On the 8th of ذو الحجة (Yawm al-Tarwiyah), الحجاج enter الإحرام from their accommodation in مكة, declare the intention (niyyah) for الحج, recite the التلبية, and travel to the tent city of منى. There they pray Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha — each shortened to two ركعة where applicable — and spend the night in worship and rest.
On the morning of the 8th ذو الحجة, perform الغسل (ritual bath) at your accommodation in مكة. Men put on the two white unstitched garments of الإحرام (izar and rida'). Women wear their normal modest clothing. Apply unscented soap; perfume applied before the niyyah is جائز عند جمهور العلماء, based on the hadith of Aisha (RA). Once dressed, pray two ركعة of سنة if it is not a مكروه time for الصلاة.
Make the intention in your heart for الحج. The verbal declaration is مستحب but not واجب in the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools. Say: 'Labbayk Allahumma Hajjan' (Here I am, O Allah, for الحج). If you fear an obstacle that may prevent you from completing الحج, add the condition (ishtiraat): 'If anything prevents me, then my place of release is wherever You hold me.' Then begin the التلبية and continue reciting it frequently throughout the day.
These are the most frequent errors pilgrims make during this stage of Hajj.
Scholarly references supporting this guidance from established Islamic sources.
After entering الإحرام, travel to the valley of منى, approximately 5-8 km east of المسجد الحرام. Most الحجاج take organized buses; walking is also جائز and was the practice of النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم). Continue reciting the التلبية throughout the journey. Upon arrival, locate your assigned tent and settle in. منى is a vast tent city in a narrow valley between mountains.
Upon arriving in منى, pray Dhuhr as two ركعة (qasr — the traveler's shortening). Then pray Asr as two ركعة at its appointed time. Each الصلاة is prayed at its own time; they are NOT combined on this day عند جمهور العلماء. النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) prayed each الصلاة at its time in منى, shortened but not combined.
Pray Maghrib at its time as three ركعة (Maghrib is never shortened). Then pray Isha at its time as two ركعة (qasr). Engage in dhikr, recitation of القرآن, and دعاء between the الصلوات. This is a blessed night of preparation before the great day of عرفة.
Spend the night in your tent at منى. This overnight stay (mabit) is سنة on the 8th. Use the time for rest, personal reflection, recitation of القرآن, and preparing your heart for the Day of عرفة. Pray Fajr the next morning at its earliest time, then prepare to depart for عرفة after sunrise. النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) waited until after sunrise to leave منى for عرفة.