Hajj Guide: Step by Step Guide to Performing Hajj

The sacred rituals of the Hajj pilgrimage start from the 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul Hijjah. They begin a major pilgrimage with a pure intention on the 8th Dhul Hajj to please Allah SWT. The Hajj journey starts with wearing sacred Ihram, making pure intention followed by major rituals, performing Tawaf around the Holy Kaaba, running between two mountains, moving to Mina, standing in the plain of Arafah, collecting pebbles from Muzdalifah, throwing pebbles at Shaytan (Rami ), sacrificing animals and shaving head. All these Hajj events take place on different dates of Dhul Hijjah. 

Preparation of Hajj pilgrimage:

• Wearing Ihram: Pilgrims start the Hajj pilgrimage by wearing clean, white, and simple clothing. Men pilgrims wear a 2-piece white cloth as Ihram at the point of Meeqat. Whereas, female pilgrims wear an Abaya, hijab, and Jilbab as Ihram. Hajj rituals starts with pure intention and wear Ihram, followed by returning to Ihram and traveling to Mina for prayer on the 8th day of Hajj.
• Making pure intention: Muslims pilgrims start the Hajj pilgrimage with pure intention so Allah SWT accepts their piousness and purity of Niyyah. 

Rites and Rituals of Hajj pilgrimage:

• Recitation of Talbiyah: Pilgrims starts the Hajj pilgrimage by constantly saying Talbiyah, They repeat these sacred words after entering the Ihram until the stoning of Jamarat al-Aqaba on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah. 
• Tawaf: During the Hajj pilgrimage pilgrims circumambulates around the Holy Kaaba for seven times starting and ending at the black stone (Hajar al-Aswad). Hajj pilgrims perform Tawaf on the 10th Day of Dhul al-Hijjah (Yawm al-Nahr).
• Sai: Walking between the two mountains of Safa and Marwah hills in remembrance of Hazrat Hajra A.S. it is an important ritual of Hajj that reenact Hajars search for water for his young children.
• Day of Arafat: On the 9th day of Hajj, pilgrims travel to Arafah and spend the entire day performing prayers and asking supplications from Allah Almighty. After sunset, Hajj pilgrims proceed to Muzdalifah, ask Duas and gather pebbles for Rami. 
• Muzdalifah: After Arafah, Hajj pilgrims travel to the Muzdalifah, they spend the night under the stars, and collect pebbles for Rami.
• Rami (Stonning the Devil): Muslims throw pebbles at the three stone pillar symbolizes Jamarat in Mina. This action which symbolizes that Muslims are rejecting of evil temptations. 
• Sacrifice: On the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, pilgrims celebrate Eid al-Adha and sacrifice an animal in remembrance of the Sunnah of Hazrat Ibrahim A.S. 
• 10th Day of Dhul Hajj: Finally, the main day of Hajj arrived on Day 10, when they go to Mina and perform Rami at Jamarat. Some pilgrims perform Tawaf al-Ifadah and Sai on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah.