't already perform Sa'ee for Hajj after the Umrah's tawaf โ perform it now (7 walks between Safa and Marwa).
Now you exit ihram completely. Return to Mina to spend the night.
Stoning all three Jamarat each day
Spend each night in Mina. After Dhuhr (zawal โ sun has passed its peak), stone all three Jamarat in order:
1. Small Jamrah โ 7 pebbles, say "Allฤhu Akbar" with each. Stand to the side and make a long du'a after.
2. Middle Jamrah โ 7 pebbles. Move aside and du'a.
3. Large Jamrah (al-สฟAqabah) โ 7 pebbles. No du'a after this one (just leave).
That's 21 pebbles per day ร 2-3 days = 42 or 63 total.
Optional: you may leave Mina after the 12th if you've completed the stoning before sunset (this is "ta'ajjul" โ moving early). Otherwise stay through the 13th.
๐ Tawaf al-Wada' (Farewell Tawaf)
Before leaving Makkah for home, perform Tawaf al-Wada' โ 7 anti-clockwise circuits around the Kaaba. This is a required final rite for non-residents.
Make du'a as you leave the Haram. Walk out backwards if you can โ the Sahaba would walk out facing the Kaaba in love.
Visit Madinah if your itinerary allows: pray in Masjid an-Nabawi (one prayer = 1,000 elsewhere) and send salutations to the Prophet ๏ทบ at his blessed grave.
After Hajj
A Hajj accepted by Allah erases all sins โ "he returns like the day his mother bore him." (Sahih al-Bukhari 1521) Use it. Don't return to old habits. Pray every salah on time. Maintain the dhikr you built up at Arafah. Give sadaqah regularly. Most importantly: thank Allah daily for being chosen as one of His guests at the Sacred House. May He accept your Hajj โ Hajjun Mabrลซr in shฤ Allฤh.