Every year, millions of believers around the world head to the city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia to complete the Hajj rituals.

As one of the pillars of the Islam faith, Hajj is a religious pilgrimage undertaken by devout and practicing Muslims from the four corners of the planet, providing them with the opportunity to experience sacred rites such as completing the Sai Circuit, drinking holy water from the Well of Zamzam, or completing the Qurban.

An exercise of faith, inner peace and religious connection, the pilgrimage is also a very physically-demanding process that requires a certain amount of sharpness and good health. Muslims are often known to undertake the Hajj ritual when they’re in their physical prime, in order to endure and enjoy the spiritual bonds and marvel in the Sacred City, without worry or physical strain.

One of the most influential factors on the human health and body wellness is, of course, maintaining a balanced and nourishing diet. Today, more and more people have taken notice of the importance of following a rigorous plan for their Hajj rituals. This helps combat conditions such as acute fatigue and dehydration which commonly occur because of the extreme weather of the city as well as physical demands of the pilgrimage.

On the physical end, it is important to start building up your stamina even before your trip. Taking long walks and going on regular running sessions can help better acclimate your body with the trip to come, as endurance will be of the essence.

Many of the Hajj foods common in the Arab Gulf and Saudi Arabia include seeds, grains, nuts and dried fruits. Dates, in particular, are favoured in the Sacred City. Rich in vitamins and proteins, these foods will help build up your stamina and keep your body in top shape.

Makkah is known for its very hot weather, which is why dehydration is one of the most common and unfortunate conditions that pilgrims experience during their holy rituals in the Sacred City. Consuming fresh fruits and water-based vegetables such as watermelons, cucumbers, oranges and green tea leaves will help you maintain your body water and fight off dehydration.

In order to minimize muscle cramping and help your body build stamina, try to consume foods that are rich in Potassium such as bananas and avocados. You can also look for local ingredients such as aloe gel or turmeric.

Accor Hotels have some of the best restaurants in Makkah for pilgrims to stay healthy during Hajj and Umrah.

Every year, more than one billion Muslims around the world observe fasting for approximately 30 days during the Holy Month of Ramadan to honour Sawm, one of the five pillars of Islam. It is during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar when the Quran is believed to have been revealed to prophet Mohammed (PBUH).

The other fundamental pillars of Islam and obligatory acts of worship that every Muslim must observe during Ramadan are: Shahadah, the profession of faith in allah; Salat, the daily prayers; Zakat; giving alms/charity to the poor and being kind to the needy; the Hajj, the mandatory pilgrimage to holy mosque in Makkah.

Ramadan Fasting

Fasting from sunrise to sunset is an obligatory spiritual practice that allows for mental and physical renewal, leading to empowerment of the individual. Ramadan brings families closer together, strengthens their foundations, restores their beliefs, reconnects them to their spiritual roots and reinforces in them the need to be thankful for everything they have.

All healthy Muslim adults are mandated to fast, except for prepubertal children, the elderly, pregnant women, breast-feeding mothers and travelers.

Suhoor and Iftar

Friends and families who fast come together to eat two meals a day during the holiest period of the year: Suhoor, the pre-dawn meal before the fast begins, which may be as early as 3am; and Iftar, the post-dusk meal to break their fast. This helps build a strong sense of community happiness and individual wellbeing as they partake in the rituals of Ramadan.

Suhoor is a meal just like breakfast, although in some households it may include supper-like foods in order to provide the body enough fuel to suffice the daytime fasting.

Iftar usually starts with dates and a glass of plain water or milk, followed by a wholesome dinner.

Abstaining from food and water, between suhoor and Iftar, during the sizzling summer months can be gruelling, both mentally and physically. Hence it is important to maintain a healthy, balanced diet.

The most common manifestations of ill health in people who fast during the holy month are hydration, general malaise, indigestion, fatigue, heartburn, irritability or a slight decline in cognitive functions. A well balanced diet of fresh fruits, water-based vegetables, green leaves will help you regulate your body heat, maintain optimum body functions and fight off these common conditions.

All Accor hotels in Makkah are well aware of the havocs of extreme weather and long periods of fasting on your health. A range of services and facilities are on offer to take care of your every dietary need. There are many international restaurants and cafés in the Makkah Royal Tower that serve cuisines from all around the world, and the massive food court at the Abraj Al-Bait Complex comprises of restaurants, small eateries and cafés where you can grab a quick bite on the go.

Check out some of the best restaurants in Makkah for you and your family to enjoy a healthy Suhoor and Iftar.

Assalamu’alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

What is Hajj

Hajj is one of the fundamental pillars of Islam, an annual spiritual experience undertaken by Muslims at least once their lifetime to express their faith in and servitude towards Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala – Glory to him, the exalted). Let’s understand the Hajj rituals that every pilgrim carries out during their pilgrimage to Makkah.

The Hajj, in essence, means ‘pilgrimage’ to the holy city of Makkah in Arabic and must be performed by every Muslim each year during the first ten days of the sacred month of Dhu al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Regarded as one of the profound deeds in Islam, Hajj teaches Muslims to practice goodness, show humility, be at peace with oneself and be sincere to Allah. There are three types of Hajj that a pilgrim may choose to undertake, namely:

Hajj al-Ifrad – This essentially refers to performing the rituals of Hajj alone without the need of a sacrificial animal (Hadee) or Qurbani. A prilgrim who undertakes this form of Hajj is called Mufrid.

Hajj al-Qiran – In this type of pilgrimage, one performs both Hajj and Umrah together while being in the state of Ihram. This form requires a sacrificial animal to complete the rituals. A pilgrim who undertakes this form of Hajj is called Qaarin.

Hajj al-Tamatt’u – The most common type of Hajj pilgrimage and the one Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) encouraged his companions to perform. It refers to performing Umrah rituals during the Hajj season and then proceeding to complete the steps to Hajj between the 8th and 13th day of Dhu al-Hijjah.
Both Umrah and Hajj rituals are performed by entering a separate state of Ihram, and a sacrificial animal is required in order to complete this form of Hajj. A pilgrim who undertakes this form of Hajj is called Muttamatti.

Pilgrims can choose to undertake any of the three Hajj procedures that is easier for them.

Hajj Rituals – How to Perform Hajj

The acts of faith performed by all pilgrims during their spiritual journey to the Holy Kaaba are collectively known as the Hajj rituals, which lasts five days from the 8th to 12th day of Dhu al-Hijjah.

1. Hajj Preparations

Hajj begins on the 8th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, when pilgrims make their intentions to undertake the pilgrimage by donning the Ihram garments.

Assuming Ihram from Miqat – The intention to perform Hajj

Before pilgrims wish to enter the Al Masjid Al Haram (the sacred boundary of Mecca) and move across to perform Hajj, they should wear Ihram in order to make haram and traverse the five different areas of Miqats in the Haram boundary.

Below are the destination options and relevant Miqats for pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj:
• Dhu’l Hulaifah (Abbyar Ali) is for pilgrims coming to Saudi Arabia from or through Madina first to perform Hajj al-Tamatt’u
• Al-Juhfah (near Rabigh) is for pilgrims coming from or through Syria, Morocco, or Egypt.
• Qarn-al manazil (As-Sail Al-Kabeer) is for pilgrims coming from or through Najd or Taif.
• Yalamlam (Sa’adiyah) is for pilgrims coming from or through India, Pakistan or Yemen.
• Dhat `Irq is for pilgrims coming from or through Iraq.

Before setting off from their place of stay and making their way to the sacred boundary of Mecca, pilgrims are bound to assume a state of Ihram, which is the combined sacred act of Niyyah and Talbiyah necessary to perform Hajj. Niyyah is the innate intention to perform an act of worship, while Talbiyah is a special prayer said in supplication to attain Ihram.

All pilgrims are required to stick to certain guidelines before entering into the Miqat.

To become a Muhrim (a pilgrim that has attained the state of Ihram), a pilgrim must prepare himself for Ihram by following the below steps as instructed by the Prophet (PBUH):
• Performing ablutions – cleansing the body to attain physical purity, which involves some rituals that are mandatory (Mushtahab) and others, are preferable for Ihram:
I. Ghusl (Mustahab)
II. Perfuming the head & beard. (Mustahab)
III. Clipping finger & toe nails (Preferred)
IV. Trimming moustache (Preferred)
V. Shaving off unwanted body hair (Preferred)
• Changing into the sacred attire of two-pieced white Ihram sheets (Izar and Rida) for men and ordinary Islamic clothes for women. Both, men and women, should wear the flip-flops or sandals that expose the middle bones of the midfoot.
• Performing the two Rakats of Salah al-Ihram while covering the head.
• Pronouncing the Niyyah as the Miqat approaches
• Reciting Talbiyah repeatedly while traversing the Miqat stations in the sacred boundary of the Grand Holy Mosque until the commencement of Tawaf before travelling to Mecca for the next step of Umrah.

2. Performing the Umrah Rituals

Pilgrims intending to undertake Hajj al-Tamatt’u must combine Umrah rituals with that of Hajj.

3. Hajj Steps

Below are the ten important Hajj rituals step by step:

I. Reassume Ihram and the intention to perform Hajj
After completing Umrah rituals, pilgrims must assume the state of Ihram and declare their intentions to do Hajj.
Note: repeat step 1 of Hajj Preparation

II. Travel to Mina
Soon after the observing the morning prayers, all pilgrims must head to Mina (a town in Mecca), where they stay an entire day carrying out ritual prayers – Duhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha, Fajr and Qasr – as stated in the Quran.

III. Travel to Mt. Arafat to perform Wafuq
During the second day of Hajj, 9th day of Dhu-al-Hijjah, pilgrims travel to Arafat from Mina reciting Istaghfar and making supplications. Upon reaching Mount Arafat, pilgrims observe Duhr and Asr combined with Qasar prayers near the Jabal al-Rahmah from noon to sunset. This act is known as Waquf (standing before Allah).

IV. Offer Prayers in Muzadalifah
Post sunset, pilgrims head to Muzadalifah (a town between Mina and Mt. Arafat) to observe the evening prayers and rest the night until Fajr prayers in preparation for the next day’s ritual of stoning the devil. Pilgrims pick up 49 pebbles of similar size for Rami.

On the 10th day Dhu al-Hijjah, pilgrims leave for Mecca before sunset to do Tawaf al-Ifadah and Sa’iy and get back to Mina to perform Rami, Nahr and Halq.

V. Perform Rami in Mina
On the 11th and 12th days of Hajj, pilgrims must complete the stoning of the Devil or Rami. Before Sunrise, pilgrims head back to Mina and participate in a ritual known as ‘Stoning the devil’. Seven pebbles (of similar sizes) are thrown at a stone structure known as Jamrat al-Aqabah. This is an act carried out at noon on each day. All pilgrims are required to leave for Mecca before sunset on the 12th day of Dhu al-Hijjah.

VI. Animal Sacrifice – Nahr
The culmination of the stoning ceremony calls for an animal sacrifice. For this pilgrims can purchase sacrifice voucher or a coupon, which states that a sacrifice has been made in their name. the sacrificial animal is either a lamb or a camel. The animal is butchered and its meat is packed and shipped to other Middle Eastern countries or is fed to the poor.

VII. Halq (shaving the head) or Taqsir (clipping or shortening of the hair for men and women)
Men should get their head completely shaved, or get their hair clipped. While women are forbidden to shave their heads and only allowed to have a lock or strand of their hair clipped. The act of cutting the hair symbolizes one’s detachment from physical appearances and complete subjection to Allah.

VIII. Perform Tawaf and Sa’iy 

IX. Repeat Stoning at Mina After Sunset On the 11th and 12TH day of Dhu al-Hijjah
The stoning ritual is repeated by throwing pebbles at two other monuments other than Jamrat al Aqabah – Jamrat Oolah (the first Jamrat) and Jamrat Wustah (middle Jamrat). Pilgrims face the Jamarah (main pillar), with the Mecca on their left and Mina on their right, stone it with seven small pebbles while reciting takbeer.

X. Perform the Farewell Tawaf
The next and the final step is the farewell Tawaf, circumambulating the Kaaba anti-clockwise seven times and touching or kissing the Kaaba if possible. Pilgrims reflect on their experience and thank Allah for everything, while circumambulating the Kaaba.

On completing the Tawaf, pilgrims can proceed to collect their belongings, leave Kaaba by setting their left foot out first and making supplications while doing so. This final step marks the end of Hajj rituals.

Get the most out of your Hajj pilgrimage with Accor hotels in Makkah and take advantage of the special offers for Hajj & Umrah.