To assist with your sacred journey to Makkah, this Hajj guide offers useful advice for lodging, transportation and personal safety, as well as other practical Hajj information.

Introduction

Patience is one of the best Hajj tips to remember. You will be among a multitude of other pilgrims. Try to remain calm and seek less-crowded areas. You also will have a more tranquil trip if you know what to expect and how to navigate the pilgrimage.

Walk, Bus or Train on Your Muslim Pilgrimage

One of the most convenient ways to complete the Hajj steps is aboard the Al-Mashaaer Al-Mugaddassah Metro. Known as the “Hajj Metro,” the rail service has modern air-conditioned trains that transport pilgrims between the holy sites of Makkah, Mina, Mount Arafat and Muzdalifah. Speed is a big plus. In mere minutes you can complete a journey that takes hours on foot.

Given congestion along the Hajj route, walking can actually be faster and more convenient than bus travel. Buses offer relative comfort, but they can break down or get stuck in traffic for hours on end. Walking requires more exertion but can enhance your spiritual experience – with the sacred ground beneath your feet and fellow pilgrims at your side.

What to Expect in Mina

The first stop after your initial Holy Kaaba rite, Mina serves as a base for much of your journey. The sight of white tents stretching to the horizon can be both impressive and imposing. While not luxurious, communal tents provide sufficient amenities for comfortable stays. Air conditioning staves off the desert heat. Electricity powers fluorescent lights and wall outlets for charging mobile devices.

Tents are grouped into camps according to country. Each camp has a kitchen, washing facilities and bathrooms (bring your own toilet paper). Breakfast is often a boxed meal of bread, fruit and pastries. You can expect a dinner of rice and meat. Beverages and snacks are available at the kitchen throughout the day. In case you forget where your tent is or become lost along the sprawling network of paths, your badge is color-coded for your country and has your camp’s number on it.

Evening Under the Stars in Muzdalifah

After Hajj steps in Arafat, you will spend the night on the hardscrabble plain of Muzdalifah. This is one of the best-known and least-comfortable parts of the journey for many. Rather than a sleeping bag, it’s a good idea to buy a cheap sleeping mat in Makkah. An inflatable pillow will also be useful.

While all pilgrims spend a night under open skies, not all spots in Muzdalifah are equal. Some travelers gather in cramped areas by roads, where fume-spewing buses pass by throughout the night. Others are in spaces where travel organizers have erected wooden privacy walls and set up soft mattresses with sheets, blankets and pillows. A good organizer will even provide the pebbles needed for the upcoming Stoning of the Devil ritual.

Safety During the Stoning of the Devil

Exercise caution while performing the Stoning of the Devil ritual in Mina. In years past, the rush of pilgrims performing the rite has led to stampedes. The government of Saudi Arabia has since instituted stronger safety measures, but it’s still a good idea to be mindful of crowd issues as you approach the site at Jamarat Bridge. Extreme weather is also a concern. Daytime temperatures can climb to 106°F (41°C) under an unrelenting sun. You should bring an umbrella for shade and plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

After the Pilgrimage

After performing the Farewell Tawaf at the Grand Mosque, you are free to explore. Many pilgrims visit Madinah, home to the final resting place of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). A VIP bus service can take you from Makkah to Madinah in five hours. If you’re looking for Hajj souvenirs for loved ones back home, there are a variety of shops along the streets by the famed Prophet’s Mosque.

As you prepare to depart for home, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the pilgrimage, your stronger relationship with Allah and the deeper understanding of Makkah’s heritage you will carry with you on your journey through life.

Is Hajj for kids? From packing and preparation to advice for navigating the challenging journey, here’s what you need to know prior to performing Hajj with the family.

Before setting off on a trip to Makkah with the family it’s important to understand what to bring, safeguards to take and ways to engage children on the sacred pilgrimage.

Find Child-Friendly Hajj Packages

Search for organizers with services that cater to kids. For example, some packages offer to have guides supervise children while you perform Hajj rituals.

Essential Items for Makkah with Kids

The desert sun can be harsh on both you and your children. Bring an ample supply of sunscreen and a hat for each member of the family. You’ll also want to travel with plenty of water bottles as dehydration will be a concern for much of the journey. Consider snacks that can withstand heat such as dried fruit, granola bars and individually wrapped hummus tortillas. A travel pillow will be indispensable when your child wants to sleep.

There are pros and cons to bringing a stroller. It’s useful to have one while shopping in Makkah and traveling from hotel to mosque. A stroller that reclines to a flat position is also great for sleeping. However, strollers are not allowed in or around the Grand Mosque during Hajj. Also, keep in mind you can hire a wheelchair to ferry children around Makkah. So it might not be necessary to lug a stroller around for the entire trip.

Clothing for Hot Days and Cool Nights

Children should dress for hot weather in Makkah. While kids are not required to wear Ihram clothing, the loose lightweight garment is still a good idea. It’s also a good opportunity to teach them that simple clothing is worn to express that all are equal before Allah. Evening temperatures drop in the desert climate so you should also have clothing for cool weather. It’s a good idea to bring blankets or sleeping bags for your night under the stars at Muzdalifah and Mina.

Document Hajj Steps in a Family Diary

Keeping an account of one’s pilgrimage is a time-honored tradition in Makkah’s heritage that’s almost as old as Hajj itself. It’s also a wonderful way to bring the family together to recount shared experiences, discuss each day’s events and record how they impacted members of the family. Let the older kids write about the activities in their own words and have a parent write for younger children. Encourage them to draw pictures depicting what they witnessed each day. The diary will be a memento that’s cherished for generations.

Educate and Entertain with Digital Devices

Your smartphone or tablet can be an invaluable tool that both educates and occupies young minds on the journey. Online stores have lots of Hajj-related apps that will come in handy on long rides. Check out Learn Hajj Games and Salah for Kids. You can also download e-books such as Tell Me About Hajj and Muslim Child to teach about the importance of Hajj in inspiring and interactive ways. If you have a reliable Internet connection, watch any number of kid-friendly YouTube videos that illustrate the significance of the pilgrimage. Feeling retro? Buy some animated Hajj DVDs from Amazon to play on your laptop.

Make a Hajj Map

Visuals are a great way to engage children. You can download and print an online map of the Hajj steps or create your own. Make the map in black and white and have the kids color each step as they’re performed. Let children draw the hill of Mount Arafat as you explain the importance of the site where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) preached his final sermon. Fill the sky over Muzdalifah with stars as you teach your children why pilgrims spend a night in the open. The map will also make a wonderful keepsake your family will treasure for years.

Consider a Safety Plan

Getting separated from a child is one of every parent’s greatest concerns. An identification bracelet for your child can give you peace of mind. You can order one online. YouTube videos can help you make a fun and fashionable wristband. Include the names of both the child and parents, your hotel and a local phone number in both English and Arabic. Keep in mind that Hajj locations can get crowded and chaotic. So it’s a good idea to always agree on a meeting point in the event of separation.

A pilgrimage during childhood doesn’t free one from the obligation of Hajj during adulthood. But the journey can be an inspiring spiritual experience that helps children gain a deeper understanding of their faith.

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.

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