Practical Advice for Hajj

IMPORTANT Concepts from the MERCY OF ALLAH SWT:

1. "LIFE IS MORE IMPORTANT". Do NOT do any thing that will jeopardize your life or lives of others while performing Hajj. GOD forbid, for physical or mental reasons, if you are unable to complete an "ark'an" do NOT risk your life. Allah SWT is the All-See'er and the All-Knower. He knows your inner intentions and will forgive you if your difficulty was genuine and your intentions were truly honorable. 

2. Your Hajj is "ACCEPTABLE TO Allah" ONLY DUE TO HIS DIVINE MERCY and NOT because of your deeds. Nevertheless, a Haji must try and fulfill each rite to the best of his or her ability. For genuine mistakes, you can perform "DHUMM", special animal sacrifice for expiations of mistakes, and seek Allah's forgiveness.  

3. Hajj is a VISIT TO Allah's House. Only the fortunate are invited. So be MINDFUL and RESPECTFUL of the Divine Host at ALL times. In Makka, even the mere thought of committing a sin is a sin.

• Pilgrims should know that Allah had ordered "Manasik" and "Sunnah" on us, but He would not accept the Sunnah from those who neglect the Manasik and the Fardh. Some pilgrims may cause harm to others while performing Sunnah, for example, trying to kiss the "Black Stone", rushing during "Tawaf", or rushing to drink "Zamzam". Pilgrims should avoid doing a Sunnah if doing it would harm others. Harming others is forbidden.

• Seek clarification of religious issues and Hajj which you do not understand from those scholars who possess knowledge and in authentic well-meaning books.

• The methods to perform the "Manasik" of Hajj differ from "madhab" to "madhab". Various books have various ways to perform the same duty. You should SELECT authentic books and follow the information therein.

• When you arrive, the Saudi Government Ministry Of Hajj representatives will hand out a book titled, "A Guide To Hajj, Umrah And Visiting The Prophet's Mosque". I personally found that particular book very easy to follow when compared to the several books I purchased and took with me.

• It is said, that when you first see "Ka'ba Shareef", the "dua" (supplications) you make is InshaAllah, accepted by Allah SWT. You can pray, "O Allah! Please accept ALL my dua and ALL my Ibadat!"

• Make "dua" for all the people who have asked you to pray on their behalf individually by using the list of names or by praying, "Our Lord! Grant us Good in this world, and in the Hereafter, and SAVE us from the torments of the hell fire for all Muslim brothers and sisters who have asked me to pray for them and all the Muslims."

• Certain books recommend special "Dua" for each unit of each rite. Remember, the supplications must be from the "Masnoon Dua" (Prophet Muhammad's Prayers).

• Alhamdu-lil-llah, there is nothing better if you are able to memorize and recite a "Masnoon dua" for each "rukn" of each "Arka'an". However, trying to read and recite from a book makes one lose the special moment. It is hard to read and recite from books and manage oneself, when there is lots of pushing and pulling in the dense crowds. It may be better to recite shorter "Dua" from memory and be immersed in the once-in-lifetime occasion.

• Learn as much Arabic as possible. You might want to get English-Arabic/ Arabic-English dictionaries to make communications easier with people in Hijaz. 

• Do not allow "Iblis" (Satan), to sow seeds of discord among you during Hajj. Love and care for each other, avoid bickering and disobedience of Allah . Remember the saying of Prophet Muhammad, that no one of you is a true believer until he loves for his Muslim brother what he loves for himself. * 

• It is not permissible for a male Muslim to perform a prayer near a woman or behind her in the Holy Mosque or at any other place for whatsoever reason as long as he is able to avoid that. Women should pray behind men. 

• Some brief words of advice which the late Shaikhul Hadith Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhalvi had reminded his friends when they came to meet him before departure for Hajj. (Reproduced from a leaflet published by the Waterval Islamic Institute, P O box 1, Johannesburg 2000). 

1. Always regard those moments of life which you are blessed with as valuable, and not to be wasted. One cannot predict whether one would be graced with another good fortune and opportunity or not ? Never waste one's time in vain, meaningless chatting. 

2. During ones presence in the Musjidul Haram and Masjid An-Nabavi, a persons conduct and behavior must be respectful, graceful and exemplary. Neither indulge in uncalled for nonsensical humor, joking and mocking, nor be occupied in staring and idolizing the decor and finery of those places. 

3. Great care and due consideration must be exercised in the required reverence, ethics and etiquette of both those holy places. Any improper conduct is extremely harmful and disastrous. One should neither criticize the things nor the inhabitants of both sacred places. After all those dwellers are humans also. Everyone on earth is prone to err and would make mistakes. In such circumstances instead of taking note of others shortcomings one must in particular focus and monitor ones own failings. 

4. One must abstain from all sins. Since many (men and) women gather at these places, specific care must be taken to avoid "Bud-nathariy". Bud-nathariy for men is to look with lust and ogle at non-mah-ram females (for females it is vice versa). In addition one is required particularly to lower the gaze where females gather for Tawaf in Makkah and Salat-o-Salam in Madinah.

SPECIAL NOTE: BECAUSE OF SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN THE METHODS OF PERFORMING THE RITES OF HAJJ, THIS WEBSITE IS CONSCIENCELY NOT PROVIDING DETAIL INFORMATION ON SPECIFIC RELIGIOUS ACTIONS TO BE PERFORMED FOR EACH "ARKA'AN". You are advised to select authentic books that conform to your "madhab".

Ifrad, Qiran, Tamattu` Restrictions of Ihram An Interrupted Hajj For Medical Reason Short History of the Ka`bah Ar-Ramal: Walking Briskly in Dignity So That Our Hajj May Be Accepted The Rebuilding of the Ka`bah Experience of Hajj and Umrah Entering the Sacred Mosque Zamzam Water - A Miracle Hajj Requirements and Regulations