Guided Hajj (Tamattu')
A calm, day-by-day companion for performing Hajj. This guide follows Hajj al-Tamattu', a complete Umrah performed first, with a break out of ihram, followed by Hajj beginning on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah, since it is the most common path for pilgrims arriving from abroad. If your group is performing Qiran or Ifrad, some steps differ; the notes below flag the main differences.
1. Re-enter ihram for Hajj
On the morning of the 8th, Tamattu' pilgrims bathe, dress in ihram again, and make a fresh intention, this time for Hajj alone.
- Take ghusl and put on ihram clothing again (men: two white cloths; women: ordinary modest clothing).
- Make the niyyah for Hajj in your heart.
- Begin reciting the Talbiyah again.
- The same ihram restrictions as before apply from this point.
- Travel to Mina with your group, arriving before Dhuhr where possible.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting that ihram restrictions restart at this point.
- Leaving for Mina too late and missing the day's prayers there.
- Assuming you must travel back out to a miqat point, you do not, since you are already in Makkah.
Differences between schools
Pilgrims performing Qiran or Ifrad remain in, or re-enter, ihram on a different timeline and do not repeat this step in the same way, confirm your Hajj type with your group leader.
2. Spend the day and night in Mina
Rest, pray, and prepare for the Day of Arafah, the most important day of Hajj, which follows tomorrow.
- Note your tent or camp number and agree a meeting point with your group.
- Pray Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha and Fajr, each shortened to two rak'ahs as a traveller.
- Rest and hydrate rather than exerting yourself.
- Keep the ihram restrictions in mind even while resting.
- Prepare for tomorrow, charge devices, and pack light for a long day.
Common mistakes
- Wandering far from your tent and getting lost among the large camps.
- Exhausting yourself the day before Arafah.
- Not drinking enough water in the heat.
Differences between schools
Prayers are shortened (qasr) but, for most pilgrims, not combined (jam') on this day, following the majority view; ask your scholar about your specific circumstances.
3. Travel to Arafah
After sunrise, pilgrims move from Mina to Arafah, where standing (wuquf) is the central pillar of Hajj.
- Travel to Arafah with your group after sunrise.
- Confirm you are within the marked boundaries of Arafah, standing outside them does not count.
- Pray Dhuhr and Asr combined and shortened, typically led together at the time of Dhuhr.
- Settle in for the afternoon of standing and supplication.
Common mistakes
- Assuming your camp is inside Arafah when it may be just outside the boundary, check the signage.
- Treating the day casually rather than with focus and worship.
4. Stand at Arafah (wuquf)
The Prophet said 'Hajj is Arafah.' Spend the time from midday until sunset in sincere du'a, dhikr and reflection.
- Remain within Arafah from midday until sunset, this is obligatory.
- Spend the hours in sincere du'a, istighfar and Qur'an recitation.
- Face the Qiblah if convenient, though this is not required for validity.
- Recite the dua of Arafah repeatedly.
- Reflect and seek forgiveness sincerely, this day is described as the most virtuous for du'a.
Common mistakes
- Leaving Arafah before sunset, which most scholars say requires expiation.
- Spending the time on phones or socializing rather than worship.
- Standing just outside the Arafah boundary without realizing it, which invalidates the wuquf there.
For women
A menstruating or postpartum woman performs the standing at Arafah exactly as everyone else, it does not require purity, unlike Tawaf.
Differences between schools
Standing at Arafah is agreed by all schools to be the one pillar without which Hajj is not valid. If you believe you missed it, raise this urgently with a scholar.
5. Travel to Muzdalifah and spend the night
After sunset, move to Muzdalifah, pray Maghrib and Isha combined, rest under the sky, and collect pebbles for the days ahead.
- Leave Arafah only after sunset, not before.
- Travel to Muzdalifah with your group.
- Pray Maghrib and Isha combined and shortened on arrival.
- Rest and sleep in the open air.
- Collect small, chickpea-sized pebbles for the stoning over the next few days, many pilgrims gather around 49 for a two-day stay in Mina, or 70 for three.
- Elderly or weak pilgrims, or those with young children, may be permitted to leave for Mina after midnight to avoid the heaviest crowds.
Common mistakes
- Leaving Arafah before sunset to reach Muzdalifah faster.
- Collecting oversized stones, or gathering them from the Jamarat area itself, which is discouraged.
- Praying Maghrib and Isha separately rather than combined on arrival.
Differences between schools
The majority of scholars hold that spending part of the night at Muzdalifah is obligatory; they differ on whether staying past midnight specifically is required for validity or only recommended. Ask your scholar if you must leave early for a genuine reason.
6. Stone Jamrat al-Aqabah
Throw seven small pebbles, one at a time, at the largest pillar, Jamrat al-Aqabah, saying the takbir with each throw.
- Travel to the Jamarat Bridge after sunrise.
- Throw seven pebbles one at a time at Jamrat al-Aqabah (the pillar closest to Makkah).
- Say 'Allahu Akbar' with each throw.
- Aim so each pebble lands within the marked basin, repeat a throw that clearly misses.
- Move away from the pillar promptly afterward, given the crowd density.
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Common mistakes
- Throwing all seven pebbles at once instead of one at a time.
- Throwing pebbles that do not land in the basin.
- Lingering near the pillar afterward and blocking others.
- Using large or sharp stones instead of small pebbles.
7. Offer the sacrifice (hady)
The Tamattu' or Qiran sacrifice is due on this day; most pilgrims arrange it through an official voucher rather than performing it by hand.
- Confirm with your group or bank how your sacrifice voucher was purchased and processed.
- Some pilgrims attend or perform the sacrifice themselves if arranged locally, though this is not necessary.
- Once confirmed complete, the sacrifice obligation is fulfilled.
- The meat is distributed to those in need.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting to arrange or pay for the sacrifice voucher before travelling.
- Assuming the sacrifice must be witnessed in person, it does not need to be.
Differences between schools
The sacrifice is obligatory (wajib) for pilgrims performing Tamattu' or Qiran, but not for Ifrad. It can be offered any time through the days of Tashreeq (11th, 13th) if the 10th is not possible.
8. Halq or taqsir
Shave or trim the hair after stoning and sacrifice, beginning the first stage of exiting ihram.
- Men: shave the head (halq, preferred on this day) or trim evenly (taqsir).
- Women: trim a small amount from the ends of the hair.
- Use official, licensed barbers where provided in Mina.
Common mistakes
- Men trimming only a token amount instead of a proper, even cut.
- Doing this before stoning Jamrat al-Aqabah, the preferred order is stoning, then sacrifice, then hair-cutting.
For women
Women trim only a small amount and never shave.
Differences between schools
Most scholars allow flexibility in the order of stoning, sacrifice and hair-cutting on the 10th because of crowding; if you must reorder them, your Hajj remains valid.
9. Perform Tawaf al-Ifadah
Travel to Makkah to perform this pillar of Hajj, seven circuits around the Kaaba, the same as Umrah's Tawaf.
- Travel from Mina to Makkah, on this day or within the following days if crowding requires.
- Perform seven circuits around the Kaaba, keeping it on your left.
- Recite du'a and dhikr, including between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone.
- Pray two rak'ahs near Maqam Ibrahim if possible.
- Drink Zamzam.
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Common mistakes
- Delaying Tawaf al-Ifadah too long without a valid reason.
- Confusing it with the farewell Tawaf performed later, at the very end of the trip.
For women
A menstruating or postpartum woman delays Tawaf al-Ifadah until she is purified; unlike the standing at Arafah, purity is required for this Tawaf according to the majority of scholars.
Differences between schools
Tawaf al-Ifadah is a pillar of Hajj and may be delayed past the 10th for crowd or health reasons, but should not be abandoned.
10. Perform Sa'i
Pilgrims performing Tamattu' repeat Sa'i here, since their earlier Sa'i was for a separate, completed Umrah.
- Walk seven circuits between Safa and Marwah, as in Umrah.
- Men jog lightly between the green markers.
- Make sincere du'a throughout.
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Common mistakes
- Tamattu' pilgrims skipping this Sa'i, mistakenly thinking their Umrah Sa'i already counts for Hajj.
- Qiran or Ifrad pilgrims unnecessarily repeating a Sa'i they already completed once.
Differences between schools
Whether Sa'i is required again here depends on your Hajj type: Tamattu' pilgrims perform it again, since their first Sa'i closed out a separate Umrah. Qiran and Ifrad pilgrims who already performed one Sa'i do not repeat it. Confirm which applies to you with your group's scholar.
11. Tahallul, most restrictions lifted
After stoning, sacrifice and hair-cutting (the first tahallul), most ihram restrictions are lifted; after Tawaf al-Ifadah and Sa'i (the second tahallul), every restriction is lifted, including marital relations.
- Recognize the first stage: after stoning and hair-cutting, you may wear normal clothes and use perfume again.
- Recognize the second stage: after completing Tawaf al-Ifadah, and Sa'i if it is due, every remaining restriction is lifted.
- Change into everyday clothing once the relevant stage is reached.
Common mistakes
- Assuming every ihram restriction is lifted after only stoning and hair-cutting.
Differences between schools
The two-stage tahallul (partial, then complete) is agreed upon by the major schools, though some terminology and minor details differ between them.
12. Stone all three Jamarat each day
On each day you stay in Mina, stone the three pillars in order, small, middle, then large, with seven pebbles each, after the sun passes its zenith.
- Wait until after Dhuhr (solar noon) before stoning each day.
- Stone Jamrat al-Sughra (small) first, with seven pebbles, saying takbir with each.
- Move to Jamrat al-Wusta (middle) and repeat.
- Finish at Jamrat al-Aqabah (large) and repeat.
- Make du'a after the first two pillars, facing the Qiblah with hands raised; pilgrims typically move on quickly after the large pillar without stopping to supplicate there.
- Repeat this full sequence on the 12th, and the 13th if staying.
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Common mistakes
- Stoning out of order, it must be small, then middle, then large.
- Stoning before the sun passes its zenith.
- Losing track of which day's stoning has already been completed.
13. Leave early or stay to the 13th
Pilgrims may take a concession to leave after the 12th's stoning, provided they depart Mina before sunset; otherwise they stay a third day and stone again on the 13th.
- Decide with your group whether to take the early departure (nafr awwal) after the 12th, or stay for the 13th (nafr thani).
- If leaving early, complete the 12th's stoning and leave Mina before sunset that day.
- If you do not leave before sunset, you are required to stay and stone again on the 13th.
- If staying, complete a third round of stoning on the 13th after Dhuhr.
Common mistakes
- Leaving Mina after sunset on the 12th while still counting it as the early departure, this is not valid.
- Being unclear with your group about which option is being followed.
Differences between schools
The early departure (nafr awwal) is a genuine concession agreed upon by scholars; staying the extra day (nafr thani) is considered more virtuous by many, though not obligatory.
14. Perform Tawaf al-Wada' (the farewell Tawaf)
The last act before leaving Makkah is seven final circuits around the Kaaba.
- Perform this only when you are about to leave Makkah, not before.
- Complete seven circuits, as in earlier Tawaf.
- No Sa'i follows this Tawaf.
- Make a final du'a before leaving the mosque.
- Travel onward, to Madinah, the airport, or home.
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Common mistakes
- Performing it too early and then staying in Makkah for more days, it should be repeated closer to your actual departure.
- Skipping it without a valid excuse.
For women
Women who are menstruating or bleeding postpartum at the time of departure are excused from Tawaf al-Wada' altogether, without any fidyah, per the stronger view.
Differences between schools
Most scholars hold Tawaf al-Wada' is obligatory (wajib) for pilgrims leaving Makkah, with a fidyah due if it is missed without excuse; some hold it recommended rather than obligatory.