Hajj Overview

The rites of Hajj, day by day

8–13 Dhul-Hijjah. From ihram on the Day of Tarwiyah to the farewell Tawaf — each act with its proof. The standing at Arafah is the Hajj itself.

8 Dhul-Hijjah — Yawm al-Tarwiyah

The Day of Watering — preparations begin.

Proof: Talbiyah · Bukhari 1549

• ◆Enter ihram for Hajj from your miqat (or hotel in Makkah).
• ◆Recite Talbiyah: "Labbayk Allahumma Hajjan".
• ◆Proceed to Mina and take up residence.
• ◆Pray Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha (qasr/shortening) and Fajr in Mina.
• ◆Spend the night in Mina.

9 Dhul-Hijjah — Yawm al-Arafah

The Day of Arafah — the pillar of Hajj.

Proof: "The Hajj is Arafah" · Tirmidhi 889; Muzdalifah · Qur'an 2:198

• ◆After Fajr in Mina, proceed to Arafah.
• ◆Pray Dhuhr and Asr combined and shortened at Arafah.
• ◆Stand (Wuquf) in supplication until sunset — this is the core of Hajj.
• ◆Make abundant dua, dhikr, Talbiyah, and recitation of Quran.
• ◆At sunset, depart for Muzdalifah (do not leave before sunset).
• ◆Collect pebbles at Muzdalifah (70 pebbles minimum).
• ◆Pray Maghrib and Isha combined at Muzdalifah.
• ◆Sleep at Muzdalifah (the night is an act of worship).

10 Dhul-Hijjah — Yawm al-Nahr (Eid al-Adha)

The Day of Sacrifice — four obligatory acts.

Proof: Stoning · Bukhari 1751; Sacrifice · Qur'an 22:37; Tawaf · Qur'an 22:29; Sa'i · Qur'an 2:158

• ◆1. Stone the Jamarat al-Aqabah (the large pillar) with 7 pebbles after sunrise.
• ◆2. Sacrifice (Hady) — your Hajj group or Nusuk app will coordinate this.
• ◆3. Shave (men) or trim (women) the hair — this releases you from most ihram restrictions.
• ◆4. Perform Tawaf al-Ifadah (Tawaf al-Ziyarah) in Makkah.
• ◆5. Perform Sa'i between Safa and Marwa (if not done after Tawaf al-Qudum).
• ◆Return to Mina for the Tashreeq nights.

11–12 Dhul-Hijjah — Ayyam al-Tashreeq

The Days of Drying Meat — stoning and staying in Mina.

Proof: Stoning the Jamarat · Bukhari 1751

• ◆Remain in Mina for these nights — this is obligatory.
• ◆Stone all three Jamarat (small, medium, large) with 7 pebbles each, after midday.
• ◆Make abundant dua at each pillar (especially the small and medium ones).
• ◆If leaving early (Nafar Awwal): depart Mina on 12 Dhul-Hijjah before sunset.
• ◆If staying (Nafar Thani): stone again on 13 Dhul-Hijjah, then depart.

Before Departure — Tawaf al-Wada

Farewell Tawaf — the final act before leaving Makkah.

Proof: Tawaf of the House · Qur'an 22:29

• ◆Perform 7 rounds of Tawaf as your farewell to the Kaaba.
• ◆This is Wajib (obligatory) — omitting it requires a fidyah (sacrifice) unless you are a woman in her period.
• ◆After Tawaf, do not engage in shopping or lengthy activities — leave Makkah promptly.
• ◆Make heartfelt dua at Multazam (the wall between the door and the Black Stone).
• ◆Make the intention to return, and ask Allah to accept your Hajj.

The four pillars

The four arkan — the acts without which the Hajj is not complete.

• ◆Ihram with IntentionEntering the state of ihram with the intention of Hajj from the designated Miqat. Without this, Hajj is invalid. Proof: "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions" — every rite begins with the niyyah of the heart. (Sahih al-Bukhari 1)
• ◆Wuquf at ArafahStanding at the plain of Arafah on 9 Dhul-Hijjah from after Dhuhr until sunset. This is the most essential pillar of Hajj. Proof: The Prophet ﷺ said plainly: "The Hajj is Arafah." Whoever misses the standing at Arafah has missed the Hajj. (Jamiʻ at-Tirmidhi 889)
• ◆Tawaf al-IfadahThe 7-round circumambulation of the Kaaba performed after returning from Arafah. Also called Tawaf al-Ziyarah. Proof: "…and let them perform Tawaf around the Ancient House" — the circuit commanded in the Qur'an itself. (Qur'an · Al-Hajj 22:29)
• ◆Sa'iWalking 7 times between Safa and Marwa. Performed after Tawaf al-Ifadah (or Tawaf al-Qudum for Mufrid and Qiran pilgrims). Proof: "Indeed, as-Safa and al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allah" — retracing Hajar's search for water. (Qur'an · Al-Baqarah 2:158)

Before you go

• ◆The three types of HajjTamattuʻ — ʻUmrah first, exit ihram, then re-enter for Hajj (with a sacrifice); the way most pilgrims perform it today. Qiran — ʻUmrah and Hajj together in one ihram (with a sacrifice). Ifrad — Hajj alone, without a sacrifice. The Companions performed Tamattuʻ at the Prophet's ﷺ command. (Sahih al-Bukhari 1572)
• ◆Prepare before the miqatEnter ihram at your designated miqat and not after it. Learn the rites in advance, settle your debts and return what you wronged, and set out with a sincere intention. "Take provision — and the best provision is God-consciousness (taqwa); there is no obscenity, no disobedience, no disputing in Hajj." (Qur'an · Al-Baqarah 2:197)
• ◆For women — travel with a mahramThe Prophet ﷺ said: "A woman should not travel except with a mahram." A man once said his wife had set out for Hajj while he was enrolled for an expedition — he was told to go and perform Hajj with her. Rulings on this differ by school; follow a scholar you trust for your situation. (Sahih al-Bukhari 1862)
• ◆The reward of an accepted Hajj"Whoever performs Hajj for Allah's sake and does not commit any obscenity or wrongdoing returns free of sin, as on the day his mother bore him." An accepted Hajj (Hajj mabrur) has no reward less than Paradise. (Sahih al-Bukhari 1521)