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حج consists of entering احرام at the miqat, performing طواف al-qudum upon arriving in مکہ مکرمہ, sa'i between Safa and Marwa, standing at عرفات on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, spending the night at مزدلفہ, stoning جمرات al-Aqaba, offering the sacrifice, shaving the head, performing طواف al-ifadah, and completing the days of tashreeq with stoning and overnight stays at منیٰ.
Before departing for حج, the حاجی must fulfill prerequisites: Islam, sanity, puberty, physical and financial ability, and for women, a mahram (male guardian) or safe companionship جمہور علماء کے مطابق. The حاجی must repent from all sins, settle debts, write a will, and learn the essential rites. There are three types of حج: Tamattu' (عمرہ first, then حج — مستحب by نبی کریم, صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, for those not bringing a sacrificial animal), Qiran (عمرہ and حج combined in one احرام), and Ifrad (حج only, no عمرہ). نبی کریم (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) said: 'If I were to do it again, I would not have brought a sacrificial animal, and I would have made it an عمرہ' (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1651). Sheikh Ibn Baz مستحب Tamattu' as the best type for most حجاج.
Upon reaching the designated miqat boundary, perform غسل, wear the احرام garments (two white unstitched cloths for men; modest regular clothing for women), and make the intention for حج. For Tamattu', first make the intention for عمرہ: 'Labbayk Allahumma Umratan' — perform عمرہ, exit احرام, then re-enter احرام for حج on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah. For Qiran, say: 'Labbayk Allahumma Hajjan wa Umratan.' For Ifrad, say: 'Labbayk Allahumma Hajjan.' Then begin reciting the تلبیہ. The five miqat points were designated by نبی کریم (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) as narrated by Ibn Abbas in Sahih al-Bukhari (1524) and Sahih Muslim (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 مکہ مکرمہ, proceed to مسجد الحرام and perform طواف al-Qudum (the arrival طواف). This consists of 7 circuits around the کعبۃ اللہ beginning and ending at the حجر اسود. Keep the کعبۃ اللہ on your left. Men perform Raml (brisk walking) in the first 3 circuits and Idtiba' (exposing the right shoulder) throughout all 7 circuits. At the حجر اسود, say 'Bismillah, Allahu Akbar' and either kiss it, touch it, or point toward it from a distance. Between the Yemeni Corner and the حجر اسود, recite: 'Rabbana atina fi al-dunya hasanah wa fi al-akhirati hasanah wa qina adhab al-nar' (Al-Baqarah 2:201). After طواف, pray 2 rak'at behind مقام ابراہیم, then drink زمزم water.
After completing طواف, proceed to the hill of Safa. Upon reaching Safa, face the کعبۃ اللہ and recite: 'Indeed, Safa and Marwa 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 دعا three times. Walk to Marwa — this is lap 1. At Marwa, face the کعبۃ اللہ and repeat the دعا. Walk back to Safa — this is lap 2. Complete 7 laps ending at Marwa. Men jog between the green markers. سعی is a rukn (pillar) of حج according to the majority, meaning it cannot be compensated by fidyah — it must be performed. نبی کریم (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) said: 'Perform sa'i, for Allah has prescribed sa'i for you' (Musnad Ahmad, 27394, authenticated by al-Albani).
The Day of عرفات is the greatest day of حج. نبی کریم (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) said: 'حج is عرفات' (Sunan al-Nasa'i, 3016, authenticated by al-Albani). On the morning of the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, travel from منیٰ to the plain of عرفات after sunrise. The time of standing at عرفات begins at noon (zawal) and extends until Fajr of the 10th. Pray Dhuhr and Asr combined and shortened (2 rak'at each) at the time of Dhuhr, with one adhan and two iqamahs. Spend the rest of the day in دعا, dhikr, and istighfar. Face the Qiblah, raise your hands, and supplicate with humility and hope. This is the best day for دعا — Allah descends to the lowest heaven and boasts of the حجاج to the angels. The best دعا of عرفات 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 عرفات, depart for مزدلفہ calmly and with dignity. Upon arriving, pray Maghrib and Isha combined (Maghrib 3 rak'at, Isha shortened to 2 rak'at), with one adhan and two iqamahs. This combination is established in the Sunnah — نبی کریم (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) did not pray any nafl نمازs between them (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1673). Spend the night at مزدلفہ — this overnight stay is wajib (واجب) جمہور علماء کے مطابق. 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 دعا facing the Qiblah until the sky brightens. Depart before sunrise toward منیٰ.
The 10th of Dhul Hijjah is the Day of Sacrifice (Yawm al-Nahr), the busiest day of حج with multiple rites. The Sunnah order is: (1) Stone جمرات al-Aqaba (the large pillar) with 7 pebbles, saying 'Allahu Akbar' with each throw. Stop the تلبیہ upon the first throw. (2) Offer the sacrificial animal (hady) — واجب for Tamattu' and Qiran حجاج. (3) Shave the head (halq, preferable) or trim (taqsir). After shaving, the first tahallul (partial release) occurs — all احرام restrictions are lifted EXCEPT sexual relations. (4) Perform طواف al-Ifadah (the طواف of حج, a rukn/pillar) and sa'i (if not done earlier). After طواف al-ifadah, the second tahallul occurs and ALL restrictions are lifted. نبی کریم (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) was flexible about the order of these acts on this day (Sahih al-Bukhari, 83).
The days of Tashreeq are the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul Hijjah. On each day, stone all three جمرات 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 دعا facing the Qiblah. After the large pillar, leave without stopping for دعا. Spend the nights at منیٰ — this is wajib. A حاجی 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 مکہ مکرمہ, perform طواف al-Wida' (the farewell طواف) — this is wajib for all حجاج except menstruating women. نبی کریم (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) said: 'Let none of you depart until the last thing he does is طواف around the House' (Sahih Muslim, 1327).