The command
فِيهِ ءَايَٰتُۢ بَيِّنَٰتٞ مَّقَامُ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُۥ كَانَ ءَامِنٗاۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ حِجُّ ٱلۡبَيۡتِ مَنِ ٱسۡتَطَاعَ إِلَيۡهِ سَبِيلٗاۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَIn it are clear signs [such as] the standing place of Abraham. And whoever enters it [i.e., the Ḥaram] shall be safe. And [due] to Allāh from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way. But whoever disbelieves [i.e., refuses] - then indeed, Allāh is free from need of the worlds.
وَأَذِّن فِي ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلۡحَجِّ يَأۡتُوكَ رِجَالٗا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٖ يَأۡتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٖAnd proclaim to the people the ḥajj [pilgrimage]; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass -
The rites in brief
- Ihram from the miqat with the intention for Hajj and simple uniform garments.
- Tawaf around the Kaaba seven times, and sa‘i between Safa and Marwa seven times.
- Standing at Arafah (9 Dhul-Hijjah), spending the night at Muzdalifah, then stoning the pillars at Mina, the sacrifice and shaving or trimming the hair.
- Farewell tawaf before leaving.
Hajj versus Umrah
- Hajj: in set days of Dhul-Hijjah, includes standing at Arafah, and is obligatory once for those able.
- Umrah: any time, with ihram, tawaf, sa‘i and shaving or trimming; strongly recommended according to the majority (obligatory according to some).
The merit of Hajj
مَنْ حَجَّ لِلَّهِ فَلَمْ يَرْفُثْ وَلَمْ يَفْسُقْ رَجَعَ كَيَوْمِ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُWhoever performs Hajj for God, and does not commit obscenity or transgression, returns like the day his mother bore him.
The next Hajj
Arafah is expected around 15 May 2027 and Eid al-Adha around 16 May 2027, subject to moon sighting.
Frequently asked questions
Why can non-Muslims not enter Makkah?
Makkah is a sanctuary dedicated to worship, as established in the Quran and Sunnah; Muslims regard it as a city of worship rather than tourism.
Texts and translations are under scholarly review.