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الحج consists of entering الإحرام at the الميقات, performing الطواف al-qudum upon arriving in مكة, السعي between الصفا and المروة, standing at عرفة on the 9th of ذو الحجة, spending the night at مزدلفة, stoning الجمرات al-Aqaba, offering the sacrifice, shaving the head, performing الطواف al-ifadah, and completing the days of tashreeq with stoning and overnight stays at منى.
Before departing for الحج, the الحاج must fulfill prerequisites: Islam, sanity, puberty, physical and financial ability, and for women, a mahram (male guardian) or safe companionship عند جمهور العلماء. The الحاج must repent from all sins, settle debts, write a will, and learn the essential rites. There are three types of الحج: Tamattu' (العمرة first, then الحج — مستحب by النبي, صلى الله عليه وسلم, for those not bringing a sacrificial animal), Qiran (العمرة and الحج combined in one الإحرام), and Ifrad (الحج only, no العمرة). النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: 'If I were to do it again, I would not have brought a sacrificial animal, and I would have made it an العمرة' (صحيح البخاري, 1651). الشيخ ابن باز مستحب Tamattu' as the best type for most الحجاج.
Upon reaching the designated الميقات boundary, perform الغسل, wear the الإحرام garments (two white unstitched cloths for men; modest regular clothing for women), and make the intention for الحج. For Tamattu', first make the intention for العمرة: 'Labbayk Allahumma Umratan' — perform العمرة, exit الإحرام, then re-enter الإحرام for الحج on the 8th of ذو الحجة. For Qiran, say: 'Labbayk Allahumma Hajjan wa Umratan.' For Ifrad, say: 'Labbayk Allahumma Hajjan.' Then begin reciting the التلبية. The five الميقات points were designated by النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) as narrated by Ibn Abbas in صحيح البخاري (1524) and صحيح مسلم (1181).
These are the most frequent errors pilgrims make during this stage of Hajj.
Scholarly references supporting this guidance from established Islamic sources.
Upon arriving in مكة, proceed to المسجد الحرام and perform الطواف al-Qudum (the arrival الطواف). This consists of 7 circuits around the الكعبة beginning and ending at the الحجر الأسود. Keep the الكعبة on your left. Men perform الرَّمَل (brisk walking) in the first 3 circuits and الاضطباع (exposing the right shoulder) throughout all 7 circuits. At the الحجر الأسود, say 'Bismillah, Allahu Akbar' and either kiss it, touch it, or point toward it from a distance. Between the Yemeni Corner and the الحجر الأسود, recite: 'Rabbana atina fi al-dunya hasanah wa fi al-akhirati hasanah wa qina adhab al-nar' (Al-Baqarah 2:201). After الطواف, pray 2 ركعة behind مقام إبراهيم, then drink زمزم water.
After completing الطواف, proceed to the hill of الصفا. Upon reaching الصفا, face the الكعبة and recite: 'Indeed, الصفا and المروة are among the symbols of Allah' (Al-Baqarah 2:158), then say 'Abda'u bima bada'Allahu bihi' (I begin with what Allah began with). Make takbir, tahlil, and دعاء three times. Walk to المروة — this is lap 1. At المروة, face the الكعبة and repeat the دعاء. Walk back to الصفا — this is lap 2. Complete 7 laps ending at المروة. Men jog between the green markers. السعي is a ركن (pillar) of الحج عند the majority, meaning it cannot be compensated by فدية — it must be performed. النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: 'Perform السعي, for Allah has prescribed السعي for you' (مسند أحمد, 27394, authenticated by الألباني).
The Day of عرفة is the greatest day of الحج. النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: 'الحج is عرفة' (سنن النسائي, 3016, authenticated by الألباني). On the morning of the 9th of ذو الحجة, travel from منى to the plain of عرفة after sunrise. The time of standing at عرفة begins at noon (zawal) and extends until Fajr of the 10th. Pray Dhuhr and Asr combined and shortened (2 ركعة each) at the time of Dhuhr, with one adhan and two iqamahs. Spend the rest of the day in دعاء, dhikr, and istighfar. Face the القبلةh, raise your hands, and supplicate with humility and hope. This is the best day for دعاء — Allah descends to the lowest heaven and boasts of the الحجاج to the angels. The best دعاء of عرفة is: 'La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa ala kulli shay'in qadir.'
After sunset on the Day of عرفة, depart for مزدلفة calmly and with dignity. Upon arriving, pray Maghrib and Isha combined (Maghrib 3 ركعة, Isha shortened to 2 ركعة), with one adhan and two iqamahs. This combination is أُسس in the السنة — النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) did not pray any nafl الصلوات between them (صحيح البخاري, 1673). Spend the night at مزدلفة — this overnight stay is واجب (واجب) عند جمهور العلماء. Collect pebbles for the stoning (7 pebbles for the 10th, or 49/70 total for all days). Pray Fajr at its earliest time, then make دعاء facing the القبلةh until the sky brightens. Depart before sunrise toward منى.
The 10th of ذو الحجة is the Day of Sacrifice (يوم النحر), the busiest day of الحج with multiple rites. The السنة order is: (1) Stone الجمرات al-Aqaba (the large pillar) with 7 pebbles, saying 'Allahu Akbar' with each throw. Stop the التلبية upon the first throw. (2) Offer the sacrificial animal (هدي) — واجب for Tamattu' and Qiran الحجاج. (3) Shave the head (الحلق, preferable) or trim (التقصير). After shaving, the first التحلل (partial release) occurs — all الإحرام restrictions are lifted EXCEPT sexual relations. (4) Perform الطواف al-Ifadah (the الطواف of الحج, a ركن/pillar) and السعي (if not done earlier). After الطواف al-ifadah, the second التحلل occurs and ALL restrictions are lifted. النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was flexible about the order of these acts on this day (صحيح البخاري, 83).
The days of التشريق are the 11th, 12th, and 13th of ذو الحجة. On each day, stone all three الجمرات in order: small (7 pebbles), middle (7 pebbles), large (7 pebbles) — 21 pebbles per day. The stoning time begins after zawal (noon). After stoning the small and middle pillars, stop and make دعاء facing the القبلةh. After the large pillar, leave without stopping for دعاء. Spend the nights at منى — this is واجب. A الحاج may leave on the 12th after stoning if he wishes (this is called al-nufur al-awwal, the first departure), as Allah says: 'Whoever hastens in two days, there is no sin on him' (Al-Baqarah 2:203). Before leaving مكة, perform الطواف al-Wida' (the farewell الطواف) — this is واجب for all الحجاج except menstruating women. النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: 'Let none of you depart until the last thing he does is الطواف around the House' (صحيح مسلم, 1327).