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, the greatest day of the entire Hajj - and one of the greatest days in the 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, over a 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. It is, according to the Prophet (SAW), the single greatest day of the year:

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 - Everything halal except marital relations
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 where duas are answered.

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. However, the order is recommended (Sunnah), not obligatory (wajib). The evidence for this flexibility 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 (roughly the size of a chickpea or date seed). You should have collected 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 must hit the pillar or fall into the basin surrounding it. If it misses completely and lands 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

When you throw the first pebble at Jamarah al-Aqabah, you stop reciting the Talbiyah. The Talbiyah of Hajj ends at this moment. 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. When Allah commanded Ibrahim (AS) to sacrifice his beloved son Ismail (AS), the Shaytan appeared to Ibrahim three times along the way, trying to dissuade him from obeying Allah’s command. Each time, Ibrahim (AS) rejected the Shaytan and pelted him with stones until he disappeared.

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 ram from Paradise, 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)

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 three days during Hajj should ideally be fasted before the Day of Arafah (i.e., the 6th, 7th, and 8th of Dhul Hijjah), though some scholars 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), 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, you must cut hair from the entire head, not just a small portion. Cutting a few strands is not sufficient per the majority of scholars.

For Women

Women cut approximately a fingertip’s length (about 1–2 cm) from the ends of their hair. Women must never shave their heads - this is prohibited for women in Islam. Cutting a small amount from the tips is sufficient.

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

Once you have shaved or trimmed your hair, you enter the state of partial release from Ihram, known as at-Tahallul al-Awwal (the first release). 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 incomplete and invalid. 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 - that is only for Tawaf al-Qudum (arrival Tawaf)
5. There is NO Raml (brisk walking in the first three circuits) - that too is only for Tawaf al-Qudum
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, and the people in the market would hear him and begin reciting it too, until all of Mina would reverberate with the Takbir (Sahih Bukhari, commentary on 2:203).

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 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.

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 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 duas are answered. The practice of pressing oneself against the Multazam and making dua is reported from the Companions:

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

The early scholars and righteous predecessors identified several signs 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) was asked: “What is the Hajj Mabrur?” He said: “That you return renouncing this world and desiring the Hereafter.”

Greeting the Returning Pilgrim

When pilgrims return from Hajj, those who greet them should make dua for them. The Prophet (SAW) taught a specific supplication for greeting returning pilgrims:

This dua is reported from the practice of the Salaf and 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 are returning 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 been cleansed. Do not go back to the person you were before. Be different. Be better. That is the Hajj that lasts.