PILGRIMAGE TO MAKKAH

Undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful, profound, and sublime moments in a Muslim's life is when they embarkon the journey to Makkah to fulfill a Farz(obligation) and wholeheartedly submit to the commands of their Creator, Allah Paak, and the teachings of His beloved Prophet,Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallaahu'Alaihi Wasallam).

The journey to Makkah to perform the Ibaadah of Hajj—an obligation that is required only once in a lifetime for those who can afford it—is akin to a lover travelling toward their Beloved. When the pilgrim passionately proclaims from the depths of their heart:

"Labbaik, AllaahummaLabbaik..."

It is as if they are announcing their presence at the doorstep of their Beloved.

For the Haaji, who is immersed in the love of Allah, each stage of Hajj is a symbolic step toward their Creator, the ultimate object of their devotion and longing.

To assist you, O Pilgrim, in undertaking this sacred journey with ease, refer to our articleUmrah and Hajj in Brief.

‘Umrah and Hajj in Brief

VIRTUES OF HAJJ

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) said in a Hadith:

"Those who perform Hajj and ‘Umrah are the guests of Allah."

In another Hadith, it is stated:

"Whoever performs Hajj for the sake of Allah and does not commit any obscenity or violation of the law will return home as pure as the day his mother gave birth to him (free from all sin)."

IHRAM

The following rules must be observed when wearing theIhramfor Hajj or ‘Umrah:

  • Personal Hygiene: Remove hair from under the arms and private parts, and trim the nails.
  • Purification:Preferably perform Ghusl (ritual bath). If not possible,Wudhu(ablution) will suffice. This Ghusl is recommended for hygiene purposes, so even a woman in a state of Haiz(menstruation) or Nifaas(postnatal bleeding) should perform it.
  • Wearing the Ihram:
    • Men: Wear two unstitched pieces of white cloth—one covering the upper body and the other covering the lower body.
  • Performing Salah: Pray two NaflRak‘ats (outside of Makruhtimes).
  • Reciting the Talbiyah:
    • Make the intention for ‘Umrah or Hajj-e-Tamattu‘.
    • Men should recite the Talbiyahaudibly.
    • Women should recite it in a low voice.

The Talbiyah is as follows:

لَبَّيْكَ اَللّٰهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ.

 لَبَّيْكَ لا شَرِيْكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ.

 إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ.

 لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَكَ.

Labbaik Allaahumma Labbaik.(Here I am, O Allah, here I am.)
Labbaik laasharika laka Labbaik.(Here I am, You have no partner, here I am.)
Innal hamda wanni‘mata laka wal mulk.(Verily, all praise, blessings, and sovereignty belong to You!)
Laa sharika lak.(You have no partner!)

(It is Sunnah to pause briefly at the four places indicated by the dots.)

IHRAM FOR LADIES

Women should wear their regular modest clothing for Ihram, ensuring their entire body is covered except for the face, which must not come into direct contact with the fabric.In the presence of non-mahram men, they should cover their faces in a way that the veil does not touch their skin.

It is crucial for women to be in a state of Ihrambefore crossing the Miqaat (demarcation line), even if they are experiencing menstruation. Failure to do so will require offering a dam (sacrifice of a goat or sheep). However, a woman in her menstrual period is not permitted to enter Masjid al-Haram until her period ends and she performs Ghusal (ritual purification).

During her menstruation, she remains in the state of Ihram and must observe all its rulings.

PROHIBITIONS OF IHRAM(FOR'UMRAH AND HAJJ)

While in Ihram, the following actions are forbidden:

  • Using perfume, scented soap, or toothpaste.
  • Cutting hair or nails.
  • Covering the head (for men) and the face (for women).
  • Quarreling or fighting.
  • Hunting any game animal.
  • Engaging in intimate acts (including kissing or any sexual talk).
  • Having sexual intercourse before performing Tawaaf al-Ziyaarah.

‘UMRAH

Upon arriving in Makkah, the pilgrim performs Tawaaf—circumambulating the Ka'bah seven times in an anti-clockwise direction.

The Tawaafbegins by standing in front of the Hajr-e-Aswad (Black Stone).The pilgrim raises both hands as in Takbir-e-Tahrimah (as done in Salah), with palmsfacing the Hajr-e-Aswad, while reciting the Takbir:

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ اَللّٰه ُأَكْبَرُوَلِلّٰهِ الْحَمْدُ وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلٰى رَسُوْلِ اللّٰهِ

"Bismillaahi Allahu Akbar walillaahilhamd, was-sawlaatu was-salaamu 'alaaRasulillaahi,"then we kiss our hands.

During the Tawaaf, we perform Iztiba, which consists of passing the Ihram under the right arm and placing it over the left shoulder.

For the first three rounds of Tawaaf, we perform Ramal, which is a slight jog while moving the shoulders. During each of the seven rounds of the Ka'bah, when we reach the Hajr-e-Aswad, we make a gesture with our palms as if touching it and then kiss our hands.

After completing the Tawaaf, we go near the Multazam, hold onto it, and make Duas. We then perform two NaflRak'ats, ensuring that it is outside the Makruhtimes. After this, we drink Zam Zamwater.

Next, we perform Sa'i between Safa and Marwah, followed by two NaflRak'ats.

For Tahallul (hair-cutting):

  • Men shave their heads completely or trim their hair evenlyall over, with a minimum of a quarter of the head cut by at least a fingertip length.
  • Women trim the ends of their hair by approximately 5 cm (a fingertip length).

Finally, we remove the Ihramand dress normally.

Here concludes the 'Umrah

HAJJ

Once the 'Umrah is finished, we stay in Makkah while waiting for Hajj.

On the 8th day of Zul-Hijjah, after sunrise, we leave for Mina in Ihram for Hajj. We stay there until the next morning.

On the morning of the 9th of Zul-Hijjah, after sunrise, we leave Mina to go to 'Arafah.
We stay in 'Arafah until sunset. The time spent in ‘Arafah must be dedicated to Duas, Durud Sharif, Zikrullah, and Talbiyah.

After sunset, we leave ‘Arafah for Muzdalifah without performing the Salah of Maghrib.

In Muzdalifah, we perform the Salahs of Maghrib and ‘Isha at the time of ‘Isha with only one Azan and one Iqamah. We spend the night in Muzdalifah itself. In fact, it is the night of the 10th of Zul-Hijjah, i.e., the night of Baqr’eid, and it is strongly recommended to spend this night in ‘Ibaadah.

The next morning, after performing Salaat-ul-Fajr earlier than usual, we set off for Mina a little before sunrise.

Upon arriving in Mina, we pelt the "bigShaitaan" with seven small pebbles, performQurbani, shave our heads or shorten our hair, and at the end, we remove the Ihram.

We perform the Tawaaf during one of the days of Qurbani, i.e., the 10th, 11th, or 12th of Zul-Hijjah, before sunset. After the Tawaaf, which is called Tawaaf-e-Ziyaarat, we perform twoRak'ats and then do the Sa'i between Safa and Marwah.

On the day after and the following day of our arrival in Mina, we pelt the three "Shaitaan" after Zawaal (Zenith). After that, we return to Makkah.

Before leaving Makkah for Madinah, we perform Tawaaf-e-Wada. A lady in the state of Haiz can leave Makkah without performing this Tawaaf if her group is departing for Madinah.

ZAM ZAM WATER

We drink the Zam Zam water while standing and recite the following Dua:

اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَّافِعًا وَرِزْقاً وَّاسِعًا وَّشِفَاءً مِّنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ

(O Allah!I beg of You for beneficial knowledge, abundance of sustenance, deeds that are accepted and cure from all ailments).

Other Duas can also be said as it is a time when Duas are answered.

DU'A ON THE DAY OF 'ARAFAH

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu'Alaihi Wasallam) said:

"The best of Du'as is that of the day of 'Arafah, and the best words that all the Prophets ('Alaihis Salaam) and I have ever saidare:"

لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰه ُ وَحْدَه لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهلَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ

Laa ilaaha illallaahu wahdahu laa sharika lahu, lahul-mulku walahul-hamdu wahuwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadeer

(There is none worthy of worship besides Allahalone. He has no partner. He alone possesses all Kingdom and to Him alone belong all praise. And He has power over everything.)

THE KA'BAH

Hadhrat Ibn Abbaas (Radiyallahuanhuma) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) said:

"One hundred and twenty graces descend upon the Ka'bah every day and night—sixty for those who perform Tawaaf, forty for those who perform Salah, and twenty for those who merely look at the Ka'bah."

THE MULTAZAM

Hadhrat Ibn Abbaas (Radiyallahuanhuma) reported: ‘I heard the Prophet of Allah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) say:

"The Multazam is a place where Duas are accepted. When a person prays to Allah in this place, Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala answers his Du'a."

The Multazam is that part of the Ka'bahlocated between the Hajar-e-Aswad and the door of the Ka'bah.

OUR CALL TO FUTURE HAJIS

Hadhrat Umar (Radiyallahuanhu) said: "For me, committing one sin in Makkah is worse than committing 70 sins outside Makkah."

Just as the rewards for good deeds done in Makkah are multiplied, so too are the punishments for misconduct increased.

Therefore, a special effort must be made to avoid any sin, especially passionate glances at women present for Hajj. One must lower one's gaze when women gather for Tawaaf, Salah, and especially during the Day of 'Arafah.

Moreover, it is obligatory for anyone going to perform Hajj to learn the rules and the necessary Maslas well before leaving for the pilgrimage from books on Hajj and by contacting an 'Aalim. What more can be said, except that we wish you all a Hajj Maqbul (accepted) and Mabrur (rewarded and blessed)!

[English version of "Le pèlerinage à Makkah" – Al Haadi – Vol. 3 No. 3]