Hajj guide: how to perform Hajj step by step

What is Hajj and when is it?

Linguistically, “hajj” means to head towards something; in Islamic law it is heading to the Sacred House of Allah to perform known rites at a known time. The Hajj rites fall between the 8th and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah each Hijri year, so its date moves about 10–11 days earlier every year in the Gregorian calendar. Pilgrims gather from everywhere in one simple dress, with no rank or wealth to distinguish them.

In short: Hajj is a five-day journey in which you wear ihram, stand at Arafah, sleep in Muzdalifah, stone, sacrifice, shave, perform Tawaf al-Ifadah and Sa‘i, stone the three Jamarat, and finish with the Farewell Tawaf. Each day is detailed in the schedule below.

Conditions that make Hajj obligatory

Hajj becomes obligatory only when its conditions are met. The majority count five:

• Islam — it is not required of a non-Muslim.
• Sanity — not required of the insane.
• Puberty — not required of a child; if a child performs it it counts as voluntary, not as the obligatory Hajj.
• Freedom — not required of a slave.
• Ability: money, bodily capability and a safe route; for a woman also the mahram according to the prevailing rules.

A point of difference: whether a woman must travel with a mahram (husband or unmarriageable relative). The majority of jurists require it; some scholars have permitted women to travel in trustworthy groups, and some contemporary scholars allow it. Rules in force in Saudi Arabia at the time of travel also apply, so check the current official regulations.

The three types of Hajj

Hajj has three types according to the pilgrim’s intention; the most common today is Tamattu‘:

All three types are valid. In his own Hajj the Prophet ﷺ ordered those who had not brought a sacrifice to enter ihram for ‘Umrah and come out of ihram before Hajj, as narrated from ‘Aisha in Sahih al-Bukhari.

Pillars, obligations and sunnahs of Hajj

The pillars of Hajj by the majority view are four: ihram, the standing at Arafah, Tawaf al-Ifadah, and Sa‘i between Safa and Marwah. Some schools count them differently. In practice a pillar cannot be compensated by a sacrifice — Hajj is not complete without it — whereas a missed obligation is compensated by a sacrifice.

In the hadith of Jabir describing the Prophet’s ﷺ own Hajj — the backbone of the order of rites in this guide — every rite is reported exactly as the Prophet ﷺ performed it, from ihram to the farewell; it is recorded in Sahih Muslim, with parts of it in Sahih al-Bukhari.

Ihram prohibitions and fidya

After the intention the pilgrim becomes muhrim: things normally allowed become forbidden while in ihram:

The fidya for shaving the hair or a similar violation (perfume, clothing): a choice between fasting three days, feeding six poor people, or slaughtering a sheep. A woman enters ihram in her usual modest clothing, without niqab or gloves; she may let a cloth hang over her face when men pass by.

Hajj day by day (8–13 Dhul-Hijjah)

This is the day-by-day schedule of the Hajj rites, exactly as the Prophet ﷺ performed them in the Hajj narrated by Jabir (Sahih Muslim):

1. 8 Dhul-Hijjah — Day of Tarwiyah

   Enter ihram for Hajj from where you are (the Sacred Mosque for those in Makkah), saying “Labbayk Allahumma Hajjan”, then head to Mina and spend the night there, praying the five prayers each in its time, shortening the four-unit ones.

2. 9 Dhul-Hijjah — The Day of Arafah

   After sunrise head to Arafah; pray Dhuhr and ‘Asr combined early and shortened, then stand the rest of the day facing the qiblah in du‘a and dhikr until sunset — the best day for du‘a.

3. Night of the 10th — Muzdalifah

   Leave Arafah calmly after sunset; pray Maghrib and ‘Isha combined at Muzdalifah (‘Isha shortened) and sleep there until Fajr, picking up small pebbles (seven for Jamrat al-‘Aqabah; the rest may be picked up in Mina). The weak and women may leave after midnight.

4. 10 Dhul-Hijjah — The Day of Sacrifice

   After Fajr go to Mina and stone Jamrat al-‘Aqabah with seven pebbles, saying takbir with each; then slaughter your hady, then shave or trim — stoning and shaving bring the first tahallul; then perform Tawaf al-Ifadah and Sa‘i (the Tamattu‘ pilgrim, and anyone who did not do Sa‘i after Tawaf al-Qudum), which brings the second tahallul.

5. 11–13 Dhul-Hijjah — Days of Tashreeq

   Spend the nights at Mina; each day stone the three Jamarat after midday: the small, then the middle, then ‘Aqabah — seven pebbles each with takbir. Whoever hastens may leave on the 12th before sunset.

6. The finale — Farewell Tawaf

   The last act before leaving Makkah: seven circuits of the Kaaba, obligatory for non-residents. It is waived for a menstruating woman, with nothing owed (Sahih al-Bukhari 1755).

Map of the Hajj sites and approximate distances

Today the whole route is served by organized buses; walking between sites is possible but exhausting in crowds. Keep a card with your camp and hotel names, and never leave your camp without knowing the way back.

Rulings for women, the elderly and the disabled

A menstruating woman neither prays nor performs tawaf, but she performs every other rite — the standing at Arafah, the nights, the stoning and dhikr. Once pure she performs Tawaf al-Ifadah; the Farewell Tawaf is waived for her with nothing owed. If she must travel before becoming pure and has not done Tawaf al-Ifadah, scholars give detailed rulings, so she should ask a scholar about her case.

A woman’s ihram clothing: any modest garment; no niqab or gloves by the majority view, and no special white garments are required. The elderly and disabled: one unable to perform Sa‘i or the stoning may be assisted or may delegate another to stone on his behalf, and wheelchairs are widely available for Sa‘i.

Common mistakes in Hajj

• Pushing at the Jamarat, although stoning from any side is valid as long as the pebble lands in the basin, and the weak may delegate.
• Believing the standing must be at the Mount of Mercy specifically, while standing anywhere in Arafah is valid.
• Abandoning the Talbiyah after ihram, or chanting it as one crowd instead of each person reciting for himself.
• Neglecting the Farewell Tawaf or leaving Makkah without it.
• Being absorbed in filming and recording instead of the rites and mosque etiquette.
• Crowding in Sa‘i and tawaf although quieter hours and upper floors are available.
• Travelling without learning the rites first, although learning beforehand saves time and prevents mistakes.

Packing and health tips

• Take comfortable sandals that leave the ankles uncovered (for men in ihram) and a small umbrella.
• Carry water, lip balm, sunscreen, hand sanitizer and masks.
• Your personal medicines with prescriptions; inform your group leader of any chronic condition before travel.
• Pack light: ID card, water, dates, a small mat for Mina and Muzdalifah, and a power bank.
• Stay hydrated and shaded, avoid walking in peak heat, and plan around any health condition you have.

The duas of Hajj at each rite

The umbrella rule of Hajj: du‘a is unrestricted. Below are the most prominent supplications narrated from the Prophet ﷺ at each rite; the full list with transliteration and translation is on the Hajj duas page.

With every pebble cast at the Jamarat say “Allahu Akbar”, as the Prophet ﷺ did. All Hajj hours are open for du‘a in your own language — make much of it, and do not busy yourself with phrases you do not understand.

Useful pages before you travel

Frequently asked questions