Can I ask about Islam: Book 2 – The Pillars of Islam1

Lesson eleven
More about the Hajj?

Did people still come for Hajj before the days of planes, trains and
automobiles?

Yes. Believe it or not, they did. Just imagine the distances they had to cover.

It must have been much tougher than today?

Today’s Hajj journey is relatively luxurious compared to days past. 500 years ago, Saudi
Arabian Airlines did not have multiple daily, chartered flights from Jakarta to Jeddah,
obviously not! Over the past 1,400 years travelling to Hajj meant leaving your village or
city for months to face possible disease, starvation, harsh weather, hostile terrain and
even bandits, and that’s if you were lucky! ☺

It seems like a major test of a believer’s patience and self-sacrifice?

Yes. Hajj is most definitely an onerous task. It is by no means an easy feat to

accomplish. It involves travel away from home and business for long periods of time,
giving up your comfort and security, spending of your wealth and living and journeying
in confined and awkward conditions.

But still Muslims came in big numbers?

Yes. Over the centuries Muslims have attended in their hundreds and thousands and
today continue to attend in their millions. It is estimated that by the year 2050, the Hajj
congregation will total some six million, Insha’Allaah. They attend despite the severest
odds and not, as is said in England, "for love nor money". They do it to seek Allaah’s
pleasure.

So many Muslims in one place? It must be an amazing sight to behold?

1
‘Can I ask about Islam?’ series, by Abu Omar Faheem Hasan, © Straight Path Books, Islamic Publishing, London, UK (SPB) and
www.caniaskaboutislam.com, and the author, 1426, 2006; For terms and conditions of use, go to the aforementioned website.
Truly amazing! Hajj allows Muslims to witness first hand the sheer scale and diversity of
the Ummah (The international community of Muslims). The numbers physically present
are phenomenal. They are of all different shapes and sizes, different dimensions,
cultures and colours speaking a multitude of different languages. Amidst all that
diversity, they all wear the same simple garments, worshipping Allaah. It gives us all
hope and strength.

Can I go to Hajj more than once?

Yes you can, but the first Hajj is the one that is counted as your once-in-a-lifetime fard
obligation.

I heard my auntie telling my mother that she’s not ready for Hajj yet. She
said she will do it later, Insha’Allaah. She was scared that she has to change
her ways after doing Hajj and become a better Muslim.

This is a misguided and, regrettably, prevalent attitude amongst many Muslims

1. The Shari’ah2 states that as soon as a person becomes physically and financially
able to perform the Hajj, it becomes binding upon them;
2. Why is she “waiting” to become a better Muslim? We should all strive to be
obedient servants of Allaah all our lives, not just after Hajj;
3. What if she was to die tomorrow without having done Hajj? Muhammad
sallallaahu `alayhe wasallam said, “Expedite the performance of Hajj for nobody
knows what may obstruct him” (Ahmed);
4. Hajj is not an easy task to fulfil. Does it not make sense to undertake it when we
are fit and able rather than when we are old and infirm?

The younger and fitter, the better!

It makes sense. Instead of backpacking around Europe or wherever, umrah and Hajj
should be the great journey that young people are passionate to make.

Is the method of doing Hajj the same for everybody?

In the main, yes. However, there are three different types of Hajj that can be done,
depending upon your circumstances:
1. Hajj Ifraad (The Isolated Hajj) Here the pilgrim has the intention to do Hajj only
and not Umrah (minor pilgrimage) with it. This person is not obligated also to
offer an animal sacrifice. A person who does Hajj Ifraad is called a Mufrid.

2
Islamic jurisprudence or legal code
2. Hajj Qiraan (Accompanied Hajj). Here the Hajj is combined with an Umrah. The
pilgrim must do umrah and remain in ihraam right up until he starts the Hajj. A
person who does Hajj Qiraan is called a Qaarin.
3. Hajj Tamattu (Relaxed Hajj) The pilgrim here does Hajj. However, he may come
out of ihraam after completion of the umrah. A person who does Hajj Tamattu
is called a Mutamatti.

I am going on Hajj Insha’Allaah this year. Could you summarise the Hajj for
me?

Okay, Here is a brief description as to what you should do daily.3

3
This is a brief guide only. You should take with you comprehensive guides but respected scholars for a
proper day by day account of the rites to observe on the Hajj. The following Hajj guides are particularly
recommended:
By Sheikh Al Albaani, http://www.allaahuakbar.net/scholars/albaani/hajj_and_umrah.htm
By Sheikh Bin Baaz (published in book form)
By Sheikh Uthaimeen,* http://www.islaam.net/main/display.php?id=57&category=7
By Sheikh Sayed Sabiq http://www.islamonline.net/english/hajj/2002/01/topic1a.shtml
By Brother Bilal Phillips (published in book form)
 DAY ONE: 8th Dhul Hijjah – staying in Mina

What is done on day one?

♦ Perform all your salaah within the boundary of the valley of Mina;
♦ For Asr and Isha, shorten each rak`ah to two, but do them at their proper times –
they should not be joined;
♦ Magrib and Fajr are read as normal;
♦ Throughout the day repeat the talbiya and make supplications to Allaah;
♦ Avoid time wasting talk!

DAY TWO: 9th Dhul Hijjah - Staying in Arafah

What do you do on day TWO?

♦ After sunrise, start leaving Mina to go to the plain of Arafah;

♦ Once you get to Arafah, you can settle yourself down and start `ibaadah (worship);
♦ Arafah day is the greatest and most precious day of your life;
♦ At noon there will be a khutbah (sermon). You should listen to this carefully;
♦ Then do Dhuhr and Asr salaah in jamaa`ah (congregation);
♦ These two salaah should each be shortened to two rak`ahs and joined. They will be
read together in jamaa`ah with one adhaan but TWO iqamaahs;

♦ Throughout this day, maximise your `ibaadah, read Qur’aan and make dua;

♦ You may, if you wish, recite talbiya;

♦ You will notice just before maghrib people will be increasing their dua. This is
because this precious day is coming to an end;
♦ DON’T perform Magrib in Arafah; After sunset, everybody moves to go to
Muzdalifah.

Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhe wasalam said “Allaah does not release more of His
slaves from Hell than on the Day of Arafat. He comes closer to man and speaks
proudly of them to His angels. He says, ‘What do these slaves of Mine seek?’”
(Sahih Muslim)
 DAY TWO (NIGHT): 9th Dhul Hijjah Night
Staying in Muzdalifah

What do you do on the night of day two?

♦ On arrival, immediately do Magrib and Isha. They should be read together in

jamaa`ah with one adhaan but TWO iqamahs. Isha should be Qasr (shortened, i.e.
two rak`ahs);
♦ Your stay in Muzdalifah should be out in the open – under the stars;
♦ Perform Fajr in Muzdalifah and then make dua standing facing qiblah (direction of
the ka`ba);
♦ After Fajr but before sunrise, start moving to Mina;
♦ Move speedily when you go through the Valley of Muhassir;
♦ It is possible for people with families to leave Muzdalifah early, shortly after
midnight.

DAY THREE: 10th Dhul Hijjah

Stoning of the large jamaraat (ramy) and other rites

What do you do on day three?

♦ On arrival in Mina, proceed immediately for the biggest of the jamaraat and throw
seven stones at it;
♦ Do not throw all seven at the same time. Throw them one by one;
♦ All these days you have been saying talbiya - Well NOW, before the throw of the first
stone, you finally stop that;
♦ Say Allaahu Akbar on each throw;
♦ You don’t have to hit the jamaraat directly. Try to hit it but if your stones even go in
that general direction, that will be fine;
♦ After this, it is time to slaughter an animal;
♦ Then, cut / shave your hair;
♦ Remove your ihraam – wear ordinary clothes;
♦ Worldwide it is Eid – but there is no Eid salaah for you on Hajj;
♦ Go to Haram and perform Tawaaf (Tawaaf al-Ifaadah);
♦ Do Sa’ee between safa and marwah (if it was not done before 8th Dhul Hijjah);

DAYS FOUR, FIVE AND SIX: 11th, 12th and 13th Dhul Hijjah
The three days of Tashreeq

What do you do on theses days?

♦ Spend each of the nights between 10th and 13th Dhul Hijjah in Mina;
♦ After Dhuhr on each day go to the Jamaraat and stone all three of them;
♦ Start with the smallest one (nearest Makkah) and end with the largest (nearest Mina);
♦ Throw seven stones at each of the Jamaraat and on each throw say Allaahu Akbar;
♦ After stoning the smaller one, move to ITS RIGHT, face Makkah, raise hands and
make a small dua;
♦ Do the same for the Middle Jamaraat but this time moving to ITS LEFT;
♦ No dua is necessary after stoning final Jamaraat.
♦ On 12th Dhul Hijjah, it is possible to leave for Makkah; However, if you deliberately
fail to leave the boundaries of Mina before sunset, then you MUST stay on and
perform ramy on the 13th.

DAY SIX (or five): Date 13th Dhul Hijjah

(or 12th if left before Magrib)
Tawaaf Al Wida (The Farewell Tawaaf)

Perform tawaaf and then leave Makkah

 More about the Hajj

Questions

1. Can a person go for Hajj more than once?

2. Why should Muslims not delay in doing their Hajj?

3. Name the three types of Hajj?

4. What happens on the first day of Hajj, 8th Dhul Hijjah?

5. What date do the pilgrims go to Arafaah?

6. What happens at Arafaah?

7. Why is the day of Arafaah so special for the pilgrims?

8. When do the pilgrims stay on the night of 9th Dhul Hjjah?

9. Name all the events that happen on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah?

10. In the rest of the world away from the Hajj, what is happening on 10th Dhul

Hijjah?

11. What are the days of tashreeq?