The Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, is one of the five pillars of Islam, an obligation that every Muslim must wait for. Every adult Muslim (man or woman) who has physical and economic conditions is required to travel to Mecca to perform Hajj at least once in their life. In Mecca, Muslims from all over the world gather to show their faith, unity and solidarity, reproducing the ritual that the Prophet Mohammed performed during his last pilgrimage.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preparing for Hajj
Step 1. Make sure you are ready to perform the Hajj
Hajj is not to be undertaken lightly or as something secondary. In ancient times it was common for pilgrims to die on their pilgrimage to Mecca. Although modern conveniences today allow millions of Muslims to travel quickly and safely to and from the holy city, the seriousness and devotion of the first pilgrims still needs to be addressed. Study the hajj rites, starting with purifying your mind of worldly distractions, and, above all, with repentance for past sins that will be forgiven during the pilgrimage.
- As with any other form of Muslim ritual, the Hajj must be faced with sincerity and devotion to Allah. Hajj cannot be performed with the aim of having worldly recognition or material advantages in this life.
- The Hajj must be performed according to the teachings and gestures of the Prophet Muhammad, as described in the Sunna.
Step 2. Decide what kind of Hajj you want to do
Muslims have three different choices when it comes to performing Hajj. Each of them offers a slightly different experience in terms of rituals to be performed and the chronology of events in the pilgrimage. The three types of pilgrimage are:
- Tamattu '. This is the most common form of pilgrimage and is the one recommended by the prophet Muhammad himself. The Tamattu 'requires pilgrims to perform the rituals of the minor pilgrimage, called' Umra, to then perform the hajj rites. Pilgrims who perform Tamattu 'are called Mutamatti'. Since this is the most common type of pilgrimage, especially for those who are not from Saudi Arabia, the rest of this article will be based on this type of ritual.
- Qiran. Pilgrims who choose this option are required to perform the rites of both Umra and Hajj in a single continuous ritual without any kind of "pause". Pilgrims who perform the Qiran are called Qaarin.
- Ifraad. In this form of pilgrimage, pilgrims are required to perform only the Hajj rites, and not even those of Umra. This ritual is known to be the only one that does not require animal sacrifices. Pilgrims who perform Ifraad are called Mufrid.
Step 3. Plan your trip to Saudi Arabia
The Hajj takes place in and around the holy city of Mecca, which today is located in the country of Saudi Arabia. As with any trip to a foreign country, you will need your passport, travel documents, tickets, and so on, prepared well in advance. Remember that national governments are usually slow to issue a new passport when the old one expires.
- Hajj occurs between the eighth and twelfth day of Dhū l-Ḥijja, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. Since the Islamic calendar is lunar, the date of the Hajj changes from year to year on the Western Gregorian calendar. Remember that according to the government of Saudi Arabia, the fourth day of Dhū l-Ḥijja is the last one in which pilgrims who have to make the Hajj are allowed to arrive at King Abdulaziz Airport which is located in Jeddah.
- The Saudi government offers special Hajj visas to Italian Muslims who have not made the pilgrimage in the past five years. To obtain one of these visas, you need an up-to-date passport, a completed form, copy of marriage and birth certificates, and an up-to-date vaccination health record.
- Pilgrims often travel in groups to perform Hajj as a sign of solidarity. Contact members of your local Muslim community to see if any of them will perform Hajj this year. If so, you might consider traveling with them.
Step 4. Prepare to be immersed in religion
Like any monarchy of Islamic tradition, the nation of Saudi Arabia has rules of personal conduct, especially for women, which may be unfamiliar to foreigners. All women who intend to perform the Hajj must travel in the company of a Mahram, a close relative, husband, brother-in-law, etc. Women over 45 can perform Hajj without the company of a Mahram, as long as they travel in large groups and have a husband's delegation.
All people, men and women, who intend to perform the Hajj must prepare themselves to be extremely modest for the duration of their stay in Saudi Arabia. Clothes must be modest and unadorned for most of the pilgrimage, and it is essential for men to wear the religious habit. Perfumes, makeup, scented soaps and colognes should be avoided. When a pilgrim undertakes the state of sacred ritual purification, called Ihram, it is forbidden to smoke, swear, shave, cut nails and perform sexual acts
Part 2 of 3: Performing the Rituals of Umra
Step 1. Undertake Ihram
Ihram is a state of sacred purity that every Muslim must undertake before performing the Umra and Hajj rituals and which must be maintained for their entire duration. Ihram requires the performance of some actions a change in behavior, but it should not be confused with the true state of purity that is achieved spiritually by proclaiming one's intention to sincerely perform the Umra / Hajj and reciting the prayer of the Talbiyah. Whoever undertakes Ihram outside but does not have sincere faith in his heart is not really Ihram. Women and men undertake Ihram in different ways. See the section below for more details:
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For the men:
Shave, comb your hair, trim or shape facial hair, trim your nails and remove unwanted body hair. Wash (or perform wudu, partial ablutions) with a mental state facing Ihram, but do not use cologne or other perfumes. Sincerely repent of your sins.
Wear clean and simple Ihram clothing. Cover your waist with one fabric and use another one to cover your upper body. Wear very simple sandals or flip flops that don't cover the top of your foot. Avoid covering your head. These modest vestments represent the equality of all before God, the richest of kings and the humblest of beggars must wear the same clothes during the Hajj
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For women:
As with men, women need to shave and clean up. They have to wash themselves, avoiding the use of perfumes and so on. The woman should avoid applying make-up and other cosmetics on her face and body. In addition to the sandals required for the ritual, women do not have to wear special clothes for Ihram, they can use their normal clothes, as long as they are clean and modest.
Remember that in Islam it is considered "mandatory" for women to cover their heads with a headscarf or headscarf, and must be done to perform Hajj
Step 2. Proclaim your intentions and recite the Talbiyah
Around the sacred sites of Hajj there is a special border line, called Miqat, which no pilgrim can cross without having obtained the purity of Ihram. When a pilgrim in Ihram approaches the Miqat in one of the six historical entrances, he recites the Niyyah, a brief proclamation of his intention to complete the Umrah. When in front of the Miqat, the pilgrim recites the Talbiyah, a prayer that must be repeated many times during the pilgrimage. The words of the Talbiyah are:
- "Yes, I'm here, oh my Lord, I'm here. There is no one who can associate with You, here I am. Indeed, all praise, blessings and Sovereignty are Yours. There is no one who can be associated with You, here I am!”.
- If the pilgrim has not yet entered a state of Ihram, he must do so at the Miqat, before crossing it.
- Remember that it is traditional to enter these sacred places and other sacred buildings with the right foot.
Step 3. Proceed to the Ka'bah, the holiest place in all of Isalm
When you see the Ka'bah, keep your eyes fixed on it and stop on the side of the crowd saying "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great) three times, followed by "La Ilaha Illallah" (there is no divinity but Allah). Recite other sacred verses if you wish. Recite a blessing for the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and, in total humility, say your prayers to Allah. This is a particularly auspicious and auspicious time to pray for something.
Step 4. Perform the Tawaf
The Tawaf is a ritual in which the Muslim goes around the Ka'bah. To begin, the man must make sure that his Ihram clothes are positioned correctly. The upper part must pass under the right arm and must cross the left shoulder, leaving the right shoulder exposed. Then you have to face the Ka'bah so that the Black Stone is on your right. Recite another Niyyah for Umra, saying: Oh, Allah, I perform the Umra Tawaf to please you. Make this path simple for me and accept it from me”.
- Then, move to the right. Pass by the Black Stone (the eastern corner stone of the Ka'bah) and if possible, kiss it. If you can't get close enough to kiss her, you can touch her with your hand. If you can't get close enough to touch or kiss her, raise your hand to ear height, palm facing the Black Stone and say this short prayer: "Bismi'Llah Allahu akbar wa li'Lah al-hamad". Don't push or fight to be able to touch the Black Petra.
- Begin to circumnavigate the Ka'bah. Walk counterclockwise so that the Ka'bah is on your left. Go around the Ka'bah seven times, praying as you do it. There are no specific Tawaf prayers, use one that you use in your daily prayers or pray with your heart. You can also turn your palm to the Black Stone whenever you approach it.
- When you have completed the seven laps, you are done. Now men can cover their right shoulder.
Step 5. Perform the Sa'ey
Sa'ey means "to run" or "to make an effort". In practice, it means walking back and forth seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah, which are located respectively in the south and north of the Ka'bah. Originally it was done outdoors, but today the entire route takes place inside a long tunnel.
- When you reach the top of the Safa, recite another Niyyah, saying, “Oh, Allah, I perform the Sa'ye between the Safa and the Marwah to please you. Make this path simple for me and accept it from me ", then add:" Inn-as-Safa wal-Marwah min Sha'a'irillah "(Undoubtedly the Safa and the Marwah are among all the Signs of Allah). Finally, stand in front of the Ka'bah and recite "Allahu Akbar" three times. Add a prayer of your choice, then proceed to the Marwah.
- As you proceed towards the Marwah, recite; "Subhan-Allah wal-hamdu-lillahi wa la ilaha ill-Allah wa-Allahu Akbar wa la haula wa la quwwata illa-billa". If you can't remember this, say the abbreviated version: "Subhan Allah, Alhamdu Lillah, Allahu Akbar". You can also add a prayer of your choice. When you are at the top of the Marwah, repeat the prayer of glorification to God facing the Ka'bah, then go down the hill again.
- When you've done it back and forth seven times, the ritual is over.
Step 6. Get your hair cut or shortened
After completing the Sa'ey, men must have their heads completely shaved or their hair shortened, either one is fine, although a complete shave would be better. Men, however, do not want their brim to be completely shaved during Umra if they intend to complete the hajj rites, which include shaving, in the following days. Women do not have to be shaved, but they can have a strand of hair cut or have their hair shortened by a few centimeters.
After the haircut ritual, the Umra is complete and the Ihram restrictions are lifted. You can go back to normal activities, wear normal clothes etc. If, however, as other pilgrims do, you want to complete the Hajj in the following days, know that to perform the rituals you will have to return to the state of Ihram
Part 3 of 3: Performing the Hajj Rituals
Step 1. Return to the state of Ihram and proclaim your intention to perform the Hajj
Depending on how the trip is organized, many pilgrims perform Tamattu after a few days of pause between the Umra and Hajj rites, so for simplicity they leave their Ihram after Umra. Since, as in Umra, Hajj requires rituals of purification and submission to God, pilgrims must summarize the state of Ihram. As before, you have to wash, get dressed, and put on the Ihram clothes. When you are ready, recite another Niyyah: "Oh, Allah, I intend to perform Hajj to please you. Make this path simple for me and accept it from me. " After that, recite the Talbiyah three times.
The hajj rites last for five days, from the eighth to the twelfth day of Dhu al-Hijjah. You must maintain Ihram for at least three days, refraining from prohibited activities until the end of this time interval
Step 2. Head to Mina
On the first day of Hajj, pilgrims head to Mina, a city close to Mecca, where they spend the rest of the day. The Saudi government provides services in this place, thousands upon thousands of air-conditioned tents provide temporary accommodation for every pilgrim every year. The first night no major rituals are performed, so you can spend it praying and meditating with the other pilgrims if you prefer. Many pilgrims choose to recite the Dhuhr, Asr, Magrib, Isha and Fajr prayers.
Remember that in Mina the women and men sleep and stay in separate tents that are placed close together. Although husbands and wives can interact, men cannot enter women's tents
Step 3. Head to Arafat to make the Waquf
On the second day of Hajj, pilgrims head to Arafat, a nearby mountain. Pilgrims must reach Arafat before noon, because at that time the ritual called Waquf begins. Pilgrims gather on the wide Arafat hill from when the sun begins to set until it has completely set, in these hours they pray and reflect.
There is no specific prayer associated with the Waquf rite, so you can simply pray to Allah with your heart. Many pilgrims spend time reflecting on the course of their lives, their future and their place in the world
Step 4. Pray to Muzdalifah
After sunset, pilgrims head to a place called Muzdalifah, which is located between Mina and Arafat. There, they offer an afternoon of prayers to God (Maghrib) and spend the night sleeping on the ground under the stars.
In the morning, collect the stones, you will need them for the Ramy, the ritual stoning ceremony that takes place during the day
Step 5. Perform the Ramy to Mina
Before the sun rises, pilgrims make their way back to Mina. Here, pilgrims participate in a ceremony that symbolizes the stoning of the devil. Pilgrims throw seven stones below a particular stone monument called Jamrat al Aqabah.
This ceremony is very crowded, emotional and tense. There have been, albeit rarely, several deaths from trampling. For this reason, the elderly, the sick and the disabled are not advised to participate. However, they can perform this ceremony in the afternoon, or delegate a friend or acquaintance to do it for them
Step 6. Offer a sacrifice
After the Rami ceremony, it is necessary to offer an animal sacrifice (Qurbani) to God. In the past each pilgrim did it individually, however today it is much more common for pilgrims to purchase a voucher for the sacrifice. This voucher symbolizes that an animal was sacrificed in your name. After selling the vouchers, qualified personnel kill a lamb for each pilgrim, or a camel for every seven pilgrims, slaughter the animals and send them to Muslim communities around the world to feed the poor.
Animal sacrifices can be made at any time on the 10th, 11th and 12th day of Dhu al-Hijjah. If the Ramy has been postponed for any reason, wait until the Ramy day to make the sacrifice
Step 7. Get your hair cut or shaved
As in Umra, pilgrims must have their hair shaved according to the rituals. Men must have them shaved completely, or cut very short (if a man has chosen to have his hair cut very short during Umra, he can now have it completely shaved, although it is not mandatory). Women can have a lock of hair cut, their heads should not be shaved.
Step 8. Perform the Tawaf and Sa'ey
Just like in Umra, the Hajj requires pilgrims to perform the Tawaf and Sa'ey at the Ka'bah and in the surrounding hills. The rituals are performed in the same way as those for Umra, but it is strongly recommended that these ceremonies are performed only after the rituals of stoning, sacrifice and hair shaving.
- After completing the Tawaf and Sa'ey, you are relieved of the restrictions of Ihram and can return to activities that were previously prohibited.
- At the end of the third day, go back to Mina and spend the night there in prayer.
Step 9. Repeat the Ramy after sunset on the fourth and fifth day
Mina must again participate in the stoning ritual. This time you must not only throw stones at Jamrat al Aqabah, but also at two other monuments, the Jamrat Oolah and the Jamrat Wustah.
- First throw stones at Jamrat Oolah, then pray to Allah and beg him with raised hands (there are no prayers assigned, use one of your choice). Repeat the same ritual for the Jamrat Wustah. Finally throw the stones at the Jamrat al Aqabah, and then, no need to pray, you can go home.
- Repeat this ritual after sunset on the fifth day.
Step 10. Perform the Farewell Tawaf
We are almost at the end of the Hajj. To conclude one of the most important experiences of your religious life as a Muslim, make one last Tawaf, walking around the Ka'bah seven times, as before. As you perform the farewell Tawaf, reflect on the thoughts and feelings you had during your Hajj. Offer prayers and supplications to Allah. When you're done, complete the pending business you have around Mecca, then head home.
- After completing the Hajj, many pilgrims choose to travel to Medina, the second sacred city for Islam. Here they can visit sacred sites, such as the Prophet's Mosque or the Holy Tomb. It is not necessary to be in Ihram to visit Medina.
- Remember that foreign pilgrims must leave Saudi Arabia by the tenth day of Muharram (the first month of the Islamic calendar).
