Hope of Islam: Hajj Knowledge

Actions to be Done on the 8th Day of Dhul Hejjah:

Staying overnight at Mena this day (from the sunset of the eighth day of the Dhul Hejjah until the near Fajr (dawn) of Arafa day appears).If you are performing Hajj Tamattu, go into the state of Ihram morning or noon from the place where you are staying in Makkah. It is good for you to purify yourself by bathing, perfuming and wearing a two –piece unstitched clean white garment. And then intend for Hajj and say: "labbaika Hajjan". Which means: "I am here for Hajj". Then you say "Labbaika Allahumma Labbaika, Labbaika la Shareeka laka labbaik, innal Hamda Wanni'mata Laka Wal Mulk, Laa Shareeka Lak". Which means: "Here I am for Hajj- here I am, Oh Allah, here I am, there is no partner for you, Here I am! Surely, all praise and blessings are for you and dominion is yours. There is no partner for you". For Qarin and Mufrid, they are still in their previous state of Ihram. They start directly Talbiyah "Labbaika Allahumma Labbaik…etc". from the morning of the day.
Leave for Mena in the morning and perform Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha prayers (Dhuhr, Asr and Isha are each shortened to two Rakats (units) only but are not combined). Then perform Fajr prayer of the ninth day.
Soon after the sun rises leave for Arafat.

Actions to be Done on the 9th Day of Dhul Hejjah:

The standing (wuqoof) in Arafat is one of the most fundamental rites of Hajj and the prophet PBUH said: "al Hajj Arafah". Which means: "Hajj is Arafah".Its time:

a) The best: from the afternoon till after the sunset.

b) The permissible: from the dawn of the 9th day till the down of the 10th day. If you have spent even a few minutes in Arafat, your Hajj is correct. But if your attendance occurs before the sunset only, you are charged for a compensatory animal. Even these minutes take place after sunset, you are not charged with an expiation, but you have missed sleeping in Muzdalefah. In this case, you are charged for an animal for Muzdalefah and not for Arafat.

Soon after the sunrise, leave for Arafat and perform Dhuhr and Asr prayers (combined and shortened during the time of Dhuhr with one Athan/Adhan and two Iqaamahs – and stay there until the sunset. Invoke Allah as much as you can and it is from Sunnah to face Al-Qibla during supplication and not facing the Mountain of Arafat. It is preferred to say this supplication: "Laa ilaaha illaallahu Wahdahu laa Shareeka lahu- lahul mulku wa lahul hamd- Wa huwa 'alaa kulli shai'en qadeer". Which means: "There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, the One without a partner. The domain and the praise are His, and He is powerful over everything".
All of Arafat is a place for standing. Ascending the mountain of Arafat in not permitted. It is preferable to invoke much supplication. It is not necessary to keep standing or say under the sun, you are free to sit and to be sheltered.

2. Leaving Arafat for Muzdalefah:

a) When the sun has set, go to Muzdalefah. When reaching it, pray Maghrib and Isha (combined and shortening the Isha prayer to two Rak'ah with one Adhan and two Iqamahs) before reclining and collecting pebbles.

b) Stay overnight in Muzdalefah to perform the prayer of Fajr (down prayer) and keep busy supplicating waiting for the brightness of the morning is widespread. (Sleeping in Muzdalefah is compulsory) but weak individuals and women are allowed to proceed to Mena at any time after midnight, after the moon has completely disappeared to avoid the crowd.

c) Collect seven pebbles for stoning the Jamarat – ul Aqaba (a stone pillar in Mena). Any place you collect pebbles from is permissible.

d) Leave for Mena before the sun rises.

Actions to be Done on the 10th Day of Dhul Hejjah:

It is preferable to make Du'aa after Fajr till the brightness of the morning is widespread.
Leave for Mena to stone the Jamrat – ul –Aqabah (a stone pillar in Mena) and slaughter an animal or go to Makkah to perform Tawaf-ul –Efaadhah. But shaving can be done in any place.
Stoning of Jamrat –ul – Aqabah: Stone the Jamrat –ul-Aqaba (it is the nearest one to Makkah) with seven consecutive pebbles glorifying Allah " Allahu Akbar" which means: "Allah is the Greatest" as you throw each pebble.
Slaughtering of Sacrifice: Slaughter the sacrificial animal (hady); eat some of it and distribute it among the needy. Slaughtering an animal is compulsory on Mutamatte and Qarin while for Mufrid it is preferred.
Shaving the head or Trimming: Have your head shaved or trimmed but shaving is better. (a woman can cut a finger tip length of her hair).

If you have done stoning and shaving, you end the first phase of the state of Ihram (this is called the first Tahallul). It is also ok if you do two out of four e.g. stoning or shaving or Tawaaf and Sa'yi. (Slaughtering is not included because it is not compulsory for all pilgrims). If you do these four things completely with slaughtering (if it were compulsory), you end the second phase of the state of Ihram (this is called the second Tahallul).First Tahallul means: You can wear other clothing and do everything that was lawful before Ihram except physical contact with the spouse (with or without intercourse or kissing and so on).Second Tahallul means: Everything that you were prohibited from (by Ihram) has been allowed for you even women (sexual intercourse).

6. Tawaaf–ul-Efaadhah: Go to Makkah and perform Tawaaf–ul–Efaadhah (Tawaaf al-Hajj). If you have removed Ihram, circle in clothes you wear.

7. Perform Sa’yi of Hajj: If you are Mutamatte or Qarin and you did not perform the Sa'yi before with Tawaaf ul-Qudoom (the Tawaaf of Arrival), it is permissible to delay Tawaaf–ul–Efaadhah and the Sa'yi Hajj until the 13th day. But the state of Ihram can not be lifted without doing them.
8. Sleeping the days of Tashreeq in Mena: (it is meant by sleeping here to spend the night – even a part f its time – in Mena whether awake or walking and it is not necessary to sleep).

Actions to be Done on the 11th, 12th and 13th Days of Tashreeq:

1. Stoning Jamarat during the days of Tashreeq: (The way of stoning): After the decline of the sun, throw pebbles at the three Jamrats, starting from the smaller one (the furthest one from Makkah), the medium one and the biggest alternatively. Throw seven pebbles at each Jamrat, glorifying Allah "Allahu Akbar" with each throw and perform much du'a (supplicate) with raised hands after the smallest and medium Jamrat and don't stop after Jamrat–ul-Aqabah.

2. Sleeping in Mena these days, as it is mentioned on the 10th day.

3. If you complete stoning on the 12th, and you want to leave earlier, leave Mena before the sun sets. If the sun sets before you are able to depart, remain in Mena on the 13th day and stone the three Jamrats early afternoon of that day.

4. Farewell Tawaaf:It is the final rite of Hajj.

If you want to go to your country, circle the Kaaba seven times (Tawaaf al Wadaa) (farewell Tawaaf) in your clothes. And you have to leave Makkah.

Otherwise if you stay, you have to repeat Tawaaf.(A menstruating woman or a woman having postnatal discharge would be exempted from Tawaaf al Wadaa).

Reminders:

The Fundamental Rites of Umrah: