60. Hajj At A Glance

For the convenience of pilgrims the steps of Hajj at-tamattu' that is Umrah and Hajj separately are presented.

1. Upon reaching the meeqat the pilgrim bathes, perfumes himself and puts on the Ihram garments and sandals. Then he makes the intention in his heart of performing Umrah and calls out " Labbayka Bi Umrah ," meaning " I respond to You with 'Umrah."

It is allowable to bathe, change and wash one's Ihram garments after assuming Ihram. 

2. A pilgrim travelling by airplane should put on the ihram garments before boarding or change before reaching the meeqat. Near the meeqat he should make the intention and call out the talbiyah as follows and should continue reciting it intermittently.

"I respond in obedience to You, O Allah - I respond.I respond - no partner is there to You -I respond. All praise and favour is Yours and sovereignty. There is no partner to you.

3. Upon reaching Makkah he should enter al - Masjid - Al haram and perform tawaf al- qudum or tawaf al-Umrah starting opposite the Black Stone. He should observe ramal and idhtiba in this tawaf only. In each circuit he should either kiss the Black Stone or touch it with his hand or a stick and kiss that instead; if it is too crowded he may merely point his hand in its direction and say " Allahu Akbar" each time.

4. During tawaf one should recite any proper supplication without raising the voice, which disturbs others. Between ar-Rukn al-Yamani and the Black Stone it is Sunnah to recite

Rabbana 'Atina fid dunya hasanatan wa fil akhirati hasanatan waqina Azaban naar.

"Our Lord give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter and protect us from the torment of the fire"

5. After completing 7 circuits around the Ka'bah one should go to Maqam Ibraheem while reciting

wattakhizu mim-Ma-qaamil 'Ibrahiima musalla.

"And take the station of Ibraheem as a place of prayer."

He should then pray two raka'h behind Maqam Ibraheem or anywhere possible. In the first ra'kah after Al-Fatihah he should recite Surah Al-kafiroon and Surah Al-ikhlas in the second ra'kah.

Passing the hands over Maqam Ibraheem, the Black Stone or other parts of the Ka'bah for "blessing" is not a legitimate Islamic practice and should be avoided.

6. Then the pilgrim should go to the well of Zamzam and drink his fill of water and pour it over his head.

7. Next he may go back to the Black Stone and either kiss it or touch it with his hand or a stick if it is possible to do so without pushing or harming other Muslims.

8. Then he should perform Sa'i between as-Safa and al-Marwah starting from as-Safa and finishing at al-Marwah. When first ascending the Mount of as-Safa he should recite:

"Innas-Safaa wal-Marwata min sha aa'irllah. 'Abda'u bimaa bada'allaahu bihi".

Verily as- Safa and al-Marwah are the symbols of Allah. I begin with what Allah began with.

Ascending as-Safa until he can see the Ka'bah the pilgrim should face the Qiblah. It is sunnah to recite the following three times, each time followed by his own supplication.

Laaa Ilaaha Illa-llaahu Wahdahoo Laa Shareeka-lahoo Lahu-l Mulku Walahu-l Hamdu Yuhyee Wayumeetu Wahuwa Hayyu-l Laa Yamootu Abadan Abada. Dhu-l Jalaali Wal Ikraam. Biyadihil Khair. Wahuwa Alaa Kulli Shai-‘in Qadeer.

"There is none worthy of worship except ALLAH. He is alone and has no partner. To Him belongs the Kingdom and for HIM is all praise. HE gives life and causes death. In HIS hand is all good and HE has power over everything."

Afterwards, he should descend and walk towards al-Marwah, hastening between the two green markers. Upon climbing al- Marwah and facing the Qiblah he should recite the same as on as-Safa. In this way he should complete seven one - way trips finishing at al- Marwah.

9. After completing the Sa'i he should either shave his head or cut his hair and remove the Ihram garments, replacing them with his usual dress. This completes the Umrah.

10. He should then wait until the 8th of Dhul- Hijjah for the Hajj rites to begin.