Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. In the month of Dhū al-Ḥijjah, Muslims go to Makkah for the offering of Hajj (pilgrimage). Performing of pilgrimage is obligatory for financially and mentally stable Muslims once in a lifetime. In addition, Performing Umrah is similar to the Hajj. You can also call it a short hajj. However, Umarah can be performed anytime, but Hajj is performed in the 12th month of the Islamic calendar, Dhū al-Ḥijjah. We will guide you step by step to perform Hajj and Umrah.
Steps to Perform Hajj and Umrah
- Preparation and Intention
- Enter state of Ihram
- Tawaf (7 rounds)
- Sa’i
- Clip/Shave Hair (Umrah ends)
- Resting and Praying
- Enter state of Ihram
- Arrive at Mina
- Day of Arafah
- Muzdalifah (under the night sky)
- Rami (stoning of the devil)
- Qurbani
- Shave Head
- Tawaf al-Ifadha
- Rami (stoning of the devil)
- Spendind night at Mina
- Farewell Tawaf al-Wida
Preparation and Intention
Pilgrims prepare themselves mentally and physically to perform hajj for the sake of Allah SWT. Preparation for Hajj includes purifying intentions, repentance, and dedication to the spiritual journey.
Enter a state of Ihram
Ihram is a specific clothing pilgrims wear in a specific style with some restrictions. After preparation for Hajj, pilgrims must enter the state of Ihram.
Tawaf (7 rounds)
Tawaf is one of the most important rituals of Hajj. Pilgrims circle counterclockwise around Ka’aba 7 times. While doing this Tawaf pilgrims articulate a few supplications which are here translated from Arabic, “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
Performing Sa’i is a ritual of running back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwa 7 times. The rituals is performed remembering the action of Hajira, wife of Prophet Ibrahim, in search of water for her infant Prophet Ismail.
Clip/Shave Hair (Umrah ends)
As we are discussing both Hajj and Umrah. Umrah pilgrimage ends here with the shaving or clipping of hair after Sa’i.
Arrive at Mina
After Umrah, pilgrims move to Mina, a city near Makkah. They spend a night there and prepare for the following rituals.
Arafah
On the day of Arafah, Pilgrims stand and pray on the plain of Arafah
Muzdalifa
After reaching Muzdalifa, pilgrims offer Maghrib and Isha prayers one after the other reducing Isha prayer to two rakat. There, Pilgrims stay for a night. They can spend the night worshiping or resting. Pilgrims also gather pebbles there to perform Rami (stoning the devil).
Rami (stoning of the devil)
Rami or stoning of the devil is a ritual performed by pilgrims. They throw stones at three pillars symbolizing Satan’s temptation and affirming their faith in Allah SWT.
Qurbani
Pilgrims sacrifice animals symbolizing their willingness to obey Allah. Qurbani is the Sunnat of Prophet Ibrahim AS when he was going to sacrifice his son Prophet Ismail AS. Pilgrims sacrifice animals like goat, sheep, and camels.
Shave Head
After Qurbani pilgrims shave their heads which symbolizes purity and humility. Shaving of the head signifies the readiness of pilgrims to shed old sins and habits while embracing a new beginning in their spiritual journey. In addition, shaving head also symbolizes equality as all Pilgrims shave their heads regardless of race, nation, status, or class.
Tawaf al-Ifadha
After completing the rituals of Hajj, pilgrims circulate the Kaaba showing their renewed commitment to Islam.
Rami (stoning of the devil)
Pilgrims again throw stones at three pillars representing rejection of Satan’s temptation and showing their dedication to Allah SWT.
Spending the night at Mina
Now it is time for another night to stay in Mina. Pilgrims return to Mina continuing their spiritual journey.
Farewell Tawaf al-Wida
Pilgrims perform another Tawaf before leaving the holy city of Makkah bidding farewell and praying for forgiveness and blessing. It concludes the Hajj Journey.
Conclusion
In the blog, you learn about how to perform Hajj and Umrah. This step-by-step guide will help you to perform your hajj easily. However, you can also take admission to a Hajj course where you can learn in detail how to perform hajj. For further details about Hajj and Umrah, you can contact Online Madrasa.