The Hajj - Part 2

The Journey So Far

You have already traversed the most transformative stages of the Hajj pilgrimage. Before we continue into the second half, let us recall the path that has brought you here:

1. Makkah - You entered Ihram and declared your intention for Hajj
2. Mina (8th Dhul Hijjah) - You spent the day and night in worship, shortening your prayers, reciting Talbiyah
3. Arafah (9th Dhul Hijjah) - You stood in the most important pillar of Hajj, pouring your heart out to Allah from Zuhr until sunset
4. Muzdalifah (Night of the 10th) - You prayed Maghrib and Isha combined, collected pebbles, slept under the open sky, and prepared for the busiest day of Hajj

You now stand on the morning of the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, one of the greatest days of the Hajj and of the whole Islamic calendar. Everything that follows in this guide will take you from this moment through the completion of every remaining rite, until you bid farewell to the House of Allah.

10th Dhul Hijjah - Yawm al-Nahr (The Day of Sacrifice)

The 10th of Dhul Hijjah is called Yawm al-Nahr - the Day of Sacrifice - because it is the day on which the sacrificial animals are slaughtered. While you are in the sacred precincts completing your pilgrimage, some two billion Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha, commemorating the willingness of Ibrahim (AS) to sacrifice his son Ismail (AS) in obedience to Allah’s command.

This is not just any day. The Prophet (SAW) named it the greatest of days in the sight of Allah (though some scholars rank the Day of Arafah higher):

This is also the busiest day of Hajj. Multiple major rites are performed on this single day. Here is an overview of everything that lies ahead:

1. Fajr at Muzdalifah - Pray Fajr as early as permissible, then make dua at al-Mash’ar al-Haram
2. Depart for Mina - Leave Muzdalifah before sunrise
3. Pelt the Big Jamarah - Jamarah al-Aqabah only, 7 pebbles
4. Animal Sacrifice - The Hady (sacrificial animal)
5. Shave or Cut Hair - Halq or Taqseer
6. Partial Release from Ihram - Most restrictions lifted; marital relations still forbidden
7. Tawaf al-Ifadah - The obligatory Tawaf of Hajj, followed by Sa’ee for Tamattu’ pilgrims
8. Full Release from Ihram - All restrictions lifted

Fajr at Muzdalifah

The Prophet (SAW) prayed Fajr at Muzdalifah at its earliest permissible time. This is one of the rare occasions where the Sunnah specifically emphasizes praying at the beginning of the window rather than waiting. After praying, the Prophet mounted his camel and rode to al-Mash’ar al-Haram (the sacred monument), where he faced the Qiblah and made dua, supplicating to Allah, declaring His greatness, and proclaiming His oneness.

Stand at Muzdalifah, face the Qiblah, raise your hands, and call upon Allah with whatever is in your heart. Ask for forgiveness. Ask for your family. Ask for the Ummah. This is a blessed station of remembrance and dua (Quran 2:198) - ask with hope.

The Order of Acts on the 10th

The Sunnah order of acts on this day is: Pelting → Sacrifice → Shaving → Tawaf al-Ifadah. The Prophet (SAW) performed them in this order. In the Shafi’i and Hanbali schools, the order is recommended (Sunnah), not obligatory (wajib) - see the fiqh note below for the Hanafi and Maliki positions. The evidence they rely on is explicit:

Pelting Jamarah al-Aqabah (The Big Jamarah)

This is the first major rite of the 10th. Upon arriving at the Jamarat area in Mina, you will pelt only the Big Jamarah - Jamarah al-Aqabah. On this day, you do NOT pelt the small or medium Jamarah. Those are for the Days of Tashriq only.

How to Pelt

1. Take 7 small pebbles (slightly bigger than a chickpea, about the size of a date stone). Many pilgrims collect these at Muzdalifah, though picking them up anywhere in Mina is also permissible.
2. Approach the Jamarah al-Aqabah. The Sunnah position is to face the Jamarah with Makkah to your left and Mina to your right.
3. Throw each pebble individually, one at a time, saying “Allahu Akbar” with each throw.
4. The pebble should land in the basin around the pillar; hitting the pillar on the way in is fine. In the Shafi’i and Hanbali schools a pebble that hits the pillar but bounces out of the basin does not count (the Hanafi school accepts one that lands close to it). If it misses and lands well outside the basin, that throw does not count - throw another pebble.
5. After completing all 7 throws, you are done. Do NOT stand for dua after the Big Jamarah on the 10th - simply leave.

The Talbiyah Ends Here

In the Hanafi, Shafi’i and Hanbali schools, when you throw the first pebble at Jamarah al-Aqabah, you stop reciting the Talbiyah - the Talbiyah of Hajj ends at this moment (the Maliki school ends it earlier, once the sun passes its zenith on the Day of Arafah). From this point onward, you will no longer say “Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk”. The call has been answered. You have arrived.

The Story Behind the Pelting

The pelting of the Jamarat is not a mere ritual - it is the re-enactment of one of the most powerful moments in the history of faith. It is reported from Ibn Abbas (RA) that when Ibrahim (AS) came to perform the rites, the Shaytan appeared to him three times, and each time Ibrahim (AS) pelted him with seven stones until he sank into the ground.

The three Jamarat mark the three locations where the Shaytan made his stand - and where Ibrahim (AS) drove him away with unwavering obedience to Allah.

Practical Advice for Pelting

Above all: be patient, stay calm, and move with the flow of the crowd. Never push against the direction of movement. Never bend down to pick up dropped items in the middle of the crowd. If someone falls near you, help them up immediately. The Prophet (SAW) said on the Day of Sacrifice: “Do not go back to being disbelievers after me, striking one another’s necks.” (Sahih Bukhari 1739). Gentleness and safety are paramount.

Animal Sacrifice (Hady / Qurbani)

After pelting the Big Jamarah, the next act in the Sunnah order is the animal sacrifice (known as Hady in the context of Hajj). This sacrifice is an act of worship that honours the legacy of Ibrahim (AS), who was prepared to sacrifice his son in absolute submission to Allah’s will. Allah ransomed Ismail with “a great sacrifice” (Quran 37:107) - a ram, according to the commentators - and the sacrifice of animals during Hajj continues this tradition of devotion.

Who Must Sacrifice?

What Animals Are Acceptable?

• Sheep or goat - one per person (must be at least 6 months for sheep, 1 year for goat)
• Cow - can be shared among up to 7 people (1/7 share per person; must be at least 2 years old)
• Camel - can be shared among up to 7 people (1/7 share per person; must be at least 5 years old)

These minimum ages follow the Hanafi and Hanbali schools, and sharing a cow or camel among seven is the majority view. The Shafi’i school sets the minimum at one year for a sheep (or earlier if it has shed its front teeth) and two years for a goat; the Maliki school sets one year for a sheep or goat and three years for a cow, and does not allow a hady to be shared. Camels must be five years old in all four.

The animal must be free from defects that diminish its value. The Prophet (SAW) specified four defects that make an animal unacceptable:

How the Sacrifice Works in Practice

In the modern Hajj, most pilgrims do not personally slaughter their animal. Instead, they arrange the sacrifice through one of the following channels:

• Tour operator - Most Hajj groups arrange sacrifices in bulk for their pilgrims
• Official Hajj sacrifice banks - The Saudi government operates authorized slaughterhouses where you can purchase a sacrifice voucher. The meat is processed, packaged, and distributed to the needy across the Muslim world.
• Personal arrangement - Some pilgrims purchase and slaughter the animal themselves, though this is less common today

If You Cannot Afford the Sacrifice

If you are performing Tamattu’ or Qiraan Hajj and genuinely cannot afford to purchase a sacrificial animal, Allah has provided an alternative:

The Shafi’i school prefers the three days during Hajj to be fasted before the Day of Arafah (i.e., the 6th, 7th, and 8th of Dhul Hijjah), while the Hanafi and Hanbali schools prefer the 7th, 8th and 9th, so that the last is the Day of Arafah; some scholars also permit fasting on the 11th, 12th, and 13th. The seven days are fasted after you return home.

Shaving or Cutting Hair (Halq or Taqseer)

After the sacrifice (or after pelting if your sacrifice has been arranged separately and you are not waiting for confirmation - though in the Hanafi school a Tamattu’ or Qiraan pilgrim who shaves before the sacrifice owes a damm; see the fiqh note above), the next step is to shave or cut your hair. This act symbolizes humility, submission, and the shedding of vanity before Allah.

For Men

Shaving the entire head (Halq) is strongly preferred and superior to merely trimming. The Prophet (SAW) made this distinction clear with striking emphasis:

Three times the Prophet (SAW) made dua for those who shave before finally including those who trim. This is a powerful encouragement. If you are a man, shave your head completely. It is an act of complete surrender. You will not get this opportunity again easily. Surrender your vanity to Allah.

If you choose to trim (Taqseer) instead of shaving, trim from the entire head, not just a small portion. This is required in the Maliki and Hanbali schools; the Hanafi school requires at least a quarter of the head and the Shafi’i school counts as little as three hairs, but all agree that covering the whole head is best.

For Women

Women cut approximately a fingertip’s length (about 1–2 cm) from the ends of their hair. Women must not shave their heads: the Prophet (SAW) said, “Shaving is not for women; women only shorten” (Abu Dawud 1984, 1985), and the schools differ only on whether shaving is disliked or forbidden for them. Cutting a small amount from the tips is sufficient.

Partial Release from Ihram (at-Tahallul al-Awwal)

Once you have pelted and then shaved or trimmed your hair, you are in the state of partial release from Ihram, known as at-Tahallul al-Awwal (the first release). The schools differ on the exact moment it begins: in the Hanafi school with the shaving, in the Maliki school with the pelting, and in the Shafi’i and Hanbali schools once two of the three acts (pelting, shaving, Tawaf al-Ifadah) are done. At this point:

Aisha (RA) reported: “I used to apply perfume to the Messenger of Allah (SAW) for his Ihram before he entered Ihram, and for his exiting Ihram before he performed Tawaf of the Ka’bah.” (Sahih Bukhari 1539, Sahih Muslim 1189). This confirms the permissibility of perfume after the partial release.

Tawaf al-Ifadah (Tawaf al-Ziyarah)

Tawaf al-Ifadah - also called Tawaf al-Ziyarah (Tawaf of Visitation) - is one of the pillars (arkan) of Hajj. It is absolutely obligatory. Without it, your Hajj is not complete, and marital relations stay forbidden until you perform it. There is no substitute for it and no penalty that can replace it. It must be performed.

This verse refers specifically to Tawaf al-Ifadah. The scholars of tafsir, including Ibn Kathir, confirm that “Tawaf around the Ancient House” here means the Tawaf that is a pillar of Hajj.

How to Perform Tawaf al-Ifadah

1. Make your way from Mina to al-Masjid al-Haram in Makkah
2. You may now wear regular clothes (you have had the first release from Ihram)
3. Perform 7 circuits (ashwat) around the Ka’bah, starting from the Black Stone corner
4. There is no Idtiba’ (uncovering the right shoulder) for this Tawaf - it belongs to the arrival Tawaf (Tawaf al-Qudum, or the Umrah Tawaf), and you are now in regular clothes
5. There is no Raml (brisk walking in the first three circuits) in the Maliki and Hanbali schools, which tie it to the arrival Tawaf - the Prophet (SAW) did not do raml in his Tawaf al-Ifadah (Abu Dawud 2001); the Hanafi and Shafi’i schools have men do raml in any Tawaf followed by Sa’ee, so in those schools a pilgrim whose Hajj Sa’ee comes after this Tawaf (as it does for Tamattu’) does raml here
6. After completing 7 circuits, pray 2 rak’ahs behind Maqam Ibrahim (or anywhere in the Haram if space is limited)
7. Drink Zamzam water

Sa’ee After Tawaf al-Ifadah

If you are performing Tamattu’ Hajj (which most pilgrims are), you must perform Sa’ee between Safa and Marwah after this Tawaf. This is your Hajj Sa’ee, entirely separate from the Sa’ee you performed during your Umrah.

Timing of Tawaf al-Ifadah

Full Release from Ihram (at-Tahallul ath-Thani)

After completing Tawaf al-Ifadah (and Sa’ee, if required), you achieve the second and final release from Ihram - at-Tahallul ath-Thani. At this point:

Return to Mina

After completing Tawaf al-Ifadah (and Sa’ee if applicable), you return to Mina to spend the nights of the Days of Tashriq. The remaining days of Hajj are centred in Mina, where you will stay in your tent, worship, rest, and perform the daily pelting of all three Jamarat.

If you performed Tawaf al-Ifadah on the 10th, you will return to Mina on the evening of the 10th. If you delayed it, you may go to the Haram on the 11th or 12th and return to Mina afterward. Either way, your base for the next two or three days is Mina.

Ayyam al-Tashriq - The Days of Tashriq (11th, 12th & 13th Dhul Hijjah)

The Days of Tashriq are the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul Hijjah. They are called “Tashriq” because the early Arabs would dry (tashreeq) the sacrificial meat in the sun during these days to preserve it. These are sacred days of worship, gratitude, and remembrance.

The “appointed days” in this verse refer to the Days of Tashriq. Fill these days with Takbir, Tahlil, Tahmid, and Tasbeeh. Umar (RA) would recite the Takbir in his tent at Mina; the people in the mosque would hear him and recite it too, and the people in the markets would join in, until all of Mina would reverberate with the Takbir (reported without a chain by al-Bukhari, Book of the Two Eids, chapter before hadith 970).

Pelting All Three Jamarat (11th, 12th, and 13th)

Unlike the 10th (when you pelted only the Big Jamarah), on each of the Days of Tashriq you pelt all three Jamarat in order:

That is 21 pebbles per day (7 × 3). Over the two or three days of Tashriq, you will need 42 pebbles (if leaving on the 12th) or 63 pebbles (if staying for the 13th), in addition to the 7 you used on the 10th. Total: either 49 or 70 pebbles for the entire Hajj.

When to Pelt

The Prophet (SAW) pelted the Jamarat on the Days of Tashriq after Zuhr (midday):

Procedure for Each Jamarah - In Detail

1. The Small Jamarah (al-Ula): This is the first Jamarah you encounter when walking from your tent in Mina toward the Jamarat bridge. Stand at a suitable distance, throw 7 pebbles one at a time, saying “Allahu Akbar” with each throw. After completing the 7 throws, move forward and to the right, away from the flow of people. Face the Qiblah, raise your hands, and make extended dua. The Prophet (SAW) stood for a long time in this spot, supplicating to Allah.

2. The Medium Jamarah (al-Wusta): Proceed to the second Jamarah. Again, throw 7 pebbles one at a time, saying “Allahu Akbar” with each throw. After completing the throws, move to the left side, face the Qiblah, raise your hands, and make extended dua. The Prophet (SAW) stood for a long time here as well.

3. The Big Jamarah (al-Aqabah): Proceed to the third and final Jamarah. Throw 7 pebbles one at a time, saying “Allahu Akbar” with each throw. After the last pebble, leave immediately. Do NOT stand for dua after the Big Jamarah. This is the consistent Sunnah - the Prophet (SAW) did not stop at the Big Jamarah for dua on any day.

Leaving on the 12th vs. Staying for the 13th

Allah has given pilgrims the choice of departing Mina after two days or staying for the third:

The practical implications of this verse are:

• If you want to leave after two days of Tashriq (the 11th and 12th), you must leave Mina before sunset on the 12th (after pelting that day’s Jamarat).
• If the sun sets while you are still in Mina on the 12th, you are obligated to stay for the 13th and pelt all three Jamarat again on the 13th. In the Shafi’i school, if you had already set off and the sun sets while you are still making your way out of Mina, you may carry on.

Spending Nights at Mina

During the Days of Tashriq, pilgrims are expected to spend the nights at Mina. Specifically, you should spend the majority of each night (from Maghrib to Fajr) in Mina.

The evidence that it is normally required comes from the hadith of Ibn Umar (RA) about Abbas (RA):

The fact that Abbas (RA) needed to seek special permission indicates that staying overnight in Mina is the default requirement - otherwise, there would have been no need to ask.

Tawaf al-Wada’ (The Farewell Tawaf)

After completing all the rites at Mina - the pelting, the nights of Tashriq, and everything that the days of Hajj required of you - there is one final act before you leave Makkah. It is the Farewell Tawaf (Tawaf al-Wada’), and it is the last thing you do in Makkah. Your final footsteps in the Holy City must be in Tawaf around the House of Allah.

Ruling on Farewell Tawaf

How to Perform Tawaf al-Wada’

1. Perform 7 circuits around the Ka’bah, starting from the Black Stone corner
2. There is NO Idtiba’ (uncovering the right shoulder) and NO Raml (brisk walking)
3. There is NO Sa’ee after Farewell Tawaf
4. Pray 2 rak’ahs behind Maqam Ibrahim (or anywhere in the Haram)
5. Drink Zamzam water - drink your fill, for this may be your last taste of it at its source

Exemptions from Farewell Tawaf

At the Multazam - Your Final Moments

Before leaving the Haram for the last time, many pilgrims go to the Multazam - the area of the Ka’bah wall between the Black Stone and the Ka’bah door. This is a place of extraordinary spiritual intensity, where the scholars recommend making dua. Pressing oneself against the Multazam is reported in a narration from Abdullah ibn Amr (RA), though its chain is weak:

Press yourself against the Ka’bah if you can reach it. Place your chest, your cheek, your palms flat against the wall of the House that Ibrahim built. And pour your heart out. Ask Allah for everything. Ask for forgiveness for every sin you have ever committed. Ask for your parents, your children, your spouse. Ask for the Ummah. Ask for a good ending. Cry if the tears come. This may be the last time you ever stand this close to the House of Allah.

After Hajj - Maintaining Your Transformation

The rites are complete. The Ihram has been removed. The final Tawaf has been performed. But the true measure of your Hajj is not what happened in Makkah - it is what happens when you go home. The scholars have always said that the real test of an accepted Hajj is the life that follows it.

Signs of an Accepted Hajj

Scholars have described signs that give hope that a person’s Hajj has been accepted by Allah:

• Your condition after Hajj is better than before - you are more conscious of Allah, more careful with your obligations, more generous, more patient
• You are more inclined to good deeds - the Quran feels closer, prayer feels sweeter, charity feels easier
• You are less inclined to sin - the things that once tempted you have lost their pull; haram feels heavier on your conscience
• You feel a deeper connection to Allah - the awareness of His presence that you felt in Arafah stays with you in your daily life
• You are kinder to people - the patience you developed in the crowds of Hajj translates to patience with your family, colleagues, and community

Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) is reported to have said: “The Hajj Mabrur is that you return renouncing this world and desiring the Hereafter.” (cited by al-Qurtubi in his tafsir of Quran 3:97)

Greeting the Returning Pilgrim

When pilgrims return from Hajj, those who greet them should make dua for them. A well-known greeting for returning pilgrims is:

A report that the Prophet (SAW) said these words to a returning pilgrim (Ibn al-Sunni and al-Tabarani, from Ibn Umar) has a weak chain, but greeting pilgrims with dua like this is the practice of the Salaf, and it is recommended when welcoming someone who has returned from the pilgrimage.

Dua for Returning from Travel

As you travel home from Hajj, recite the dua for returning from a journey that the Prophet (SAW) would recite:

Holding On to the Change

The Prophet (SAW) said:

You hope to return home as a newborn, but the world you are returning to has not changed. The same temptations, the same pressures, the same people and environments that led you to sin before Hajj are still there. The difference is you. You are different now. You have stood at Arafah and wept. You have thrown stones at the Shaytan. You have walked around the House of Allah. You have begged Allah to cleanse you. Do not go back to the person you were before. Be different. Be better. That is the Hajj that lasts.