Going out to Mina on the day of Tarwiah
A pilgrim performing Hajj AlTamatt'u should
intend Ihram, from the place where he is staying, on the 8th day of Thul-Hijjah, which is
the Tarwiah Day, and leave to Mina in the morning. In Mina, the pilgrims pray Dhuhr, Asr,
Maghrib and Isha of the 8th day of ThulHijjah and Fajr of the 9th day of ThulHijjah.
Dhuhr, Asr and Isha are each shortened to two Rak'ah only, but are not combined. The
pilgrim remains in Mina until sunrise of the 9th day of ThulHijjah and then leaves to
Arafat.
Departure to Arafat
On the 9th day of Thul-Hijjah, the Day of
Arafat, the pilgrims stay in Arafat until sunset. The pilgrims pray Dhuhr and Asr at
Arafat, shortened and combined dur ing the time of Dhuhr to save the rest of the day for
glorifying Allah and for supplication asking forgiveness. A pilgrim should make sure that
he is within the boundaries of Arafat, not necessarily standing on the mountain of Arafat.
The Prophet salla Allah-u alaihe wa salam, said: "I stood here on this rocky hill and all Arafat is a standing
place" Muslim. One should keep
reciting Talbeyah, glorifying Allah the Greatest and repeating supplication. It is also
reported that the Prophet, salla Allah-u alaihe wa salam, used to say the following
supplication: "There is no
deity worthy of worship except Allah, the One without a partner. The dominion and the
praise are His and He is powerful over everything." Anas Ibn Malik was asked once how he and his friends used to spend
their time while walking from Mina to Arafat in the company of the Prophet, salla Allah-u
alaihe wa salam. Anas said:
"Some of us used to cry out Talbeyah, others used to glorify Allah the Greatest and
the rest used to repeat prayers. Each one of us was free to worship Allah in the way he
likes without prejudice or renunciation of his right." Bukhari.
In the vast square plain of Arafat, tears
are shed, sins are washed and faults are redressed for those who ask Allah for forgiveness
and offer sincere repentance for their wrong doings in the past. Happy is the person who
receives the Mercy and Pleasure of Allah on this particular day.
The departure from Arafat
Soon after sunset on the Day of Arafat, the
pilgrims leave for Muzdalifah quietly and reverently in compliance with the advice of the
Prophet, salla Allah-u alaihe wa salam, who said when he noticed people walking without
calmness: "O people! Be quiet,
hastening is not a sign of righteousness." Bukhari. In order to follow the example of the Prophet, salla Allah-u alaihe
wa salam, it is preferable to keep reciting the Talbeyah, glorifying Allah the Greatest
and mentioning the name of Allah until the time of stoning Jamrat Al-Aqabah (a stone
pillar in Mina). In Muzdalifah, the pilgrim performs Maghrib and Isha prayers combined,
shortening the Isha prayer to two Rak'ah.Pilgrims stay overnight in Muzdalifah to perform
the Fajr prayer and wait until the brightness of the morning is widespread before they
leave to Mina passing through the sacred Mash'ar valley.
Women and weak individuals are allowed to
proceed to Mina at any time after midnight to avoid the crowd.
Stoning Jamrat Al-Aqabah
When the pilgrims arrive at Mina, they go
to Jamrat Al-Aqabah where they stone it with seven pebbles glorifying Allah "Allah-u
Akbar" at each throw and calling on Him to accept their Hajj. The time of stoning
Jamrat Al-Aqabah is after sunrise. The Prophet, salla Allah-u alaihe wa salam, threw the
pebbles late in the morning and permitted weak people to stone after leaving Muzdalifah
after midnight. The size of the pebbles should not be more than that of a bean as
described by the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihe wa salam, who warned against exaggeration.
The pebbles can be picked up either in Muzdalifah or in Mina.
Slaughter of Sacrifice
After stoning Jamrat Al-Aqabah, the pilgrim
goes to slaughter his sacrifice either personally or through the appointment of somebody
else to do it on his behalf. A pilgrim should slaughter either a sheep, or share a cow or
a camel with six others.
Shaving the head or trimming the hair
The final rite on the tenth day after
offering his sacrifice is to shave one' s head or to cut some of the hair. Shaving the
head is, however, preferable for it was reported that the Prophet prayed three times for
those who shaved their heads, when he said: "May Allah's Mercy be upon those who
shaved their heads." Bukhari and Muslim. For women, the length of hair to be cut is
that of a finger tip. The stoning of Jamrat Al-Aqabah and the shaving of head or trimming
of hair symbolizes the end of the first phase of the state of Ihram and the lifting of its
restrictions except for sexual intercourse with one's spouse. Stoning Jamrat Al-Aqabah,
slaughtering the sacrifice and shaving the head or cutting part of the hair are preferred
to be in this order, as it is the order that the Prophet, salla Allah-u alaihe wa salam,
did them. However, if they are done in any other order, there is no harm in that.
Tawaf Al-Ifadhah
Tawaf Al-Ifadhah is a fundamental rite of
Hajj. The pilgrim makes Tawaf-AIIfadhah by visiting Al-Masjid AlHaraam and circling the
Ka'bah seven times and praying two Rak'ah behind Maqam Ibrahim. Then the pilgrim should
make Sa'i between the Safa and the Marwah. After Tawaf Al-Ifadhah the state of Ihram is
completely ended and all restrictions are lifted including sexual intercourse with one's
spouse.
Tawaf Al-Ifadhah can be delayed until the
days spent at Mina are over.
Return to Mina
The pilgrim should return to Mina and spend
there the days of Tashreeq (i.e. the I I th, 1 2th and 1 3th day of Thul-Hijjah). l During
each day, and after Dhuhr prayer, | the pilgrim stones the three stone pillars called
"Jamarat": The small, the medium and Jamrat Al-Aqabah, glorifying Allah
"Allah-u Akbar" with each throw of the seven pebbles stoned at each pillar.
These pebbles are picked up in Mina. A l Pilgrim may leave Mina to Makkah on the 13th of
Thul-Hijjah or on the 12th if he wishes, there is no blame on him if he chooses the later,
but he has to leave before sunset.
Farewell Tawaf
Farewell Tawaf is the final rite of Hajj.
It is to make another Tawaf around the Ka'bah. Ibn Abbas said: "The people were ordered to perform the
Tawaf around the Ka'bah as the last thing before leaving Makkah, except the menstruating
women who were excused."
Bukhari.