Hajj, How to Perform Hajj

Hajj

Upon becoming Muslim, one must perform Hajj once in his lifetime.
Hajj is the pilgrimage one makes to the Sacred House of Allah (the
Ka’bah) in order to perform certain rites at specific places at specific
times. This pillar of Islam is obligatory upon every Muslim, male or
female, who is sane and has reached the age of puberty, once in a
lifetime if they have the physical and financial ability. If a person
has an incurable disease which prevents him from performing Hajj, but
has enough money, he must assign someone to perform Hajj for him. But if
a person does not have enough money to fulfill his daily requirements
or to support those whom he supports, Hajj is not an obligation upon
him. Allah says:

"And Hajj to the House (Ka’bah) is a duty that mankind
owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses; and whoever
disbelieves, then Allah stands not in need of any of the ‘Aalameen
(Mankind and Jinns)." (3:97)
There are many reasons and great wisdoms why Hajj has been prescribed. From them are the following:

To increase one’s good deeds due to his act of obedience, for the
reward of Hajj which has been accepted by Allah is nothing but Jannah.
The Messenger of Allah said:

“An ‘Umrah followed by another is an expiation for the
lesser sins one performed between them, and there is no reward for a
Hajj which has been accepted by Allah except Jannah.” (Bukhari #1683
and Muslim #1349)
To realize the unity of the Muslims, for Hajj is the largest
Islamic gathering. Muslims from all over come together at one place, at
one time, calling the same Lord, wearing the same clothes, performing
the same rituals. There is no difference between the rich and poor, the
noble and ignoble, the white and black, Arab and non-Arab. They are all
equal; there is no difference between them except in piety (taqwaa).
This is nothing but an emphasis of the brotherhood of all Muslims and
the unity of their hopes and feelings.
It is a spiritual exercise which trains one to exert his efforts,
physically and financially, in the way of Allah and seeking His
Pleasure.
It is a purification of one’s sins and wrongdoings. The Prophet said:

“Whoever performs Hajj to this House (the Ka’bah) and
does not and does not have sexual relations, he will return [sin-free]
like the day he was born.” (Bukhari #1723 & Muslim #1350 )

How to Perform Hajj?

There are three types of Hajj; each one has its specific rites. The
best type is Tamattu’, wherein one performs Hajj and ‘Umrah separately,
in the Sacred Months of Hajj. It is done as follows:

One should enter the state of Ihraam from the Miqat before the 8th of Dhu’l-Hijjah. He should enter state of Ihram, saying:
“Labbayk-Allahumma ‘Umratan mutamitti’an bihaa ilal-Hajj.”
Meaning: Here I am at your service, O Allah, performing ‘Umrah and then a Hajj [separately].
After entering Makkah, he should perform Tawaaf around the Ka’bah
and perform the Sa‘i for ‘Umrah, and then shave or shorten the hair.
Women should clip her hair equal to a third of a finger’s length.
On the eighth day of Dhul-Hijjah, which is called the day of
Tarwiyah, one should enter the state of Ihraam at the time of Duhaa´ ,
from the place he is in. He should then go to Minaa´, and there he
should perform Dhuhr, ‘Asr, Maghrib, and ‘Ishaa´ prayers. He should
shorten Dhuhr, ‘Asr and ‘Ishaa´ prayers [as a traveler does] but he
should not combine them.
After the sun has risen on the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah, which is
the Day of ‘Arafah, one should leave Minaa´ and head towards ‘Arafah.
He should pray Dhuhr and ‘Asr at the time of Dhuhr, both two rak‘ahs.
After completing them, he should spend his time remembering Allah and
supplicating him with sincere humility. One should ask Allah whatever he
wishes raising his hands while facing the Qiblah.
When the sun sets on the Day of ‘Arafah, one should set out for
Muzdalifah. Once he has reached, he should pray the Maghrib and ‘Ishaa´
prayers, combining both prayers together, making the ‘Ishaa´ prayer two
rak’aat only. He should spend the night in Muzdalifah. He should pray
Fajr prayer in its earliest acceptable time, and then he should spend
his time supplicating until the sky appears bright.
But before the sun has risen, he should leave for Minaa´. Once he
arrives, he should throw seven pebbles at Jamrat-ul-’Aqabah , saying
“Allahu Akbar” with each throw. The pebbles should be the size of a
chickpea.
After this, he should slaughter his sacrificial animal, and then
shave or shorten the hair. Shaving is better for men, but as for women,
she should clip her hair about a third of a finger’s length. (She should
not shave her head).
With this one would partially terminate the Ihraam, and remain in
a state of lesser Ihraam. He may wear normal clothes and do everything
which is allowed for a normal person except for having marital relations
with his wife.
One should then proceed to Makkah and perform the Tawaaf and
Sa‘i, both for Hajj. Upon completion, he should return to Minaa´ and
spend the nights of the eleventh and twelfth of Dhul-Hijjah there.
During the days, he should throw seven pebbles at all three Jamaraat,
saying “Allahu Akbar” with each pebble. He should do so after the sun
starts to decline from its zenith. He should begin with the smallest
Jamrah, and then proceed to the middle and then the largest.
Once a person has thrown pebbles at the Jamaraat on the twelfth
day, he may leave Minaa´ or he may spend another night in Minaa´,
throwing pebbles at the three Jamaraat on the thirteenth day after the
sun starts to decline from its zenith as explained earlier, this is more
praiseworthy.
Once one intends to return home, he should proceed to Makkah and
perform Tawaaf al-Wadaa’ (farewell Tawaf). This Tawaaf is not an
obligation for a woman experiencing menses or postpartum bleeding. Once a
person has done this, his Hajj is complete.

» Hajj and `Umrah