The rites of Hajj and ‘Umra

How does a Muslim observe the rites of Hajj and ‘Umra?

In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

All praise is due to Allah, and prayers and peace of Allah be upon the Messenger of Allah.

The best way for the Muslim, to perform the rites of Hajj and ‘Umra, is to perform them the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) performed them, to gain Allah’s love and forgiveness {Say (O Muhammad prayers and peace of Allah be upon him to mankind): "If you (really) love Allâh then follow me (i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur’ân and the Sunnah), Allâh will love you and forgive you your sins} [Surat Al-Imran 3:31]

{قُلْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ} آل عمران:31

Transliteration: Qul in kuntum tuhibboona Allaha faittabiAAoonee yuhbibkumu Allahu wayaghfir lakum thunoobakum

The best way (in performing Hajj) is to practice Tamattu’, if you did not have Hadi (i.e. sacrificial animal) with you. This is because the Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) ordered his companions to do that, emphasized his order and said: “If I had formerly known what I came to know lately, I would not have brought the Hadi (sheep to sacrifice) with me. Had there been no Hadi with me, I would have finished the state of Ihram.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhari]

« لو استقبلت من أمري ما استدبرت ما سقت الهدي ، ولحللت مع الناس حين حلوا » رواه البخاري

Tamattu’ means that the pilgrim performs complete ‘Umra in the months of Hajj and ends the state of Ihram, then, enters again in the state of Ihram to perform Hajj in the same year.

The rites of ‘Umra:

1- If you reached the Miqat (The place where you initiate Ihram from) and intended to enter the state of Ihram to perform ‘Umra, you should bathe as you do after having sexual intercourse (with your wife), if you can. Then Put on the clothes of Ihram, which are Izar and Rida’ (the woman could wear whatever she likes as long as it does not show her adornment), then say:
“Labbaika Umra, Labbaika Allahumma Labbaik, Labbaika la sharika Laka labbaik, Inna-l-hamda wan-ni'mata Laka walmulk, La sharika Lak.” (Talbyah)
(Translation: “Here I am for ‘Umra, here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am. You have no partner. Here I am. Surely all praise, grace and dominion is yours, and you have no partner.”)
“Labbaika” means here I am responding to Your call for performing Hajj or Umra.

2- Then when you arrive to Makkah perform seven circumbulations around the Ka’bah, for ‘Umra, starting from the black stone and ending at it. Then pray two Rak’ah, as close as conveniently possible, behind Maqam Ibrahim.

3- After praying the two Rak’ah, go out to As-Safa and perform Sa’i between As-Safa and Al-Marwah seven times, for ‘Umra, starting from As-Safa and ending at Al-Marwah.

4- After Sa’I (walking between the two mountains), cut your hair (shave it or shorten it).
By doing so, you had completed your ‘Umra. So, disengage your Ihram and wear your clothes.

The rites of Hajj:

1- In the forenoon of the eighth day of Dhul-Hijja, put on your Ihram for Hajj in the place in which you are staying. You should take a bathe, if it were possible, and then put on your Ihram and say:
“Labbaika Hajj, Labbaika Allahumma Labbaik, Labbaika la sharika Laka labbaik, Inna-l-hamda wan-ni'mata Laka walmulk, La sharika Laka.” (Talbyah)
(Translation: “Here I am for Hajj, here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am. You have no partner. Here I am. Surely all praise, grace and dominion is yours, and you have no partner.”)

2- Then go to Mina and there pray Dhuhr, Asr, Maghreb, Isha and Fajr, shortening your four Rak’as prayers so as to make them two Rak’as each, without combining them.

3- When the sun rises, go to ‘Arafa and there pray Dhuhr and Asr combined at the time of Dhuhr, making each one two Rak’as. You must remain there (in Masjid Namira) until sunset, remembrance of Allah and make as many supplications as possible while facing the Qiblah.

4- At sunset go from ‘Arafa to Muzdalifah and there pray Maghreb, Isha, and Fajr, and remain there, in Muzdalifah, for making supplications and remembering Allah till just before sunrise. If you are weak and cannot handle the crowd during Ar-Ramy, it is permissible for you to go to Mina at the end of the night to stone the Jamrah before the arrival of the crowd.

5- Near sunrise, you have to go from Muzdalifah to Mina. Upon reaching it, do the following:
a.Stone Jamrat Al-‘Aqabah: It is the closest monument to Makkah; you have to throw it with seven consecutive pebbles saying “Allah is Greatest” at throwing each pebble.
b.Slaughter the sacrificial animal, eat some of it, and give some to the poor. Slaughter is obligatory on the Mutamatti’ and Qarin.
c.Shave or clip your hair; shaving is preferable. (Women clip from their hair the length of a fingertip)
These three should be done in the above order if convenient, but there is no restriction if one preceded another.
With that, one is allowed to come out of Ihram. You can wear other clothing and do everything that was lawful before Ihram except engaging in marital relations.

6- Then go to Makkah to perform Tawaf Al-lfadah and Sa'i, also for Hajj.
With the completion of this Tawaf and Sa'i, you are allowed to do everything that was lawful before Ihram, including engaging in marital relations.

7- After performing Tawaf and Sa'i, return to Mina to spend the nights of the eleventh and twelfth days there.

8- Then stone the three Jamrah in the afternoon of both the eleventh and twelfth days. You would start with the first Jamrah, which is furthest from Makkah, then the middle one, and lastly Jamrat Al-‘Aqabah. Each one should be stoned with seven consecutive pebbles accompanied by Takbir. You would stop after the first and middle Jamrah to make supplications facing the Qiblah. It is not permissible to stone before noon on these two days.

9- If you are in a hurry after stoning on the twelfth day, you can leave Mina before sunset. But if you wish to prolong your stay, which is best, you can spend the night of the thirteenth in Mina and stone afternoon in the same manner as on the twelfth day.

10- When you are ready to return to your country, you would make Tawaf Al-Wada', which is seven circuits around the Ka’bah. Menstruating women and women experiencing postnatal discharge are not obligated to perform Tawaf Al-Wada'.

Tips:

The following is incumbent upon the Muhrim for Hajj or ‘Umra:

1- To be committed to Allah's religious obligations upon him; such as observing prayer in its time in congregation (for men).

2- To avoid what Allah has prohibited; such as having sexual relations (with the wife), committing sin, and disobedience: {So whosoever intends to perform Hajj therein (by assuming Ihrâm), then he should not have sexual relations (with his wife), nor commit sin, nor dispute unjustly during the Hajj.} [Surat Al-Baqarah 2:197]

{فَمَنْ فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ الْحَجَّ فَلا رَفَثَ وَلا فُسُوقَ وَلا جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ{البقرة: 197

Transliteration: faman farada feehinna alhajja fala rafatha wala fusooqa wala jidala fee alhajji

3- To avoid harming the Muslims with words or actions within the places of performing the rites of worship or elsewhere.

4- To avoid all of the restrictions of Ihram:
a.He shouldn't cause the loss of any of his hair or nails. A prick by a thorn and the like is unobjectionable, even if there is bleeding.
b.He shouldn't use perfume, his clothing, his food or his drink after entering Ihram. He should also abstain from cleansing himself with scented soap. There is no harm in what remains of the effect of perfume used prior to Ihram.
c.He should not hunt (i.e. not to kill the wild lawful animal).
d.He shouldn't touch, kiss, etc. his spouse out of passion and, even worse, shouldn't have sexual intercourse.
e.He shouldn't be wed or propose to a woman for himself or others.
f.He shouldn't wear gloves, although there is no harm in wrapping the hands in cloth. These rulings go for both men and women.

The following pertains are specifically to men:

a.Not to cover his head with something that touches it, although there is no harm in the use of an umbrella, the roof of a car or tent for shade. There is also no harm in carrying his baggage atop his head.
b.Not to wear a shirt, turban, hooded cloak, trousers or shoes. Only if he is unable to obtain an Izar or sandals can he wear trousers or shoes.
c.Not to wear anything with the same qualities of the above mentioned; such as cloak, hat, undershirt, etc.

- It is permissible for him to wear sandals, rings, glasses, a hearing aid, a watch (worn on his wrist or hung from his neck) or girdle with a bag contains his money, even if it was sewn.
- It is permissible for him to cleanse himself with unscented cleansers and to wash and scratch his head and body. Even if some of his hair falls unintentionally, In such a case there is no obligation on him because of it.
- A woman cannot wear a Niqab (i.e. veil) or Burqu'. The Sunnah is for her to uncover her face, except if there are marriageable men who might see her, in which case it is obligatory for her to cover her face during Ihram and otherwise.

Allah is the giver of success. May His blessings be upon our prophet Muhammad and all of his family and companions.