How to Perform Hajj: A Step-by-Step Guide
Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and a journey that many Muslims prepare for over a lifetime. Understanding the sequence of rituals before you travel helps you move through the days in Makkah, Mina, Arafah and Muzdalifah with calm and confidence rather than confusion.
This article is a general guide to the main rites of Hajj in the order most pilgrims perform them. It is not a substitute for scholarly instruction. Minor differences exist between the recognised schools of thought, so always follow a qualified scholar and the guide provided by your group. hajj.to is independent guidance and is not affiliated with any official body.
Before You Begin
Most pilgrims from Muslim-minority countries perform Hajj al-Tamattu, which combines a full Umrah followed by Hajj, with a break in between where you leave the state of Ihram. This guide follows that common path. If your group has chosen Qiran or Ifrad, some steps differ, so confirm your type of Hajj with your group leader before you travel.
Learn the key rituals in advance: Ihram, Tawaf, Sa'i, standing at Arafah, the overnight stay at Muzdalifah, stoning the Jamarat, the sacrifice, and shaving or trimming the hair. Knowing these terms means you will not feel lost when instructions come quickly during the busy days of Dhul Hijjah.
It also helps to know that not everything will be in English and that instructions can change with the crowds. Staying close to your group leader, keeping a small note on your phone of key timings, and asking questions early will keep you oriented. The rites themselves are not complicated, but the scale of the gathering is what surprises most first-time pilgrims.
Entering Ihram
Ihram is the sacred state a pilgrim enters with the intention to perform the rites, marked by specific clothing and restrictions. Men wear two unstitched white cloths; women wear ordinary modest clothing without covering the face with a fitted veil. You enter Ihram at or before a designated boundary point called the miqat.
After bathing and putting on the garments, make your intention and begin reciting the Talbiyah: "Labbayk Allahumma labbayk." While in Ihram you avoid cutting hair or nails, using scented products, hunting, and marital relations. For Tamattu, you first perform Umrah on arrival:
- Perform Tawaf, seven circuits around the Kabah.
- Perform Sa'i, walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah.
- Shave or trim your hair to exit Ihram until Hajj begins.
After completing Umrah you leave Ihram and wait in Makkah until the Hajj days begin. This break is what distinguishes Tamattu from the other types.
Day 8: Mina
On the 8th of Dhul Hijjah, known as Yawm al-Tarwiyah, pilgrims re-enter Ihram, this time with the intention for Hajj, and travel to the tent city of Mina. Here you spend the day and night in prayer and rest, shortening the four-unit prayers to two units as travellers do.
Mina is where you settle into the rhythm of Hajj. Use this time to rest, hydrate and prepare mentally for the most important day, which follows. Keep your group and tent number clear in your mind, as the crowds are large.
Many pilgrims underestimate how much simple rest matters here. Drink water steadily, eat lightly, and avoid exhausting yourself before Arafah. The day in Mina is deliberately quiet compared with what follows, and using it to gather your strength and renew your intention is time well spent.
Day 9: Arafah and Muzdalifah
The 9th of Dhul Hijjah is the day of Arafah, and standing here, called wuquf, is the essence of Hajj. The Prophet said Hajj is Arafah. After sunrise pilgrims travel from Mina to the plain of Arafah and remain there from midday until sunset in prayer, supplication and remembrance of God.
Spend these hours in sincere dua, seeking forgiveness. The combined and shortened Dhuhr and Asr prayers are offered. Do not leave Arafah before sunset. After the sun sets, pilgrims move on to Muzdalifah, where they:
- Pray Maghrib and Isha combined.
- Rest and sleep in the open under the sky.
- Gather small pebbles for the stoning ritual that follows.
The night at Muzdalifah is simple and humbling. Elderly or weak pilgrims may be permitted to leave for Mina after midnight to avoid the heaviest crowds.
Day 10: Stoning, Sacrifice and Tawaf
The 10th of Dhul Hijjah is Eid al-Adha and one of the busiest days of Hajj. Several rites are performed, and while the preferred order is well known, most scholars allow flexibility if crowds make the ideal sequence difficult. The main acts are:
- Stone the largest pillar, Jamrat al-Aqabah, with seven pebbles.
- Offer the sacrifice (qurbani or hady). Many pilgrims arrange this through a voucher or their group rather than doing it by hand.
- Shave the head (halq) for men or trim a fingertip length of hair (taqsir); women trim only a small amount.
After shaving or trimming you leave the state of Ihram for most restrictions. You then travel to Makkah to perform Tawaf al-Ifadah, a central pillar of Hajj, followed by Sa'i between Safa and Marwah. Once this Tawaf and Sa'i are complete, the remaining Ihram restrictions are lifted.
Because so much happens on this single day, pace yourself and rely on your group's schedule for movements between Mina and Makkah. If crowds prevent you from completing every act in the ideal order, do not panic. Ask your scholar, as the guidance is generally accommodating for genuine difficulty.
Days 11 to 13: The Jamarat
Pilgrims return to Mina and stay for the days of Tashreeq, the 11th, 12th and optionally the 13th of Dhul Hijjah. On each of these days you stone all three pillars, the small, middle and large Jamarat, with seven pebbles each, after the sun has passed its zenith.
Those who wish to leave early may depart after stoning on the 12th, provided they leave Mina before sunset. Pilgrims who stay complete the stoning on the 13th as well. These days are spent in worship, reflection and rest between the stoning sessions.
Farewell Tawaf and Departure
Before finally leaving Makkah, pilgrims perform Tawaf al-Wada, the farewell Tawaf, as the last act of Hajj. It is seven circuits around the Kabah and marks the completion of the pilgrimage. Women who are menstruating are excused from this final Tawaf.
With the farewell Tawaf complete, your Hajj is done. Many pilgrims then travel to Madinah to visit the Prophet's Mosque, though this visit is not part of Hajj itself. Remember that this is a general overview; follow your scholar and group guide for the exact rulings and timings that apply to you.
Take a moment before you leave to make sincere dua for the acceptance of your Hajj. Pilgrims traditionally hope to return home renewed and free of past sins, and carry the lessons of patience, humility and devotion into their daily life long after the journey ends.