A Pilgrim’s Handbook: Understanding Hajj Rituals Step by Step

hajj rituals step by step

Knowing the hajj rituals step by step is an important matter for all Muslims because Hajj is a great journey of faith that every believing Muslim aspires to. It is a journey that embodies the meanings of monotheism and submission to Allah Almighty, and an opportunity to get rid of sins and transgressions, and achieve spiritual perfection.  

Therefore, in this article, we will delve into the details of the hajj rituals step by step, starting from Ihram and ending with the Farewell Tawaf, in order to facilitate the pilgrims’ journey and help them perform their rituals correctly.

What are the rituals of Hajj?

hajj rituals step by step are the actions that pilgrims perform before the beginning and end of Hajj and are in a specific order. Here is the order of hajj rituals step by step:

1-Ihram: 

Ihram is the actual beginning of performing the hajj rituals step by step, where the pilgrim determines the intention of Hajj and the spiritual orientation towards the Sacred House of Allah. The pilgrim wears the Ihram dress, which is a simple dress that shows monotheism and sacrifice and reminds of a person’s humility before Allah. 

Ihram is considered a special case in which the pilgrim avoids some forbidden actions and words and is forbidden from negligence. And trimming his nails and hair on his head, and all the acts of cupping and grammar.

Men wear Ihram, which consists of two white pieces of cloth, one of which is wrapped around the waist and is called an izar, and the other is wrapped over the body and is called a robe, while women wear a modest dress that covers the body.

2-Tawaf: 

It is one of the hajj rituals step by step, and it is one of the most important pillars of the Hajj obligation. The pilgrim begins the circumambulation by entering the Sacred Mosque and heading towards the Holy Kaaba. 

Then, he begins circumambulating the Kaaba with the Basmalah and the Takbir, and it consists of seven rounds of walking around the Holy Kaaba, where each round begins in front of the Black Stone and ends with a circle in which it is repeated. Of supplication, forgiveness, and remembrance.

During Tawaf, it is recommended to adhere to etiquette and piety, not to utter inappropriate words and to maintain order and calm. After completing the Tawaf, it is desirable to pray two rak’ahs between the two pillars, and this will be a blessed conclusion to the Tawaf.

3-Sa’y 

Sa’y is one of the hajj rituals step by step that comes after the circumambulation. It is an embodiment of the sa’i that Mrs. Hajar performed when our master Abraham, peace be upon them, left her and her son, our master Ismail, in the Valley of Mecca. The pilgrim begins the sa’i by starting from Safa and ending at Marwa, and the sa’i is completed seven times.

During the Sa’y, the pilgrim must maintain humility, contemplate the greatness of Allah, supplicate and ask for forgiveness. It is noteworthy that the Sa’y is accomplished by walking quickly between Safa and Marwah. 

4-Tarwiyah Day (Mina):  

The Day of Tarwiyah is the eighth day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah. It is also called the Day of Tarwiyah because people used to drink water from it in Mecca and take it to Mina, where it was nonexistent in those days, to suffice them until the last day of the Hajj. 

Pilgrims head to Mina on this day, where they stay in this valley and spend the night there. The Day of Tarwiyah is considered an important day in the hajj rituals step by step, as the pilgrims prepare for the next day, which is one of the most important days of Hajj, which is the day of standing at Arafat.

5-Standing at Arafat:  

Standing at Arafat is the most important hajj rituals step by step and takes place on the ninth day of the month of Dhul-Hijjah. It consists of standing on Mount Arafat from dawn on the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah until sunset.

The pilgrim’s stop at Arafat symbolizes standing before Allah with humility and reverence, and it is considered one of the most prominent pillars of the Hajj. On this day, pilgrims pray and ask for forgiveness and ask Allah for mercy and forgiveness, and spend this day in worship, remembrance, and contemplation.

The Day of Arafat is considered the greatest day, as it is an opportunity to repent and seek forgiveness. Pilgrims are urged to be diligent in supplication and entreat Allah to sincerely repent and ask Him for mercy and forgiveness.

6-Overnight stay in Muzdalifah: 

Overnight in Muzdalifah is part of the hajj rituals step by step and comes after standing at Arafat on the ninth day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah. Muzdalifah is considered a sacred site located between Arafat and Mina.

And it is a place where pilgrims stay on the night of Eid al-Adha, where pilgrims perform the Maghrib and Isha prayers, both in congregation and in short. Pebbles in Muzdalifah to be used for stoning the Jamarat in the following three days.

7-Throwing at Jamarat al-Aqaba:  

Throwing Jamrat al-Aqaba is one of the hajj rituals step by step and takes place on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, i.e. the day of Eid al-Adha. Pilgrims go to Mina, where Jamrat al-Aqaba is located, and they throw seven pebbles at it, which is an embodiment of throwing stones at Satan. 

 

Throwing Jamrat al-Aqaba comes after standing at Arafat and heading to Muzdalifah, and throwing it is considered one of the most important rituals of Hajj.

8-Slaughtering the sacrificial animal: 

The sacrifice is one of the hajj rituals step by step, which is offering the sacrifice on the day of the blessed Eid al-Adha. The pilgrim offers a sacrifice as an expression of sacrifice for the sake of Allah, and it is one of the confirmed Sunnah for the Hajj. It is Sunnah for the pilgrim to bring the sacrifice himself, and if he is unable, he can delegate another person to do so.

As for ihram, it comes after the sacrifice, which is when the pilgrim gets rid of the ihram for Hajj by cutting the hair or shaving the head. It may also include trimming the nails and removing the ihram clothes. After ihram, everything that was forbidden to him during the state of ihram becomes permissible for the pilgrim..

9-Shaving or cutting the hair: 

After stoning the Jamarat, the pilgrim shaves his entire head or shortens his hair, exits ihram as a minor ihram, and heads to Mecca.

10-Tawaf al-Ifadah: 

The pilgrim performs Tawaf al-Ifadah around the Kaaba seven times, as well as the Sa’i between Safa and Marwa. 

11-Throwing Jamarat on the Days of Tashreeq: 

The pilgrim stays in Mecca for the three days of Tashreeq and throws the three Jamarat, the smallest, the middle, and the largest, which is called Al-Aqaba, which consists of seven pebbles on each day of the Days of Tashreeq.

12-Farewell Tawaf: 

Before leaving Mecca, the pilgrim performs a farewell Tawaf around the Holy Kaaba.

13-Heading to Medina: 

After performing the hajj rituals step by step, the pilgrim can go to Medina to visit the Prophet’s Mosque and the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.  

Conclusion 

The importance of understanding the hajj rituals step by step becomes clear step by step, as Hajj is considered a great journey of faith that Muslims from all over the world seek. The Hajj rituals are not just traditional rituals, but rather a deep spiritual journey that enlightens the heart and cleanses the soul of sins and transgressions.

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