hajj guide

Ihraam - A sacred state a Muslim must enter in order to perform Hajj or Umrah. This state is by making a clear intention for what kind of pilgrimage you are intending to perform, as well as for men to adorn themselves in the Ihraam garments which are two white pieces of cloth.

 

Miqaat - Designated stations allocated by our Beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW where a person must get themselves in the state of Ihraam.

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• Dhu'l-Hulayfah - This Miqaat is about 9 kilometres from Madinah and about 450 kilometres from Makkah. Dhu'l-Hulayfah is the Miqaat for those who live in Madinah and for those who approach Makkah from the direction of Madinah.

• Juhfah - This Miqaat is about 190 kilometres to the northwest of Makkah. This is the Miqaat for the people who come from the direction of Syria.

• Qarnu 'l-Manāzil - Also known as Miqaat Al Sail. Located 85 km from Al Haram, in a small town know as As Sail Al Kabeer on highway 40. This Miqaat serves pilgrims coming from the Najd region which is generally the middle of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

• Yalamlam - This Miqaat point serves the Hujajj (Hajj pilgrims) coming from the direction of Yemen. Yalamlam is a small city in the province of Makkah.

• Thaneim - This Miqaat is located in the Al-Hil area of Makkah, 8 km from the Holy Ka'bah. The Mosque is also known as Masjid e Taneem. The Miqat serves those starting their pilgrimage in Makkah. The Mosque is large with good facilities for baths, ablution and changing.

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When flying to Makkah it is necessary to wear your Ihraam before your plane enters the Miqaat zone in the air. Jeddah is within the Miqaat zone as a line from the southern most Miqaat at Yalamlam to the north western Miqaat at Juhfah includes Jeddah in the zone. Pilgrims either wear their Ihraam from the airport at departure or wear it in the plane. Pilots often announce entering the Miqaat about 30 minutes prior so that pilgrims can go to the restroom and change.

 

Tawaf - Means circling the Kaaba seven times in an anticlockwise direction. Men are encouraged to do this three times at a hurried pace, followed by four times, more closely, at a leisurely pace.

 

Talbeya - This is a Duah recited by the pilgrims as a conviction of the pilgrimage performed to be for the Glory of ALLAH SWT and ALLAH SWT only. The Talbeya is as follows:

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لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ والنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكُ ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ

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“Labbayka Allaahumma labbayk, labbayka laa shareeka laka labbayk. Inna al-hamd wa’l-ni’mata laka wa’l-mulk, laa shareeka lak"​

 

Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Verily all praise and blessings are Yours, and all sovereignty, You have no partner.

 

Sa'i - Means the walk which is seven times back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwa. In between the hills the pilgrims will come across a point where it is lit with green lights, during this part the pilgrims are recommended to walk at a brisk pace. Upon reaching the hills the pilgrim should face the Holy Ka'ba and recite the following Duah:

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إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللهِ

أَبْدَأُ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللهُ بِهِ

اللهُ أَكْبَرُ ، اللهُ أَكْبَرُ ، اللهُ أَكْبَرُ

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ ، أَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ ، وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ ، وَهَزَمَ الأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ

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"Innas-safaa wal-marwata min sha‛aa’ir-illaah

’abda’u bi maa bada’-allahu bih

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

Laa ilaaha ill-allaahu wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ‛alaa kulli shay’in qadeer, laa ilaaha ill-allaahu wahdahu, anjaza wa‛dahu, wa nasara ‛abdahu, wa hazam-al-’ahzaaba wahdah."

 

I begin with what Allah began with.

Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest.

None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone, without partner. To Him belongs all sovereignty and praise and He is over all things omnipotent. None has the right to be worshipped except Allah alone. He fulfilled His promise, aided His slave and single-handedly defeated the allies.

 

Halaq - For men only, to shave one's hair just before exiting the state of Ihraam. There is more reward in Halaq than there is in Taqsir.

 

Taqsir - To trim one's hair just before exiting the state of Ihraam.

 

Jammarat - This is a Hajj ritual performed by the stoning of three concrete pillars known as Jammarat. The large pillar is known as Al Aqabah, the middle sized pillar is known as Al Wusta and the smallest named As Sughra. Pebbles collected whilst in Muzdalifah are used to pelt these three pillars in order to resemble the pelting of stones to the devil by Ibrahim AS, as it was at these three points the devil tried to persuade Ibrahim AS not to follow the command of ALLAH SWT. Whilst pelting the pillars pilgrims should recite:

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اللهُ أَكْبَرُ

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"Allahu Akhbar"

 

God is Great.

 

Rami - The pelting of the stones in Jammarat is called Rami.

 

Arafah - This is a plane where pilgrims gather during Hajj, make Duah and perform the prayers as prescribed above in the steps for Arafah. One of the best supplications to be made in Arafah is:

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لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ ، وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ ، وهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

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"Laa ilaaha ill-allaahu, wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa huwa ‛alaa kulli shay’in qadeer.

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None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone, without partner. To Him belongs sovereignty and all praise and He is over all things omnipotent.

 

Wuqoof of Arafah - Means stopping within the boundaries of Arafah

 

Tawaf Al Ifadah or Tawaf Al Ziyarah - Both are exactly the same and mean performing a Tawaf to release them of the state of Ihraam, where after the pilgrims head back to Mina to spend the night where then they can go and perform Rami at the Jammarat for the following three days.