HAJ

General

Haj consists of the performance of a set of devotional rites in and around Mecca (i.e., in Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah) in a prescribed order. The rites of Umra form an integral part of Haj. They have already been described above.

Types Of Haj

There are three different types of Haj a pilgrim may perform. All of them involve the performance of essentially the same rites and acts of worship. The difference consists basically in the niyyah pronounced by the pilgrim at Meeqat. The specifics of the Haj then follow directly from this niyyah. The three types of Haj are described below:

  1. Haj ul Ifrad
  2. Haj ul Qiran
  3. Haj ut Tamattu

(1) Haj ul Ifrad

In Haj ul Ifrad, you will pronounce the intention of performing only Haj at Meeqat. The rites that follow from this niyyah are given below in order:

  1. Tawaaf ul Qudoom, followed by two rakah of salat us sunnah, partaking of the waters of Zam-Zam, and the Sai in that order.
  2. After step (a) above, you will not take off your Ihram,and will continue to observe all of its obligations and prohibitions.
  3. You will then complete the rites of Haj on the 8th through the 10th of Zul Hijjah in Mina, Arafat,and Muzdalifah. These rites will culminate in Rummy of Jamrat ul Kubra in Mina on the 10th of Zul Hijjah.
  4. A sacrifice is not obligatory for Haj ul Ifrad. It is, however, recommended (i.e., mustahab) that you do offer a sacrifice.
  5. Halq or Taqseer will follow. You may then shave, shower, and change into street clothes. You are no longer bound by the prohibitions of the Haj, except that you may not engage in conjugal relations with your spouse until you have performed Tawaaf ul Ifadah.
  6. Tawaaf ul Ifadah will follow in Mecca as soon after step (e) as possible. The sunnah prayers and the Sai associated with Tawaaf ul Qudoom, are not required after Tawaaf ul Ifadah. The Sai performed after Tawaaf ul Qudoom will suffice since you are performing only Haj. You may, however, perform Sai once again if you so desire. You will return to Mina after the above rites.
  7. You will stay in Mina until at least the 12th of Zul Hijjah as Rummy on the 13th is optional. Rummy of Jamrat ul Oola, Jamrat ul Wusta, and Jamrat ul Kubra, in that order, will follow on the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Zul Hijjah.
  8. You will perform Tawaaf ul Wuda just before departing from Mecca on your way to your next destination. Again, the two rakah of salat us sunnah and the Sai are not required after Tawaaf ul Wuda. The sunnah of Rasool Allah (pbuh) directs that you leave Haram ash Shareef and Mecca as soon after Tawaaf ul Wuda as possible and do not linger in town.
You have completed Haj ul Ifrad and are, now, a Mufrid.

Index

(2) Haj ul Qiran

For Haj ul Qiran, you will pronounce your niyyah of performing both Haj and Umra simultaneously with the same Ihram. Thereafter, the rites to be performed are as below in order:

  1. Tawaaf ul Qudoom followed by two rakah of salat us sunnah, partaking of the waters of Zam-Zam, and the Sai. These rites will qualify as your Umra.
  2. You will not take off your Ihram after step (a) and will continue to observe all of its obligations.
  3. You will then fulfill the rites of Haj on the 8th through the 10th of Zul Hijjah in Mina as detailed under Haj ul Ifrad.
  4. A sacrifice is required for Haj ul Qiran. In the days of Rasool Allah (pbuh), people who brought their sacrificial animals to Mecca with them were instructed to perform Haj ul Qiran. Those, who did not bring their animals, were instructed to perform Haj ut Tamattu. Sacrificial animals are available in Mina these days.
  5. Halq or Taqseer, Tawaaf ul Ifadah, Rummy on the 11th through the 13th of Zul Hijjah and Tawaaf ul Wuda will follow, exactly as in Haj ul Ifrad.
You have completed Haj ul Qiran and are, now, a Qarin.

Index

(3) Haj ut Tamattu

For Haj ut Tamattu, you will pronounce your niyyah of performing Umra only at Meeqat. A second niyyah for Haj will follow later as described below. Thereafter, the rites of Haj will be as follows in order:

  1. Tawaaf ul Qudoom followed by two rakah of salat us sunnah, partaking of the waters of Zam-Zam, and Sai.
  2. Halq or Taqseer will follow. You will now shave, shower, and change into street clothes. This will complete your Umra. All restrictions of the Ihram are now temporarily lifted from you. You will wait for the 8th of Zul Hijjah to start the rites of Haj.
  3. On the 8th Zul Hijjah, you will pronounce a new niyyah to perform Haj at your place of residence. There is no need for you to go to Meeqat for this. You will change into Ihram in the prescribed manner and will proceed to Mina soon after the Fajr prayers.
  4. You will stay in Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah to perform the prescribed rites as detailed in Haj ul Ifrad.
  5. A sacrifice is required for Haj ut Tamattu.
  6. Halq or Taqseer, Tawaaf ul Ifadah with the sunnah prayers, partaking of the waters of Zam-Zam, and a second Sai will follow. This Sai is required simply because your first Sai was performed for Umra.
  7. Rummy on the 11th through the 13th of Zul Hijjah and Tawaaf ul Wuda will complete the rites of Haj.
You have completed Haj ut Tamattu and are, now, a Mutamatti.

Index

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