What should I pack for الحج?

Packing for الحج requires balancing between having everything you need and keeping your luggage manageable, as you will be moving between multiple locations (مكة, منى, عرفة, مزدلفة, and possibly المدينة) and storage space in tents and shared rooms is limited. Start with the essentials: for men, pack at least two sets of الإحرام garments (two white unstitched sheets each — the izar and rida) so you have a clean set available; for women, comfortable modest clothing that covers appropriately. Both men and women should bring comfortable, durable sandals or open-toed shoes that are easy to slip on and off (you will remove them frequently at the مسجد), and consider bringing a second pair as backup.

Health and hygiene items are critical given the physical demands of الحج and the extreme الحرارة. Pack all prescription الأدويةs in their original packaging with a doctor's letter, plus a generous supply of over-the-counter essentials: pain relievers, anti-diarrheal الأدوية, antihistamines, throat lozenges, band-aids and blister plasters, antiseptic cream, واقي الشمس (SPF 50+, unscented during الإحرام), lip balm with SPF, a small الإسعافات الأولية kit, electrolyte sachets or reالترطيب salts (essential for الحرارة management), and any personal medical devices. Toiletries should be unscented during الإحرام — bring unscented soap, shampoo, deodorant, and wet wipes. A small towel and a compact الصلاة rug are useful. Pack a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the الحج.

For documents and valuables, bring your passport, visa documents, vaccination certificates, travel insurance papers, hotel booking confirmations, and الطوارئ contact information — make photocopies of everything and store them separately from the originals. A secure waist pouch or neck wallet is essential for keeping valuables safe in crowds. For electronics, bring your phone with a portable charger (10,000+ mAh مستحب), a universal power adapter (المملكة العربية السعودية uses Type G plugs), and a small flashlight for مزدلفة's nighttime activities. A lightweight backpack or shoulder bag for day-to-day movement between sites is invaluable. Finally, pack a small دعاء book or download an offline دعاء app like الإحرامOS before departure, as internet connectivity during الحج days is unreliable.