The month of Hajj is approaching and Muslims around the world have started to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the Annual pilgrimage, Hajj. Those who have physical and financial ability to perform Hajj, it is obligatory for them to perform Hajj. This article is a simple guide to perform Hajj.

It is believed that the Hajj is a journey of the body and the soul. Hajj starts on the 8th day of Zil Hijjah. There are ten basic rituals that should be performed before and during the hajj.

1. Ihram

Any pilgrim wishing to perform Hajj should take a proper bath and wear Ihram. Entering an Ihram is the very first step for Hajj. For men, Ihram is an unstitched white garment while for women it is her normal stitched clothes that cover her body and also a head covering.

After entering the state of ihram, one is not allowed to cut nails or hairs, use perfumes or any other fragrance or sacrifice animals. Recommended: 6 things that are Haram for people wearing Ihram

Talbiyah is saying لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ لاَشَرِيْكَ لَكَ. Pilgrims have to recite this intentionally to enter the state of Ihram. Ignoring it does not entail any consequences, but a pilgrim misses a great virtue.

2. Entering Makkah

After entering the state of Ihram, the pilgrim should move towards Makkah. Make sure you wear Ihram and make a niyyah to perform Hajj before crossing Miqat. Recommended: 5 Miqat Locations to wear Ihram for Hajj

3. Tawaf Al Qudum

Upon the arrival to Makkah, pilgrims should make a Tawaf as it is an integral part of the pilgrimage. People who are living in the boundaries of Miqat are not required to perform Tawaf al Qudum e.g. people of Jeddah.

4. Saee

Saee is described to traverse the distance between the two hills. The Safa and the Marwa. This is the second basic part of the Hajj. People who are living in the boundaries of Miqat are not required to perform Saee prior to Hajj e.g. people of Jeddah.

5. Departure to Mina

On the 8^th of Dhul Hijjah, all Hajj pilgrims depart to Mina, the tent city. The first day of Hajj is also called a day of Tarwiah. Mina is roughly eight kilometers away from Makkah.

Pilgrims have to stay in Mina until the sunrise of the second day of Hajj after which they leave for Arafat and pay another trip to Mina on the third day of Hajj to perform the sixth rite of the Hajj which is stoning the devil.

6. Planes of Arafat

After the dawn prayer in Mina on the 9^th of Dhul Hijjah, pilgrims start their journey to the desert planes of Arafat. This is an important day of Hajj. Muslim spend the day of Arafat in the surrounding area of the Mount Arafat praying to Allah and repenting for their sins.

7. Muzdalifah

After spending a day at Arafat Muslims move to the open land of Muzdallifah which is in the Southeast of Mina. People gather there to pray Maghrib and Isha together and to spend a night collecting the pebbles. After offering the Salah of Fajr, they move back to their camps in Mina.

8. Jamarat

After coming back to their camps on the 10^th of Dhul Hijja, pilgrims perform Rami at Jamarat. Rami at Jamarat is the symbolic stoning of the devil which is marked on the third day of Hajj. Pilgrims fling pebbles on the Jamarat the three walls in the city of Mina. Recommended: Why do we throw stones at Jamarat?

9. Slaughtering

After the Rami at Jamarat, the pilgrims who are performing Hajj Tamattu or Hajj Qiran slaughtering an animal. All the pilgrims are required to shave their head. They open their Ihram after Rami, slaughtering an animal and shaving their head.

10. Tawaf e Ziyarah

Performing a Tawaf al Ziyarah is also a Fard of Hajj. This tawaf has to be performed at any time after getting free from sacrifice, shaving your head and changing your Ihram since the morning of the 10^th Dhul Hijjah till the sunset of the 12^th Dhul Hijjah.