Who must perform Hajj
وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ حِجُّ ٱلْبَيْتِ مَنِ ٱسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا
Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to Allah by all people who are able to undertake it.
- Muslim, adult and sane
- Physically able to travel and perform the rites
- Financially able: travel costs plus provision for dependants left behind, after debts
- A safe route
- For women: a mahram or husband according to the Hanafi and Hanbali schools; the Shafi'i and Maliki schools permit travelling with a trustworthy group for the obligatory Hajj
The three types of Hajj
| Type | What it is | Sacrifice (hady) |
|---|---|---|
| Tamattu' | Umrah in the Hajj months, leave ihram, then a new ihram for Hajj on 8 Dhul Hijjah | Required |
| Qiran | Umrah and Hajj together in one ihram until the 10th | Required |
| Ifrad | Hajj only, in one ihram | Not required |
Tamattu' is the most common for pilgrims arriving from abroad.
Miqat and ihram
The five miqat stations
| Miqat | Today | For those coming from |
|---|---|---|
| Dhul Hulayfah | Abyar 'Ali | Madinah |
| Al-Juhfah | Near Rabigh | Syria, Egypt, North Africa, Europe |
| Qarn al-Manazil | As-Sayl al-Kabir | Najd, Taif, the Gulf |
| Yalamlam | As-Sa'diyyah | Yemen, South and East Asia |
| Dhat 'Irq | Ad-Dariba | Iraq |
Air travellers enter ihram when the aircraft passes the miqat; many put on ihram clothing before boarding.
Entering ihram
- 1
Prepare
Clip nails, remove unwanted hair, perform ghusl. Men may apply perfume to the body before ihram.
- 2
Ihram clothing
Men: two unstitched white sheets and sandals that leave the ankles uncovered. Women: ordinary modest clothing without face veil (niqab) or gloves.
- 3
Intention and Talbiyah
لَبَّيْكَ ٱللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ ٱلْحَمْدَ وَٱلنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَٱلْمُلْكَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
Labbayk Allahumma labbayk, labbayka la sharika laka labbayk, innal-hamda wan-ni'mata laka wal-mulk, la sharika lak
Make the intention at the miqat and begin the Talbiyah, repeating it often.
Forbidden while in ihram
- Cutting hair or nails
- Using perfume or scented products
- Men: stitched clothing and covering the head
- Women: covering the face with a niqab and wearing gloves
- Hunting land animals
- Marriage contracts and marital relations
- Arguing, obscenity and sin
Pillars and obligations
Standing at 'Arafah and Tawaf al-Ifadah (ihram is a condition).
Ihram, 'Arafah, Tawaf al-Ifadah, Sa'i, shaving or trimming, and their order.
Ihram, 'Arafah, Tawaf al-Ifadah and Sa'i.
Ihram, 'Arafah, Tawaf al-Ifadah and Sa'i.
Missing a pillar invalidates the Hajj. Missing an obligation — such as entering ihram at the miqat, staying at Muzdalifah, stoning the jamarat or the farewell tawaf — is compensated by a sacrifice (dam).
Hajj day by day
- 8 Dhul Hijjah
Yawm at-Tarwiyah — Mina
Enter ihram (for Tamattu'), go to Mina and pray Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha and the next Fajr there, shortening four-rak'ah prayers.
- 9 Dhul Hijjah
Day of 'Arafah
After sunrise go to 'Arafah. From noon to sunset stand in supplication — “Hajj is 'Arafah.” Pray Dhuhr and Asr combined. After sunset leave for Muzdalifah.
- Night of the 10th
Muzdalifah
Pray Maghrib and Isha combined, rest under the sky, collect pebbles, and pray Fajr before moving on.
- 10 Dhul Hijjah
Yawm an-Nahr — Eid al-Adha
Stone Jamarat al-'Aqabah with seven pebbles, offer the sacrifice, shave or trim the hair (partial release from ihram), then Tawaf al-Ifadah and Sa'i.
- 11–12 Dhul Hijjah
Days of Tashriq — Mina
Stay in Mina and stone all three jamarat after noon, seven pebbles each, from the small to the large. One may leave on the 12th before sunset.
- 13 Dhul Hijjah
Final stoning (optional)
Those who remain stone the three jamarat once more.
- Before leaving
Tawaf al-Wada'
The farewell tawaf before departing Makkah (excused for menstruating women).
How to perform Umrah
- 1
Ihram at the miqat
Ghusl, ihram clothing, intention for Umrah and the Talbiyah.
- 2
Tawaf
Seven circuits around the Kaaba anticlockwise, starting at the Black Stone. Men uncover the right shoulder (idtiba') and walk briskly in the first three (raml). Pray two rak'ahs behind Maqam Ibrahim and drink Zamzam.
- 3
Sa'i
Seven trips between Safa and Marwah, starting at Safa and ending at Marwah, with dhikr and dua.
- 4
Halq or taqsir
Men shave the head (best) or trim; women cut a fingertip's length. Umrah is complete and ihram restrictions end.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is Umrah obligatory?
The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools hold that Umrah is obligatory once in a lifetime; the Hanafi and Maliki schools consider it a confirmed sunnah.
Can someone perform Hajj on behalf of another?
Yes, for a person who has died or is permanently unable, provided the proxy has already performed their own Hajj.
What should non-pilgrims do in the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah?
Increase in good deeds, takbir and dhikr, fast the Day of 'Arafah, and offer the Udhiyah sacrifice on Eid al-Adha. Those intending to sacrifice refrain from cutting hair and nails from 1 Dhul Hijjah.