Guide to the rites
Hajj guide
Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and the journey of a lifetime. Here you will find its types and pillars, then its days from the 8th to the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah. Ihram, tawaf and sa‘i are explained in detail in the Umrah guide.
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The days of Hajj: 8th to 13th Dhul-Hijjah
- 8Dhul-Hijjah Day of TarwiyahMinaIhram for Hajj for those doing tamattu‘, and the night in Mina
- 9Dhul-Hijjah Day of ArafahArafah → MuzdalifahStanding and dua until sunset, then the night in Muzdalifah
- 10Dhul-Hijjah Day of SacrificeMina → MakkahStoning al-‘Aqabah, the sacrifice, shaving, Tawaf al-Ifadah and sa‘i
- 11Dhul-Hijjah 1st day of TashriqMinaStoning the three jamarat after midday, and the night in Mina
- 12Dhul-Hijjah 2nd day of TashriqMinaStoning, then leaving before sunset for those who hasten
- 13Dhul-Hijjah 3rd day of TashriqMina → MakkahStoning for those who stay, then the farewell tawaf on departure
Ihram, tawaf, sa‘i and shaving are explained in detail in the Umrah guide.
In detail
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1 The types of Hajj: tamattu‘, qiran and ifrad
Draft with its sources, awaiting scholarly reviewUpdated 24 October 2026Our sources
Hajj is obligatory once in a lifetime on every Muslim who is adult, sane and able. At ihram, the pilgrim chooses one of three types, all valid by consensus.
The steps
- Tamattu‘: enter ihram for Umrah in the months of Hajj, leave ihram after it, then enter ihram for Hajj on the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah. A sacrifice (hady) is required.
- Qiran: enter ihram for Umrah and Hajj together and stay in ihram until the Day of Sacrifice. A sacrifice (hady) is required.
- Ifrad: enter ihram for Hajj alone and stay in ihram until the Day of Sacrifice. No sacrifice is required.
- The words of intention: “Labbayka ‘umratan mutamatti‘an biha ila al-hajj” for tamattu‘, “Labbayka ‘umratan wa hajjan” for qiran, and “Labbayka hajjan” for ifrad.
The evidence
“And pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to Allah by people, for whoever is able to find a way to it” (Al ‘Imran 3:97). Aishah said: we went out with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ; some of us entered ihram for Umrah, some for Hajj and Umrah, and some for Hajj (al-Bukhari 1562, Muslim 1211).
Scholars differ on which is best: tamattu‘ according to the Hanbalis, ifrad according to the Malikis and Shafi‘is, and qiran according to the Hanafis. Most pilgrims coming from outside Makkah today perform tamattu‘ because it is easier.
2 The pillars and obligations of Hajj
Draft with its sources, awaiting scholarly reviewUpdated 24 October 2026Our sources
Without the pillars, Hajj is not valid. Whoever leaves an obligation still has a valid Hajj but owes a sacrifice (dam) according to the majority. Everything else is sunnah.
The steps
- The pillars according to the majority: ihram, standing at Arafah, Tawaf al-Ifadah, and sa‘i.
- The obligations: ihram from the miqat; staying at Arafah until sunset for whoever stands there in the daytime; staying the night at Muzdalifah; staying the nights of Tashriq at Mina; stoning the jamarat; shaving or shortening; and the farewell tawaf.
- The greatest pillar is standing at Arafah; whoever misses it has missed the Hajj.
The evidence
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Hajj is Arafah” (Abu Dawud 1949, al-Tirmidhi 889, narrated by Abd al-Rahman ibn Ya‘mar, graded authentic by al-Albani).
For the Hanafis, the pillars of Hajj are standing at Arafah and Tawaf al-Ifadah, and sa‘i is an obligation. Refer to your own school or scholar for your situation.
3 The 8th: the Day of Tarwiyah Sunnah
Draft with its sources, awaiting scholarly reviewUpdated 24 October 2026Our sources
It was named so because people used to gather water on it for the days after. Going to Mina on this day and staying the night there is sunnah.
The steps
- The pilgrim doing tamattu‘ enters ihram for Hajj in the late morning of this day from wherever they are in Makkah, doing what is done at ihram, such as bathing and applying perfume.
- Those doing qiran and ifrad remain in their ihram.
- Go to Mina and pray Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha and Fajr there, each prayer in its time, shortening the four-rak‘ah prayers.
- Say the talbiyah and remember Allah often.
The evidence
In the hadith of Jabir: on the Day of Tarwiyah they set out for Mina and entered ihram for Hajj, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ rode and prayed Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha and Fajr there (Muslim 1218).
4 The 9th: the Day of Arafah Pillar
Draft with its sources, awaiting scholarly reviewUpdated 24 October 2026Our sources
Standing at Arafah is the greatest pillar of Hajj. Its time runs from midday on the Day of Arafah until dawn on the Day of Sacrifice, and whoever stands there in the daytime must stay until sunset.
The steps
- After sunrise: travel from Mina to Arafah.
- Pray Dhuhr and Asr together at the time of Dhuhr, shortened, with one adhan and two iqamahs.
- Make sure you are inside the boundaries of Arafah. The valley of ‘Uranah is not part of Arafah, and signs mark the boundaries.
- Devote yourself to dua, remembrance and recitation of the Quran, facing the qiblah with your hands raised, and say “la ilaha illa Allah” often.
- Stay until sunset, then move on to Muzdalifah calmly.
The evidence
The Prophet ﷺ said: “There is no day on which Allah frees more servants from the Fire than the Day of Arafah” (Muslim 1348, narrated by Aishah). And he said: “The best dua is the dua of the Day of Arafah, and the best of what I and the prophets before me have said is: there is no god but Allah alone, with no partner; His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He has power over all things” (al-Tirmidhi 3585, graded hasan by al-Albani).
Common mistakes
- Standing outside the boundaries of Arafah, especially in the valley of ‘Uranah.
- Leaving before sunset.
- Straining to climb Jabal al-Rahmah and rubbing it for blessing. It is recommended to stand wherever is easy; all of Arafah is a place of standing.
- Wasting the time in chatting and taking photos; these are hours that may not come again.
Fasting the Day of Arafah is sunnah for those not on Hajj. For the pilgrim, the sunnah is not to fast, so as to have strength for dua.
5 The night of the 10th: staying at Muzdalifah Obligatory
Draft with its sources, awaiting scholarly reviewUpdated 24 October 2026Our sources
Staying the night at Muzdalifah is obligatory according to the majority. The weak, and those with them, are allowed to leave after midnight.
The steps
- On arrival: pray Maghrib and Isha together, shortening Isha.
- Stay the night until dawn, and pray Fajr early in its time.
- After Fajr, stand at al-Mash‘ar al-Haram or wherever is easy in Muzdalifah, facing the qiblah, remembering Allah and making dua until it is quite light.
- Move on to Mina before sunrise.
- Pick up the pebbles for stoning from Muzdalifah or anywhere else, roughly the size of a chickpea.
The evidence
“When you depart from Arafat, remember Allah at al-Mash‘ar al-Haram” (al-Baqarah 2:198). The Prophet ﷺ allowed Sawdah to leave before him, as she was a heavy, slow-moving woman (al-Bukhari 1681, Muslim 1290).
6 The 10th: the Day of Sacrifice
Draft with its sources, awaiting scholarly reviewUpdated 24 October 2026Our sources
The busiest day of Hajj. Its acts are four: stoning, then sacrifice, then shaving or shortening, then tawaf and sa‘i. Doing them in this order is sunnah.
The steps
- Stone Jamrat al-‘Aqabah alone with seven pebbles one after another, saying takbir with each. Stop the talbiyah when you begin stoning.
- Slaughter the sacrifice (hady) for tamattu‘ and qiran; you may appoint an agent through the official bodies.
- For men, shaving is better and shortening is sufficient; women cut a fingertip’s length.
- The first release from ihram (a point of fiqh detail): for the Shafi‘is and Hanbalis it comes by doing two of three things: stoning, shaving or shortening, and Tawaf al-Ifadah; then everything becomes permitted except marital relations. For the Malikis it comes by stoning Jamrat al-‘Aqabah, and for the Hanafis by shaving.
- Tawaf al-Ifadah, then sa‘i for the pilgrim doing tamattu‘, and for those doing qiran or ifrad if they did not do sa‘i after the arrival tawaf. With this comes the full release from ihram.
The evidence
Whenever the Prophet ﷺ was asked on the Day of Sacrifice about something done earlier or later, he said: “Do it, and there is no harm” (al-Bukhari 83, Muslim 1306, narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr).
Tawaf al-Ifadah may be delayed to the days of Tashriq or later. If it is delayed until the time of departure, many scholars hold that it also counts for the farewell tawaf.
7 The days of Tashriq and stoning the jamarat Obligatory
Draft with its sources, awaiting scholarly reviewUpdated 24 October 2026Our sources
The days of Tashriq are the 11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah. Staying their nights at Mina and stoning the three jamarat on them are obligatory.
The steps
- Stay the night at Mina on the 11th and 12th, and the night of the 13th for those who stay on.
- Stone every day after midday: the small jamrah, then the middle, then the large one (al-‘Aqabah), each with seven pebbles and takbir.
- After the small and middle jamrahs: step forward a little, face the qiblah and make a long dua. Do not stop after Jamrat al-‘Aqabah.
- Whoever wishes to leave early departs Mina before sunset on the 12th, after stoning. Whoever is still there at sunset must stay the night and stone on the 13th.
- Someone unable, such as the sick or elderly, may appoint someone to stone on their behalf.
The evidence
“And remember Allah during the appointed days. Whoever hastens in two days, there is no sin on him; and whoever delays, there is no sin on him, for whoever fears Allah” (al-Baqarah 2:203). The description of stoning is in the hadith of Ibn Umar (al-Bukhari 1751).
Common mistakes
- Stoning before midday on the days of Tashriq. There is a difference of opinion; the more cautious view is to stone after it.
- Throwing the pebbles violently, or throwing shoes and large stones. Stoning is an act of worship done with calm.
- Stoning at peak times when you are weak. Many scholars hold that the time extends into the night.
8 The farewell tawaf Obligatory
Draft with its sources, awaiting scholarly reviewUpdated 24 October 2026Our sources
Obligatory on the pilgrim according to the majority when leaving Makkah. It is waived for a woman who is menstruating or in postnatal bleeding.
The steps
- It should be your last act at the House, just before you travel.
- Seven circuits without ramal or idtiba‘, then two rak‘ahs.
- There is no sa‘i after it.
- If you are delayed after it by something small, such as buying something or waiting for your group, there is no harm.
The evidence
Ibn Abbas said: “The people were commanded that their last act should be at the House, except that it was lightened for the menstruating woman” (al-Bukhari 1755, Muslim 1328).
9 Rulings specific to women in Hajj
Draft with its sources, awaiting scholarly reviewUpdated 24 October 2026Our sources
A woman performs Hajj as a man does, with a few small differences. Many scholars require that she travel with a mahram, and scholars discuss this in detail.
The steps
- No idtiba‘, no ramal and no hurrying between the green markers, and the talbiyah in a low voice.
- She avoids the niqab and gloves in ihram.
- A menstruating woman does all the rites except tawaf until she is pure: she stands at Arafah, stays at Muzdalifah and Mina, and stones.
- If a woman doing tamattu‘ gets her period before the Umrah tawaf and fears missing the Hajj, she joins Hajj to her Umrah and becomes a pilgrim doing qiran.
- The farewell tawaf is waived for her if she is menstruating at the time of departure.
- She may leave Muzdalifah after midnight.
The evidence
The Prophet ﷺ said to Aishah when her period came: “Do what the pilgrim does, except do not perform tawaf around the House until you are pure” (al-Bukhari 305, Muslim 1211).