You will then return to Safa to complete your second lap. You’ll begin the sa’i on Safa and walk towards Marwa until you see the green marker at which point you will run until the next green marker, and continue walking till you reach Marwa. Praying in front of the Ka’bah (Makkah) Hajj Guide: Safa and MarwaĪfter you’ve performed your tawaf, you’ll then perform what’s known as sa’i – walking and running between the two hills of Safa and Marwa. In addition to your tawaf, you can also offer voluntary prayers to thank Allah (SWT) for arriving safely and to mark the start of this incredibly special spiritual journey. One tawaf is made up of seven complete circuits, with each one starting and ending at the black stone. Tawaf is one of the principal rites of the pilgrimage and refers to walking in circles around the Ka’bah in an anti-clockwise motion. On arrival in Makkah, you will first perform your umrah, which means you will do your tawaf and sa’i. Try to get used to your sandals before you depart for Saudi so that you don’t break out in blisters or face discomfort once there. They tend to be the most comfortable and practical, given that you will be walking long distances on tarmac as well as gravel. As for sandals, I recommend investing in a decent pair of trekking sandals. Tip: Carry a spare set of ihram if you can.

Once you arrive at the holy Masjid al-Haram, in Makkah, you’re then ready to start the biggest spiritual journey of your life! We must also not use perfume or scented soaps. We should avoid smoking, engaging in sexual relations, swearing, shaving our hair and cutting our nails. Throughout these holy days, we should also be particularly mindful of our behaviour and words. Hence, the rules around the clothing of Ihram are extremely simple, yet strict and must be adhered to. Everyone stands equal in the eyes of Allah (SWT), whether you’re rich or poor and irrespective of ethnicity. When over three million pilgrims descend into Makkah, there should not be any outwardly distinction between pilgrims. Ihram is the spiritual state you enter once you have made the intention to go to Hajj. Footwear must be in the form of sandals for both men and women. Fully-covering shoes are also not permitted. Face coverings, however, are not permitted. Ladies can wear any clothing of their choice but should ensure they observe the rules of hijab. For men, this means wearing the designated white cloth with one piece wrapped around your shoulder and one around your waist. Next, you’ll enter into the state of ihram (ritual purity). It should not be done with the intention of being seen among others or for worldly gain. The intention must be to perform the Hajj for the sake of Allah alone, with a desire for the Hereafter. For the purpose of this Hajj guide, we will use the Tamattu form of Hajj, which is what the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) encouraged his followers to perform.īefore you arrive at Makkah to start Hajj, it’s important to make your intention ( niyah) within your heart. There are three forms of Hajj: Tamattu, Ifraad and Qiran. From there you will travel with your Hajj group to Makkah. If you’re travelling from the UK you are likely to fly to Saudi Arabia, touching down into Jeddah or Medina. These days Hajj pilgrims travel to Makkah by air, sea, and land during the days and weeks prior to the pilgrimage period. Within the Islamic calendar, Hajj is performed between 8 th to 12 th of Dhul Hijjah – the last month of the Islamic year. In Islam, as we work with a lunar calendar (as opposed to the Gregorian calendar), the specific dates for Hajj vary each year. So if you’re one of these next pilgrims heading off to Saudi Arabia to fulfil this sacred pillar, read on! We’ve put together this handy Hajj guide to help you through this blessed journey! What are the steps of Hajj? SubhanAllah, each and every year around 25,000 Muslims from the UK travel to the holy cities of Makkah and Medina to perform Hajj, in unity with Muslims from all over the globe. This handy Hajj guide will help you understand the different aspects of the holy pilgrimage. For anyone preparing to go, it’s an incredibly exciting time but of course a deeply spiritual, serious and important period of our lives. Billions of our Muslim brothers and sisters around the world have been undertaking Hajj each year since 629 CE following the migration of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) from Medina to Makkah.

Perfect dark walkthrough