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Hajj — Guide to Pilgrimage

Step-by-step guide to performing the Hajj pilgrimage.

8 Steps ~Several days Hajj & Umrah

Step 1 of 8

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Enter the State of Ihram

Don ihram garments and make intention at Miqat location.

Quran 2:197

وَأَتِمُّوا الْحَجَّ وَالْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ

Men wear two white seamless cloths. Women wear modest Islamic clothing.

Note: Different Miqat locations exist for different directions.

Tawaf — Circumambulate the Kaaba

Perform seven circuits around the Kaaba starting at Black Stone.

Quran 2:158

وَلْيَطَّوَّفُوا بِالْبَيْتِ الْعَتِيقِ

Start at Black Stone corner. Men recommended to race in first three circuits.

Note: Women perform similarly without idtiba.

Pray Two Rakahs Behind Maqam Ibrahim

Pray two units behind the Station of Ibrahim.

Quran 2:125

وَاتَّخِذُوا مِنْ مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى

Recite Surah Al-Kafirun and Al-Ikhlas. Drink Zamzam water if available.

Sa'i Between Safa and Marwah

Walk seven times between hills of Safa and Marwah.

Quran 2:158

إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللهِ

Commemorates Hajar's search for water for baby Ismail.

Note: Men jog between green markers.

Day of Arafah — Stand at Mina

On 8th Dhul Hijjah go to Mina, then Arafat on 9th.

Sunan Ibn Majah 2895

الْحَجُّ عَرَفَاتٌ

Standing at Arafat is a pillar of Hajj.

Note: Missing Arafat invalidates Hajj.

Muzdalifah — Collect Pebbles

Spend night at Muzdalifah, collect 70 pebbles.

Sahih Bukhari 1725

Combine Maghrib and Isha prayers. Pray Fajr at dawn.

Stoning the Jamarat

Throw 7 pebbles at each of three pillars in Mina.

Sahih Muslim 1288

رَمْي الْجِمَارِ

Say Allahu Akbar with each pebble. 10th, 11th, 12th Dhul Hijjah.

Final Tawaf and Farewell

Return to Makkah for Tawaf al-Ifadah, shave/trim hair, farewell tawaf.

Sahih Bukhari 1695

ثُمَّ لْيَقْضُوا تَفَثَهُمْ

Shaving head completes Hajj rituals for men. Women trim fingertip length.

Note: Farewell tawaf is obligatory before leaving Makkah.

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