Hajj glossary: 55 terms explained
Every word you will hear from your group leader, in plain English with the Arabic, what it means in practice, and where scholars differ.
Rituals
- Umrahالعُمْرَة
A shorter pilgrimage to Makkah performable any time of year, distinct from the annual Hajj.
Umrah consists of entering ihram at the miqat, performing tawaf around the Kaaba, then sa'i between Safa and Marwah, and finishing with halq or taqsir. Unlike Hajj, it is not tied to the Hajj season and includes no wuquf at Arafah, no stay in Mina, and no stoning of the jamarat. Most scholars hold Umrah is a strongly confirmed sunnah for anyone able to travel, while some schools of law count it obligatory once in a lifetime, so travellers should not assume completing it satisfies any Hajj obligation still owed.
- Hajjالحَجّ
The annual pilgrimage to Makkah in Dhul-Hijjah, obligatory once in a lifetime for every able Muslim who can afford it.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, performed only between the 8th and 12th or 13th of Dhul-Hijjah. It combines ihram, tawaf, and sa'i with a fixed sequence of days at Mina, Arafah, and Muzdalifah, closing with tawaf al-wada'. It is obligatory once for anyone financially and physically able, a condition called istita'ah. Pilgrims choose one of three forms, tamattu', qiran, or ifrad, which changes how Hajj combines with an accompanying Umrah and whether a hady sacrifice becomes due as a result.
See also: Umrah · Ihram · Tamattu' · Qiran · Ifrad · Arafah/Wuquf
- Tawafالطَّوَاف
Circling the Kaaba seven times counter-clockwise, the central ritual of both Umrah and Hajj.
Tawaf takes place in the mataf, the open area around the Kaaba, starting and ending level with the Hajar al-Aswad corner. Each circuit is a shawt; seven complete a tawaf. Men perform idtiba' throughout, and raml, a brisk gait, in the first three circuits of tawaf al-qudum or an Umrah tawaf. Several named tawafs exist, al-qudum, al-ifadah, and al-wada', each with a different purpose and timing in the pilgrimage. Pilgrims are strongly encouraged to keep wudu throughout, though scholars differ on whether this is a strict condition for validity.
See also: Mataf · Hajar al-Aswad · Idtiba' · Raml · Tawaf al-Ifadah
- Sa'iالسَّعْي
Walking or jogging seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah, re-enacting Hajar's search for water.
Sa'i takes place in the mas'a, the long gallery connecting Safa and Marwah, and is a required rite of both Umrah and Hajj. One circuit is one length between the two hills; seven lengths complete the sa'i, ending at Marwah. Men are encouraged to jog briskly between two green markers partway along the route, while women walk throughout at an ordinary pace. Some schools of law count sa'i as a pillar without which the pilgrimage is incomplete, while others treat it as an obligatory act that can instead be compensated for with a fidyah.
- Halqالحَلْق
Shaving the head completely, one of two options, alongside taqsir, that end ihram restrictions for men.
Halq is full head-shaving, generally considered the more rewarded option for men at the close of Umrah, or after the stoning on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah during Hajj, based on hadith praising those who shave over those who merely trim. It forms part of tahallul, the release from ihram restrictions. Halq applies to men only; women instead trim roughly a fingertip's length of hair, since shaving is not prescribed for them at all. A pilgrim combining Umrah and Hajj under tamattu' should generally save halq for after Hajj rather than performing it twice.
- Taqsirالتَّقْصِير
Trimming a small amount of hair, the lighter alternative to halq that also ends ihram restrictions.
Taqsir means clipping a portion of hair, for men evenly across the whole head, and for women about a fingertip's length from the ends of gathered hair, never shaving. It is the required option for women, while men may choose it over halq, though most scholars regard halq as more rewarding for men specifically. Performing taqsir, or halq, after sa'i in Umrah, or after the stoning in Hajj, marks tahallul and lifts most ihram restrictions, aside from marital relations, which remain restricted until further Hajj rites are complete.
- Tahallulالتَّحَلُّل
The formal release from ihram restrictions, reached in Umrah after sa'i and hair-cutting, and in two stages during Hajj.
Tahallul ends the state of ihram once its required rites are complete. In Umrah, cutting the hair after sa'i completes it in one step. In Hajj, there are two stages: tahallul al-asghar, the minor release, reached after stoning Jamrat al-Aqabah and cutting the hair on the 10th, lifts everything except marital relations; tahallul al-akbar, the major release, reached after tawaf al-ifadah, lifts every remaining restriction. First-time pilgrims sometimes assume Hajj ends the same single-step way Umrah does, and are surprised by this two-stage process.
See also: Halq · Taqsir · Ihram · Tawaf al-Ifadah · Jamrat al-Aqabah
- Ramlالرَّمَل
Brisk, short-stepped walking men perform during the first three circuits of certain tawafs, as a sign of vigour.
Raml is a quick, close-stepped gait, not a full run, performed by men in the first three of the seven tawaf circuits, specifically in tawaf al-qudum for Hajj or in an Umrah tawaf, but not repeated later in tawaf al-ifadah or tawaf al-wada'. It originates from an occasion when the Prophet had his companions display their strength to onlookers who doubted their fitness after illness had spread in Madinah. Heavy crowding in the mataf today often makes raml impractical, in which case it is simply omitted without any penalty owed.
See also: Tawaf · Idtiba' · Tawaf al-Qudum
- Tamattu'التَّمَتُّع
Performing Umrah first, exiting ihram, then re-entering ihram for Hajj later in the same season, the most common combination.
In tamattu', a pilgrim enters ihram for Umrah only, completes it, cuts their hair, and lives normally until re-entering ihram for Hajj from within Makkah on the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah. Because two separate ihrams and two full sets of rites are combined within one journey, a hady, a sacrificial animal, becomes due, or fasting in its place for those who genuinely cannot afford one. It is the form most first-time and package-tour pilgrims are guided into, since it lets the Umrah be relaxed and unhurried before Hajj itself begins.
- Qiranالقِرَان
Combining Umrah and Hajj under a single, continuous ihram, without exiting ihram between them.
A pilgrim performing qiran declares niyyah for both Umrah and Hajj together at the miqat and remains in ihram continuously until Hajj rites release them, rather than exiting ihram after an initial Umrah as in tamattu'. Depending on the school followed, only one tawaf and one sa'i may be required for both rites combined, and a hady is due, just as with tamattu', since two rites are combined into one uninterrupted journey. Qiran is chosen less often by first-time pilgrims because remaining continuously in ihram for many days is physically demanding.
- Ifradالإِفْرَاد
Performing Hajj alone, with no Umrah combined into the same ihram, and no hady required on that basis.
A pilgrim performing ifrad enters ihram with the intention of Hajj only, and typically performs their own separate Umrah either before travelling or after Hajj concludes, entirely outside the combined ihram used in tamattu' or qiran. Because no two rites are combined into one continuous journey, no hady is obligatory purely on this basis, though offering one voluntarily is always permitted. It is the least commonly chosen form among first-time pilgrims, but is often used by Makkah residents and by those performing Hajj on repeat visits.
- Hady/Damالهَدْي / الدَّم
A sacrificial animal, or its cost, due from pilgrims performing tamattu' or qiran, or owed as a penalty for certain violations.
Hady refers to the animal, typically a sheep, goat, or a share in a cow or camel, sacrificed during Hajj, most commonly because a pilgrim combined Umrah and Hajj under tamattu' or qiran. Dam is the broader term for any blood sacrifice owed, including as a penalty, or fidyah, for breaking an ihram restriction or missing an obligatory rite. Those who genuinely cannot afford or find an animal may fast ten days instead, three during Hajj and seven after returning home. Nusuk and similar official platforms now let pilgrims pay for and arrange the sacrifice entirely online.
- Fidyahالفِدْيَة
A compensatory payment, sacrifice, or fast owed for breaking an ihram restriction or missing certain obligatory rites.
Fidyah is due when a pilgrim breaks an ihram rule out of genuine necessity or by mistake, such as cutting hair, using scented products, or covering the head due to illness, and typically takes the form of feeding six poor people, fasting three days, or sacrificing an animal, with some flexibility over which option applies to which specific violation. It differs from hady, which is tied specifically to combining Umrah and Hajj, though both fall under the wider category of dam. Pilgrims unsure which violation applies should consult a scholar before choosing which fidyah to pay.
- Tawaf al-Qudumطَوَاف القُدُوم
The 'arrival tawaf' performed by pilgrims doing Hajj alone (ifrad) or combined (qiran) on first reaching Makkah.
Tawaf al-qudum is a greeting-style tawaf performed on first arriving at Masjid al-Haram, but only by pilgrims already in ihram for Hajj under ifrad or qiran; those performing tamattu' instead go straight into their Umrah tawaf, which serves a similar function. It includes idtiba' and raml in its first three circuits, and is not automatically followed by sa'i unless the pilgrim chooses to complete their Hajj sa'i at this point rather than after tawaf al-ifadah. Missing it carries no penalty, since most scholars regard it as a sunnah rather than an obligation.
- Tawaf al-Ifadahطَوَاف الإِفَاضَة
The obligatory Hajj tawaf performed after returning from Mina, without which Hajj is not considered complete.
Tawaf al-ifadah, also called tawaf al-ziyarah, is performed after stoning Jamrat al-Aqabah on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, either that same day or, for many pilgrims, on the days that follow to avoid the heaviest crowds. It is a pillar, or rukn, of Hajj on which the pilgrimage's validity depends, unlike tawaf al-qudum. Completing it, along with sa'i if not already performed, brings tahallul al-akbar, the major release lifting every remaining ihram restriction, including marital relations. Delaying it too long is discouraged but does not invalidate Hajj once it is eventually performed.
See also: Tawaf · Tahallul · Jamrat al-Aqabah · Sa'i
- Tawaf al-Wada'طَوَاف الوَدَاع
The farewell tawaf performed as the last act in Makkah before a pilgrim departs the city.
Tawaf al-wada' is performed immediately before leaving Makkah at the end of Hajj or Umrah, as close to actual departure as practical, with no sa'i following it. Most scholars consider it obligatory for Hajj pilgrims, with a dam owed if it is skipped without a valid excuse, while women in menstruation or postnatal bleeding are exempted from it entirely. It is not required of residents of Makkah, or of those simply passing through without having performed Hajj or Umrah. Pilgrims often confuse it with tawaf al-ifadah, though the two occur days apart and serve entirely different purposes.
See also: Tawaf · Tawaf al-Ifadah · Hady/Dam
- Badalالبَدَل
Performing Hajj or Umrah on behalf of someone unable to do so themselves, due to death, illness, or old age.
Badal Hajj, or Umrah, allows a person who has already performed their own obligatory Hajj to perform it again on behalf of someone who has died, or who is permanently unable due to age or illness, provided that person had the financial means but lacked the physical ability. The proxy declares niyyah explicitly for the person they represent at the miqat and performs every rite exactly as they would for themselves. Scholars differ on whether badal is valid for someone who never had the financial means at all, so families should verify eligibility with a scholar first.
- Adahiالأَضَاحِي
The Eid al-Adha sacrifice, timed with Hajj, distinct from but often confused with the hady owed by some pilgrims.
Adahi, singular udhiyah, refers to the voluntary sacrifice offered by Muslims worldwide on Eid al-Adha and the days following, commemorating Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son. It is separate from hady, which is specifically owed by certain pilgrims performing Hajj under tamattu' or qiran, though both are commonly arranged today through the same online services, including Nusuk, with the meat distributed to the poor in similar ways. A pilgrim performing Hajj may owe both a hady and separately choose to offer a household udhiyah, counted and paid for independently of one another.
Ihram
- Ihramالإحرام
The sacred state a pilgrim enters before Umrah or Hajj, marked by simple dress and temporary restrictions.
Ihram is both a spiritual state and, for men, two seamless white cloths; women wear their own modest, non-form-fitting clothing covering everything but the face and hands. It begins with niyyah and talbiyah at the miqat and lasts until tahallul. While in ihram, pilgrims avoid perfume, hunting, cutting hair or nails, marital relations, and covering the head for men or the face for women. Breaking a restriction may require fidyah. Scholars differ on details such as exactly which scented products count as forbidden perfume.
- Miqatميقات
One of the fixed boundary points around Makkah where pilgrims must enter ihram before continuing their journey.
The miqat marks the outer boundary of the sacred zone; anyone travelling to Makkah for Hajj or Umrah must already be in ihram before crossing it. The Prophet designated five land miqats: Dhul Hulayfah for those coming from Madinah, Al-Juhfah for Syria, Egypt, and the west, Qarn al-Manazil for Najd, Yalamlam for Yemen and the south, and Dhat Irq for Iraq and the east; air travellers now typically enter ihram before their flight crosses the corresponding line. A common mistake is delaying ihram until landing in Jeddah, which usually lies past the miqat already.
- Talbiyahالتَّلْبِيَة
The formula pilgrims recite repeatedly after entering ihram, declaring their presence and intent to Allah.
The talbiyah, beginning "Labbayk Allahumma labbayk" ("Here I am, O Allah, here I am"), is recited from the moment ihram begins until, in Hajj, the first stoning at Jamrat al-Aqabah, or, in Umrah, the start of tawaf. Men say it aloud, women more quietly. It affirms the sincerity of niyyah and is repeated often while walking, riding, or waiting between rites. Many pilgrims memorise only a short version, but the full wording is printed in nearly every guidebook and pilgrimage app available at the miqat.
See also: Ihram · Niyyah · Miqat · Jamrat al-Aqabah
- Niyyahالنِّيَّة
The inward intention that formally begins ihram, specifying whether a pilgrim is performing Umrah, Hajj, or both.
Niyyah is made silently in the heart at the miqat, though many pilgrims also voice it aloud as habit rather than requirement. It fixes the type of Hajj chosen, tamattu', qiran, or ifrad, or confirms an Umrah, and is not easily changed once set. A pilgrim who enters ihram without a clear niyyah, or becomes unsure which type they intended, should ask a scholar or their group leader promptly, since the choice affects which rites follow and whether a hady sacrifice ends up owed.
- Idtiba'الاضْطِبَاع
A way of wearing the upper ihram cloth, under the right arm and over the left shoulder, during tawaf by men.
Idtiba' means uncovering the right shoulder by passing the upper ihram sheet under the right arm and draping it over the left shoulder, leaving the right arm and shoulder bare. It is a sunnah observed by men specifically during tawaf al-qudum or an Umrah tawaf, historically meant to display strength to onlookers, and is not observed during prayer or outside tawaf, when the shoulder should be covered again immediately. Women do not perform idtiba' at all, since it applies only to the men's two-piece ihram garment and its particular sunnah.
See also: Ihram · Tawaf · Raml · Tawaf al-Qudum
Places
- Matafالمَطَاف
The open marble courtyard immediately surrounding the Kaaba where pilgrims perform tawaf.
The mataf is the paved circular area inside Masjid al-Haram closest to the Kaaba, now expanded across several floors to manage huge crowds. It contains fixed reference points pilgrims pass on every circuit, including the Hajar al-Aswad, Rukn al-Yamani, Maqam Ibrahim, and the Multazam. During peak periods such as Ramadan and Hajj, the ground-level mataf becomes extremely dense, and pilgrims are often redirected to upper floors for their own tawaf. Its usable boundary shifts by floor and by crowd-control staff on any given day.
See also: Tawaf · Hajar al-Aswad · Rukn al-Yamani · Maqam Ibrahim · Multazam
- Hajar al-Aswadالحَجَر الأَسْوَد
The Black Stone set into the Kaaba's eastern corner, touched, kissed, or pointed to at the start of each tawaf circuit.
The Hajar al-Aswad marks both the starting point and the point pilgrims acknowledge at the end of each of the seven tawaf circuits, traditionally by kissing it, touching it, or, when crowds make that impossible, simply pointing toward it while saying "Allahu Akbar." It sits within a silver frame at roughly waist height on the Kaaba's eastern corner. Because of its popularity, the area around it is often the most congested part of the mataf, and pilgrims are strongly advised never to push or fight to reach it, since touching it is not a requirement.
See also: Tawaf · Mataf · Rukn al-Yamani
- Rukn al-Yamaniالرُّكْن اليَمَانِي
The Kaaba's Yemeni corner, preceding the Black Stone, which pilgrims touch without kissing if they can reach it.
Rukn al-Yamani is the corner of the Kaaba just before the Hajar al-Aswad in the direction of tawaf. Sunnah practice is to touch it with the right hand, without kissing it, while passing; if that is not possible because of crowding, the pilgrim simply continues walking without gesturing toward it, unlike at the Black Stone corner. Between this corner and the Hajar al-Aswad, pilgrims recite the well-known dua asking for good in this world and the next. First-time pilgrims often confuse it with the Kaaba's other two corners, which carry no equivalent sunnah.
See also: Hajar al-Aswad · Tawaf · Mataf
- Maqam Ibrahimمَقَام إِبْرَاهِيم
A stone bearing Prophet Ibrahim's footprints, enclosed in glass near the Kaaba, behind which pilgrims pray two rak'ahs after tawaf.
The Maqam Ibrahim is traditionally identified as the stone Ibrahim, peace be upon him, stood on while raising the Kaaba's upper walls, leaving an impression of his footprints. After completing tawaf, pilgrims are encouraged to pray two short rak'ahs behind it, reciting Surah al-Kafirun and Surah al-Ikhlas; when the immediate area is too crowded, praying anywhere else within the mosque still fulfils the sunnah. It should not be confused with the Kaaba itself, since "maqam" here means "station," not a shrine housing relics.
- Hijr Ismail (Hateem)حِجْر إِسْمَاعِيل / الحَطِيم
The low, semi-circular wall beside the Kaaba enclosing ground once part of its structure, treated as inside it for prayer.
The Hijr Ismail, also called the Hateem, is a low marble wall on the Kaaba's northwest side. Most scholars hold that the enclosed ground was originally part of the Kaaba's foundation before a shortage of funds during a Quraysh rebuilding left it outside the walls, so praying inside the wall counts as praying inside the Kaaba itself. Pilgrims performing tawaf must walk around the outside of this wall, never cut through it, since passing inside would invalidate that circuit. The area just inside the wall is often crowded with pilgrims lingering in dua.
- Multazamالمُلْتَزَم
The stretch of the Kaaba's wall between the Black Stone and the door, where pilgrims press themselves in dua.
The Multazam is a roughly two-metre section of wall between the Hajar al-Aswad and the Kaaba's door, named from an Arabic root meaning "to cling to." Pilgrims who can reach it press their chest, face, and open hands against it while supplicating, following a practice reported from the Companions, though it is not itself a required rite of tawaf. Because of its location next to the Black Stone corner, it is frequently one of the most crowded spots in the mataf, and reaching it safely is not always realistic during busy seasons.
See also: Hajar al-Aswad · Mataf · Kabah
- Zamzamزَمْزَم
The well beside the Kaaba, linked in tradition to the spring that appeared for Hajar and Ismail, whose water pilgrims drink.
Zamzam water comes from a well beneath the Masjid al-Haram complex, linked in tradition to the spring that appeared for Hajar as she searched between Safa and Marwah for water for her infant son Ismail. It is freely available throughout the mosque in coolers and bottles, and pilgrims commonly drink it facing the Kaaba while making dua, since hadith describes it as water that serves whatever intention it is drunk with. Many pilgrims carry sealed bottles home, though airlines restrict how much liquid can go into checked luggage.
- Safaالصَّفَا
The hill at one end of the sa'i route, where pilgrims begin each set of seven laps between it and Marwah.
Safa is a small rise built into the mas'a gallery, now fully enclosed within Masjid al-Haram, from which pilgrims traditionally face the Kaaba and make dua before beginning sa'i. It is named in the Qur'an together with Marwah as among the symbols, or sha'a'ir, of Allah. Pilgrims start their first of seven lengths here, ending the odd-numbered lengths at Marwah and the even-numbered ones back at Safa, so the full sequence naturally finishes at Marwah on the seventh and final length.
- Marwahالمَرْوَة
The hill at the far end of the sa'i route, where each pair of laps with Safa turns back or finishes.
Marwah is the counterpart hill to Safa at the opposite end of the mas'a gallery. Pilgrims performing sa'i finish their seventh and final length here, after which men performing Umrah typically proceed straight to halq or taqsir. Like Safa, it is named in the Qur'an as one of the symbols of Hajj, and standing on it to make dua facing the Kaaba's direction is part of established sunnah, though the dua itself has no fixed wording and any sincere supplication is acceptable.
- Mas'aالمَسْعَى
The covered gallery, now multi-level and air-conditioned, connecting the hills of Safa and Marwah for sa'i.
The mas'a is the roughly 450-metre passage between Safa and Marwah, expanded over the centuries into a multi-storey, climate-controlled corridor that is now part of the Masjid al-Haram complex itself. It has marked lanes, including one reserved for wheelchairs and one for walking or brisk jogging, with green lighting overhead marking the short stretch where men are encouraged to move quickly. Because it now sits fully indoors, some pilgrims are surprised to learn it was historically an open street running between two literal, exposed hills.
- Rawdahالرَّوْضَة
A small, carpeted area inside Masjid an-Nabawi between the Prophet's tomb and pulpit, described in hadith as a garden of Paradise.
The Rawdah is identified by a hadith calling the space "between my house and my pulpit" one of the gardens of Paradise, distinguished today by green carpet against the mosque's red carpeting elsewhere. Because of its small size and popularity, visiting it requires a timed entry booked through the Nusuk app, especially for men; women have separate designated visiting hours arranged differently. Pilgrims commonly pray two rak'ahs and make dua there. It is not a shrine, and no special rite is performed there beyond ordinary prayer and heartfelt supplication.
See also: Masjid an-Nabawi · Ziyarah · Nusuk
- Masjid an-Nabawiالمَسْجِد النَّبَوِي
The Prophet's mosque in Madinah, home to his tomb and the Rawdah, and one of Islam's three holiest mosques.
Masjid an-Nabawi was originally built by the Prophet himself after the hijrah to Madinah, and has since been expanded many times to its current vast size, capable of holding well over a million worshippers during peak seasons. Visiting it is not a rite of Hajj or Umrah and is not required for either to be valid, but it is a highly encouraged ziyarah most pilgrims combine with their trip, given Madinah's short distance from Makkah. It contains the Prophet's tomb, the Rawdah, and the mosque's original mihrab and minbar areas.
- Ziyarahالزِّيَارَة
A visit, most often to Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah, that is recommended but not a required rite of Hajj or Umrah.
Ziyarah broadly means "visit," and in pilgrimage contexts usually refers to travelling to Madinah to pray in Masjid an-Nabawi and visit the Prophet's tomb, though it can also describe visits to other historic sites such as Quba mosque or Uhud. It carries great reward but is entirely separate from the rites of Hajj and Umrah, and some pilgrims complete a full Hajj or Umrah without ever visiting Madinah at all. Scholars caution against language implying the trip itself is a pillar of the pilgrimage, since it remains a recommended addition, never an obligation.
See also: Masjid an-Nabawi · Rawdah
- Kabahالكَعْبَة
The cube-shaped structure at the centre of Masjid al-Haram, the direction, or qibla, Muslims face in prayer worldwide.
The Kaaba is the focal point of tawaf and, more broadly, of the qibla that all Muslims face during the five daily prayers wherever they are in the world. Draped in the black kiswah cloth, re-embroidered yearly with Qur'anic verses, it houses the Hajar al-Aswad at one corner and stands adjacent to the Maqam Ibrahim, the Multazam, and the Hijr Ismail. Its interior is opened only for cleaning on limited occasions and plays no direct part in any pilgrim rite, all of which take place entirely outside it, in the surrounding mataf.
See also: Mataf · Hajar al-Aswad · Tawaf · Maqam Ibrahim
- Masjid al-Haramالمَسْجِد الحَرَام
The Grand Mosque in Makkah surrounding the Kaaba, the largest mosque in the world and the site of tawaf and sa'i.
Masjid al-Haram encloses the Kaaba, the mataf, the mas'a between Safa and Marwah, and the Zamzam well within one continuous complex, expanded repeatedly to accommodate ever-growing numbers of pilgrims, now capable of holding several million people during peak Hajj days. Its name, "the sacred mosque," reflects the wider sanctuary, or haram, boundary around Makkah within which certain rules apply, such as prohibitions on hunting and cutting plants. Some pilgrims use "Masjid al-Haram" and "Kaaba" interchangeably, though the mosque is the whole complex, and the Kaaba is the single structure at its centre.
Hajj days
- Yawm al-Tarwiyahيَوْم التَّرْوِيَة
The 8th of Dhul-Hijjah, when pilgrims travel to Mina and re-enter ihram for Hajj if performing tamattu'.
Yawm al-Tarwiyah, "the day of quenching thirst," marks the formal start of the Hajj rites themselves. Pilgrims travel from Makkah to Mina, where they spend the day and night praying the five daily prayers shortened but not combined, before moving on to Arafah the following morning. Its name recalls the historical practice of pilgrims and their animals stocking up on water here before the dry days ahead at Arafah and Muzdalifah. Tamattu' pilgrims specifically re-enter ihram on this day, having exited it after completing their earlier Umrah.
See also: Mina · Tamattu' · Arafah/Wuquf · Ihram
- Arafah/Wuqufعَرَفَة / الوُقُوف
Standing in prayer and remembrance on the plain of Arafah on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, the single most essential rite of Hajj.
Wuquf, "standing," at Arafah on the afternoon of the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah is described in hadith as Hajj itself; a pilgrim who misses it entirely has missed Hajj that year, regardless of which other rites were completed beforehand. Simple presence within Arafah's boundaries between noon and sunset suffices, whether standing, sitting, or moving about; nothing more than sincere dua and remembrance is required of the pilgrim. Many listen to the khutbah delivered from Masjid Namirah nearby. Arafah is sometimes confused with Muzdalifah, the very next stop, which is a separate location with its own separate rite.
See also: Mina · Namirah · Muzdalifah · Hajj
- Namirahنَمِرَة
The area near Arafah where the Hajj sermon, or khutbah, is delivered on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, from Masjid Namirah.
Namirah lies just outside the boundary of Arafah proper, and is best known for Masjid Namirah, the mosque from which the Hajj khutbah is delivered before the combined, shortened Dhuhr and Asr prayers on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah. Pilgrims praying inside this mosque should note that part of its area falls outside the Arafah boundary, so remaining there without later moving into Arafah itself would not fulfil the wuquf rite. After the khutbah and prayers, pilgrims move into Arafah proper for the remainder of the afternoon.
See also: Arafah/Wuquf · Mina
- Muzdalifahمُزْدَلِفَة
The open area between Arafah and Mina where pilgrims spend the night of the 9th to 10th and collect pebbles for the jamarat.
After sunset on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, pilgrims leave Arafah for Muzdalifah, where Maghrib and Isha are prayed combined, and the night is spent under open sky, commonly on the ground, resting until Fajr. Most scholars hold that spending at least part of the night here is an obligatory act of Hajj, though the elderly, sick, and those assisting them are permitted to leave after midnight. Pilgrims traditionally gather pebbles here for stoning the jamarat, though pre-packaged pebbles are now also common and equally acceptable to use.
See also: Arafah/Wuquf · Mina · Jamarat
- Mash'ar al-Haramالمَشْعَر الحَرَام
The 'sacred site' at Muzdalifah, named in the Qur'an as a place of remembrance after leaving Arafah.
Mash'ar al-Haram is named directly in the Qur'an, 2:198, as the place pilgrims should remember Allah at after departing from Arafah, and is generally identified with Muzdalifah as a whole, or with a specific hill or marker within it depending on interpretation. After Fajr prayer on the 10th, pilgrims are encouraged to stand here briefly in dua before setting off for Mina, mirroring in miniature the wuquf at Arafah the day before. Its exact boundaries are discussed less often than Arafah's, since nearly all of Muzdalifah is now built up and marked.
See also: Muzdalifah · Arafah/Wuquf · Mina
- Minaمِنَى
The tent city between Makkah and Muzdalifah where pilgrims stay across several days of Hajj and stone the jamarat.
Mina hosts pilgrims on the night of the 8th, Yawm al-Tarwiyah, receives them again after Muzdalifah on the 10th for stoning and, for many, sacrifice and hair-cutting, and holds them through the Ayyam al-Tashriq while they stone all three jamarat daily. Millions now stay in fire-resistant tented camps organised by nationality and group. Its description in the Qur'an as a valley, and its nickname "the city of tents," both reflect that no permanent housing is built there; pilgrims should keep their camp zone and tent number written down, since the layout is easy to lose track of.
See also: Jamarat · Muzdalifah · Arafah/Wuquf · Ayyam al-Tashriq
- Jamaratالجَمَرَات
The three stone pillars at Mina, al-Ula, al-Wusta, and al-Aqabah, that pilgrims stone across several days of Hajj.
The jamarat, now large elongated walls rather than single pillars, occupy fixed points along Mina and represent the three spots where, in the story of Ibrahim, Shaytan attempted to dissuade him from sacrificing Ismail. Jamrat al-Ula, the first and nearest to Makkah, and Jamrat al-Wusta, the middle, are each stoned with seven pebbles on the 11th, 12th, and, for those staying the extra day, 13th of Dhul-Hijjah, always in the sequence Ula, then Wusta, then Aqabah. Jamrat al-Aqabah, the greater pillar, is stoned alone on the 10th and again as the last in that sequence on later days.
See also: Mina · Jamrat al-Aqabah · Ayyam al-Tashriq · Muzdalifah
- Jamrat al-Aqabahجَمْرَة العَقَبَة
The 'greater' pillar at Mina, stoned alone with seven pebbles on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, marking the start of tahallul.
Jamrat al-Aqabah, sometimes called Jamrat al-Kubra, the greater one, is the pillar nearest Makkah and the only one stoned on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, without the other two that day. Stoning it with seven pebbles, saying "Allahu Akbar" with each throw, marks the point at which the talbiyah stops and tahallul al-asghar, the minor release from ihram, begins, typically followed by sacrifice and hair-cutting. On the following Ayyam al-Tashriq, it is stoned again, but this time as the last of all three pillars rather than alone.
- Ayyam al-Tashriqأَيَّام التَّشْرِيق
The 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah, spent at Mina stoning all three jamarat each day.
Ayyam al-Tashriq, "the days of drying meat," follow the main Hajj day and are spent at Mina, where pilgrims stone Jamrat al-Ula, then al-Wusta, then al-Aqabah, with seven pebbles each, every afternoon. Most pilgrims leave after two days, an option called ta'ajjul, permitted in the Qur'an for those who depart Mina before sunset on the 12th; staying a third night and stoning again on the 13th, called ta'akhkhur, is also valid and considered slightly more rewarded. Eating and drinking are recommended during these days, since fasting is disliked or prohibited on them.
See also: Jamarat · Mina · Jamrat al-Aqabah
Booking & visas
- Nusukنُسُك
Saudi Arabia's official digital platform for booking Hajj and Umrah permits, accommodation, transport, and Rawdah visits.
Nusuk, meaning "rite" or "sacred ritual" in Arabic, is the Saudi government's unified app and website through which most pilgrims now book Umrah permits, register for Hajj, reserve Rawdah visiting slots, arrange transport, and pay for hady sacrifices online. It replaced a patchwork of older systems and is intended as the single verified channel for both independent pilgrims and licensed travel agents alike. Booking through unauthorized "external agents" outside Nusuk or its approved partners remains a common source of scams and denied entry at checkpoints.
See also: Nusuk Masar · Umrah permit · Hajj permit · External agent
- Nusuk Masarنُسُك مَسَار
A Nusuk feature letting pilgrims travelling by land or sea complete visa and customs formalities before reaching Saudi Arabia.
Nusuk Masar extends the Nusuk platform to land border crossings and sea ports, letting pilgrims pre-register their biometric and travel data so immigration and customs checks at the border move faster. It was introduced to reduce congestion at crossings used by pilgrims arriving overland, for example from neighbouring Gulf countries, ahead of the Hajj season. It is distinct from the main Nusuk app used by air travellers for online permit bookings, though both feed into the same underlying pilgrim registration system used by Saudi authorities nationwide.
See also: Nusuk · Umrah permit · Hajj permit
- Umrah permitتَصْرِيح العُمْرَة
The mandatory digital authorization, issued through Nusuk, required to enter Makkah and perform Umrah.
An Umrah permit is issued through the Nusuk platform, either directly or via a licensed travel agent, and specifies a time window during which the holder may enter Makkah for Umrah. It is linked to the pilgrim's visa type; some visas, tourist, family, or business, allow Umrah to be added on, while the dedicated Umrah visa is built entirely around it. Entering the Haram for Umrah without a valid permit can result in fines or removal, particularly during Ramadan, when capacity is tightly managed through scheduled time slots.
See also: Nusuk · Hajj permit · External agent
- Hajj permitتَصْرِيح الحَجّ
The mandatory authorization required to perform Hajj, without which pilgrims can be turned away from Makkah and Mina during the season.
A Hajj permit is issued through official channels, country-specific Hajj quotas administered via authorized agents, or Nusuk for some nationalities, and is checked at multiple checkpoints approaching Makkah during the Hajj season. Saudi authorities actively enforce permit requirements, and pilgrims caught without one face fines, deportation, and future entry bans, regardless of holding a valid Saudi visa otherwise. Because each country receives a limited annual quota, demand for permits often exceeds supply, fuelling a market for unauthorized "external agents" promising unofficial access.
See also: Nusuk · Umrah permit · External agent
- External agentوَكِيل خَارِجِي
An unlicensed individual or agency offering Hajj or Umrah bookings outside official Saudi-approved channels, a major source of fraud.
An external agent operates outside the officially licensed network of Hajj and Umrah service providers recognized by Saudi authorities and Nusuk. Such agents may sell permits, visas, or entire packages that turn out to be fake, wildly overpriced, or simply nonexistent, leaving pilgrims stranded or turned away at the border with little recourse. Verifying that a travel agency is licensed by the relevant national Hajj authority, and that any permit issued actually appears in the Nusuk system, is the standard precaution recommended before paying any deposit toward a trip.
See also: Nusuk · Hajj permit · Umrah permit
- Haramain trainقِطَار الحَرَمَيْن
The high-speed rail line connecting Makkah, Jeddah, and Madinah, widely used by pilgrims travelling between the two holy cities.
The Haramain High Speed Railway runs at up to 300 kilometres per hour between Madinah, King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, and Makkah, cutting a road journey of several hours down to roughly two. Many pilgrims fly into Jeddah, take the train onward to Makkah for Umrah or Hajj preparation, and later ride it on to Madinah for ziyarah before flying home again. Tickets can be booked online or through travel agents, and pilgrims already in ihram should note there is a dedicated boarding area so ihram clothing need not be removed.
See also: Ziyarah · Masjid an-Nabawi
- Mashaer trainقِطَار المَشَاعِر
The dedicated Metro line linking Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina, used to move large numbers of pilgrims during the Hajj days.
The Al Mashaer Al Mugaddassah Metro, commonly called the Mashaer train, operates only during the Hajj season and connects Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina, moving hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who would otherwise walk or take buses through heavy congestion between these sites. Access is generally organized through Hajj mission groups and tied to specific stations and timed departures rather than open public ticketing. It significantly shortens the return journey from Arafah to Muzdalifah on the night of the 9th, though platforms can still be extremely crowded at peak travel times.
See also: Arafah/Wuquf · Muzdalifah · Mina
Etiquette
- Mahramالمَحْرَم
A woman's close male relative, whose accompaniment many authorities and scholars require for her Hajj or Umrah travel.
A mahram is a man a woman cannot marry due to blood relation, marriage, or breastfeeding kinship, such as a father, husband, brother, or son. Traditional fiqh generally requires a mahram to accompany a woman on Hajj or Umrah travel, though scholars differ on exceptions for older women or those travelling within a large, trustworthy group. Saudi visa rules have in recent years allowed women above a certain age to obtain Umrah and Hajj visas without a mahram under specific conditions, which travellers should confirm are still current before booking, since the policy has changed more than once.
See also: Umrah permit · Hajj permit