Last updated: June 2026
Cookies Used by This Site
This site uses a minimal number of cookies. We do not use advertising cookies, tracking cookies, or social media cookies.
Google Analytics Cookies
We use Google Analytics 4 to understand how visitors use this site. Google Analytics sets the following cookies:
- _ga - Used to distinguish unique visitors. Expires after 2 years.
- _ga_G-SKMK6X9Y00 - Used to maintain session state. Expires after 2 years.
These cookies collect anonymous, aggregated data about page visits, time on site, and general geographic location (country/city level). No personally identifiable information is stored. You can opt out by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
Language Preference Cookie
- hajjLang - Stores your selected language preference so the server can load the correct quiz translations. This is a first-party cookie set by our site. Expires after 1 year.
Account & Sign-In Cookies (only if you choose to sign in)
The optional My Journey backup lets you sign in with Google to sync your progress across devices. These cookies are set only if you choose to sign in; if you never sign in, they are never created.
- hg_acct - A first-party flag telling the site you have an active account session so it can sync your progress. Contains no personal data. Expires after 180 days or when you sign out.
- PHPSESSID - A standard first-party session cookie set by our server, used to keep you authenticated while signed in. Cleared when you sign out or your session ends.
We do not use any advertising cookies, social media cookies, or third-party tracking cookies.
What We Use Instead: Local Storage
To save your preferences and progress, we use your browser's built-in localStorage and sessionStorage. These are small pieces of data stored entirely on your own device. They are never sent to our servers, cannot be read by other websites, and are fully under your control.
localStorage Keys
The following keys may be stored in your browser's localStorage:
- hajjTheme – Saves your colour theme preference (e.g., light or dark mode) so it persists between visits
- hajjFontSize – Saves your preferred font size for comfortable reading
- hajjProgress_* – Tracks your reading progress on individual pages (e.g.,
hajjProgress_foundations,hajjProgress_hajj1), so you can see how far through each guide you have read - hajjQuiz_* – Saves your quiz progress and answers locally so you can resume a quiz if you navigate away or close your browser
- hajjChecklist_v1 – Saves which items you have ticked on the My Journey pre-departure checklist
- hg_dua_bookmarks_v1 – Saves your bookmarked duas in the dua library
sessionStorage Keys
The following key may be stored in your browser's sessionStorage (automatically cleared when you close the tab or browser):
- hajj_sid – A randomly generated anonymous session identifier used to group pageview events in our analytics. This is not a cookie, is not sent as an HTTP header, and is discarded when your browsing session ends
Key Differences from Cookies
It is important to understand how localStorage and sessionStorage differ from cookies:
- Not sent to the server – cookies are automatically included in every HTTP request to the server; localStorage and sessionStorage are not
- Not accessible by other sites – only thehajj.guide can read its own stored data
- You are in full control – you can view, modify, or delete this data at any time through your browser's developer tools or settings
How to Clear Local Storage
If you wish to remove all locally stored data from this site, you can do so in any of the following ways:
- Chrome / Edge: Open Developer Tools (F12) → Application tab → Storage → Local Storage → select
https://thehajj.guide→ right-click and clear - Firefox: Open Developer Tools (F12) → Storage tab → Local Storage → select
https://thehajj.guide→ right-click and delete all - Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data → search for
thehajj.guide→ Remove - Any browser: Clearing your browser's site data or using "Clear browsing data" with "Cookies and other site data" selected will also remove localStorage
Note that clearing this data will reset your theme preference, font size, reading progress, and quiz progress.
External Services That May Set Cookies
Beyond the cookies listed above, we use external services that operate under their own policies:
Google Fonts
We load typefaces from Google Fonts to ensure consistent, readable typography across devices. When your browser requests font files from Google's servers, Google may receive your IP address and standard request headers. Google states that its Fonts API is designed to limit the collection and storage of end-user data. For full details, see Google Fonts Privacy.
ipapi.co
We use ipapi.co to perform a single IP-to-country lookup per session to determine your approximate country for anonymous analytics and the quiz leaderboard. This request is made from your browser to ipapi.co's servers. We do not control whether ipapi.co sets any cookies during this request. See ipapi.co's Privacy Policy for details.
What We Do NOT Use
For absolute clarity, this site does not use:
- Advertising cookies or tracking cookies
- Social media cookies (e.g., Facebook Pixel)
- Cross-site tracking of any kind
- Browser fingerprinting
- Tracking pixels or web beacons
Changes to This Policy
If we ever change our approach to cookies or local storage, we will update this page accordingly. The "Last updated" date at the top reflects the most recent revision.
Contact
If you have any questions about this policy, please contact:
Abdul Akbar
Email: akbur@thehajj.guide
Website: thehajj.guide