How to Perform Hajj — Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Hajj is a once-in-a-lifetime journey. You want to show up prepared — not figuring things out on the fly.

The basics you should know:

• Hajj happens during a specific 5-day window every year — the 8th to 12th (or 13th) of Dhul Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar
• You'll be doing Hajj Tamattu' — the most common type for international pilgrims. It means you do Umrah first when you arrive, come out of Ihram, chill for a few days in Makkah, then enter Ihram again when the actual Hajj days start
• Everything happens in and around Makkah — you'll move between Makkah, Mina, Arafah, and Muzdalifah over those days
• Millions of people will be there. It's crowded, hot, and tiring. But it's also the most powerful spiritual experience of your life

Things to sort out before you leave:

• Pay off any debts you can. Hajj is about starting fresh
• Ask forgiveness from anyone you may have wronged
• Write a simple will (this is actually Sunnah before any major journey)
• Make sure your Hajj money is halal — earned through honest means
• Learn the basic duas and steps. You're reading this guide, so you're already doing that

What to pack:

• Ihram clothes (men: two white unstitched cloths. Women: any modest clothing)
• Comfortable sandals or flip-flops that you can walk miles in
• A small backpack for Arafah and Muzdalifah days
• Unscented soap, shampoo, and deodorant (no perfume after Ihram)
• Sunscreen — the Saudi sun is no joke
• A reusable water bottle. Hydration saves lives here, literally
• Prescription medicines if you take any
• A prayer mat (the ground at Muzdalifah is rocky)
• Your phone and a portable charger
• Cash (Saudi Riyals) and your ID at all times

Most international pilgrims fly into Jeddah (King Abdulaziz International Airport). Some fly into Madinah first to visit the Prophet's Mosque, then travel to Makkah later. Either way, you need to enter Ihram before crossing the Miqat — the invisible boundary around Makkah.

What is the Miqat?

Think of it as a border you can't cross without being in Ihram. There are several Miqat points around Makkah. For people flying into Jeddah from most countries, the plane will cross the Miqat in the air. Airlines usually announce it.

When to enter Ihram if flying into Jeddah:

The safest move is to put on your Ihram clothes before boarding (or at a layover airport) and make your intention when the pilot announces the Miqat. Some scholars say Jeddah itself is before the Miqat, so you can also enter Ihram at the Jeddah airport — but to be safe, most pilgrims do it before landing.

How to enter Ihram:

• Take a shower (ghusl) before you leave for the airport, or at the airport
• Men: wear your two white unstitched cloths — one wrapped around your waist (izar), one draped over your left shoulder (rida'). No underwear, no socks, no hats, no stitched clothing of any kind
• Women: wear any modest clothing that covers everything except your face and hands. Any color is fine. No niqab or gloves while in Ihram (though you can drape a loose cloth over your face if non-mahram men are nearby)
• You can apply perfume before making your intention — not after
• Then make your intention for Umrah (not Hajj yet — Umrah first) and say:

Now keep saying the Talbiyah over and over — on the plane, in the airport, on the bus to Makkah:

What you can't do while in Ihram:

• No perfume or scented products (unscented soap is fine)
• No cutting hair or trimming nails
• No covering your head (men only). Women keep their head covered as usual
• No hunting or killing insects on purpose
• No arguing, fighting, or foul language
• No sexual relations

At the airport:

• Immigration and customs are straightforward. Have your Hajj visa, passport, and vaccination card ready
• Your Hajj group will have buses waiting to take you to Makkah (about 1.5 hours from Jeddah)
• You'll be tired from the flight. That's normal. The excitement of seeing the Ka'bah for the first time will wake you right up

You've arrived in Makkah. This is probably your first time seeing the Ka'bah — take a moment. Breathe. Make dua. The first time you lay eyes on it is a moment when dua is accepted.

Now it's time to do Umrah. There are four parts:

1. Tawaf — Circle the Ka'bah 7 times

• Drop off your bags at the hotel first (your Hajj group will arrange this)
• Head to Masjid al-Haram (the Grand Mosque)
• Find the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad) corner — this is where Tawaf starts. There's a green light on the wall marking it
• If you can touch or kiss the Black Stone, do it. If not (you probably won't be able to because of crowds), just face it from a distance and point your right hand toward it, saying "Bismillāh, Allāhu Akbar"
• Walk counter-clockwise with the Ka'bah on your left side
• Men: for the first three rounds only, walk with short quick steps (raml). For rounds 4-7, walk normally. Also, during all 7 rounds, keep your right shoulder exposed (idtiba') by tucking the Ihram cloth under your right arm
• There is no specific dua for each round — make any dua you want in any language
• Between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone, say:

• Each round = Black Stone back to Black Stone. Count carefully — 7 complete rounds

2. Pray two rak'ahs behind Maqam Ibrahim

After finishing Tawaf, go to Maqam Ibrahim (the glass case with the stone footprint of Prophet Ibrahim). Pray two rak'ahs behind it. If the area is too crowded, pray anywhere in the mosque — it's still valid.

• First rak'ah: recite Surah Al-Kafirun (109)
• Second rak'ah: recite Surah Al-Ikhlas (112)

Then drink Zamzam water. Make dua — this is a blessed moment.

3. Sa'i — Walk between Safa and Marwah 7 times

• Head to the Safa hill (it's inside the mosque, clearly marked)
• At Safa, face the Ka'bah, raise your hands, and make dua
• Walk toward Marwah — that's lap 1
• At Marwah, face the Ka'bah and make dua again
• Walk back to Safa — that's lap 2
• Keep going until you've done 7 laps total. You'll end at Marwah
• Men: jog lightly between the two green-lit markers (fluorescent lights on the walls/pillars). Women walk normally the whole way
• Make dua the entire time. Talk to Allah like He's right there — because He is

4. Cut your hair

• Men: either shave your head completely (Halq) or trim at least a fingertip-length from all over. Since you'll need to shave again after Hajj, many men just trim for now and save the full shave for later
• Women: trim about an inch from the ends of your hair

You're now out of Ihram! All restrictions are lifted. You can wear normal clothes, use perfume, and go about your day. Umrah is done.

After Umrah, you're out of Ihram and in regular clothes. You have a few days before Hajj starts on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah. Use this time wisely.

What to do:

• Pray in Masjid al-Haram as much as you can. One prayer here equals 100,000 prayers elsewhere. That's not a figure of speech — it's from the Prophet ﷺ
• Do voluntary Tawaf. This is the best worship you can do in Makkah during these days. You can do it anytime — no Ihram needed, no hair cutting, no Sa'i. Just walk in and circle the Ka'bah 7 times, pray 2 rak'ahs, and you're done. You can do this multiple times a day if you want
• Explore the area around the Haram. Get familiar with the layout — where the gates are, where Sa'i starts, where the Jamarat bridge is (you'll need this later). Knowing your way around reduces stress during Hajj
• Rest. Seriously. The Hajj days (8th-12th) are physically brutal. Sleep well, eat well, hydrate. You're preparing your body for one of the toughest things you'll ever do
• Buy anything you still need. Shops around the Haram sell everything — Ihram cloths, sandals, prayer mats, portable chargers, medicine
• Keep making dua. You're in the holiest city on earth. Every moment here is precious

"Can I do multiple Umrahs during these days?"

You'll hear some people say yes. But here's the full picture:

• To do another Umrah, you'd have to travel to Masjid Aisha (Tan'eem) — about 7 km outside the Haram boundary — enter Ihram there, come back, do the full Umrah (Tawaf + Sa'i), and shave or trim your hair again each time
• The Prophet ﷺ never did multiple Umrahs in one trip. He only did 4 Umrahs in his entire life. The Companions didn't do this either
• Most scholars (Hanafi, Maliki) consider repeating Umrahs in one trip to be makruh (disliked). It wasn't the practice of the early generations
• Practically, if you keep trimming every day, you'll run out of hair — and you want hair left to shave on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah (the big day of Hajj)

The bottom line: Voluntary Tawaf is a much better use of your time. Same reward location, way less hassle, and it's what the scholars actually recommend for these free days

If you're visiting Madinah:

Some Hajj groups include a visit to Madinah (either before or after Hajj). Visiting the Prophet's Mosque is not part of Hajj, but it's highly recommended. The Prophet ﷺ said a prayer in his mosque is worth 1,000 prayers elsewhere.

The night before Hajj (7th Dhul Hijjah):

• Your Hajj group leader will brief everyone on the plan for the next 5 days
• Prepare your small backpack with essentials — you won't have access to your main luggage once you leave for Mina
• Get your Ihram clothes ready
• Sleep early

This is the 8th of Dhul Hijjah. Hajj officially starts today.

You need to enter Ihram again — this time for Hajj, not Umrah. Since you're already in Makkah, your Miqat is wherever you're staying (your hotel room is fine).

How to enter Ihram for Hajj:

• Take a shower (ghusl)
• Put on your Ihram clothes again (same as before)
• Apply perfume before making your intention — not after
• Make your intention for Hajj and say:

Keep saying the Talbiyah from now on — as much as you can:

All the Ihram restrictions apply again — no perfume, no cutting hair/nails, no head covering for men, etc.

Head to Mina:

After Fajr prayer, head to Mina. Your Hajj group will organize transport — usually buses. The ride from Makkah to Mina is about 8 km but can take hours because of traffic with millions of pilgrims moving at once. Be patient.

What is Mina?

Imagine a massive valley completely filled with white fireproof tents — thousands of them, organized by country and Hajj group. It looks like a giant campsite. You'll be assigned a tent with your group. Tents usually have air conditioning, mattresses on the floor, and shared bathrooms nearby. It's basic but functional.

What to do in Mina on Day 1:

• Settle into your tent
• Pray Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha, and the next morning's Fajr — all at their regular times, but shortened (4-rak'ah prayers become 2 rak'ahs). You don't combine them, just shorten
• Spend the time making dhikr, reading Quran, and making dua
• Rest up. Tomorrow is the biggest day of your life
• Keep saying the Talbiyah

Practical tips:

• Mark your tent location. Take a photo of it, note the street number, and remember nearby landmarks. All tents look the same and it's extremely easy to get lost
• Use the bathroom before Fajr — lines get long
• Eat light. Your Hajj group will provide meals
• Charge your phone fully. You'll need it for maps and staying in touch with your group
• Sleep early. You need every bit of energy for Arafah

This is the 9th of Dhul Hijjah — the Day of Arafah.

This is it. The single most important day of Hajj. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Hajj is Arafah." If you miss this day, your Hajj doesn't count. But don't worry — just be there and you're good.

Getting there:

After praying Fajr in Mina, head to the plain of Arafah. It's about 14 km east of Mina. Buses will take you. The whole area is a massive open plain with tents set up for pilgrims.

What is Arafah?

It's a large flat area outside Makkah. There's a small hill here called Jabal al-Rahmah (the Mount of Mercy) — this is where the Prophet ﷺ gave his Farewell Sermon. You don't need to climb it. Being anywhere within the boundaries of Arafah counts.

What to do at Arafah:

The "standing" (Wuquf) starts at noon (Dhuhr time) and lasts until sunset. This is your window. Here's how to spend it:

• Pray Dhuhr and Asr combined and shortened (2 rak'ahs each, back to back at Dhuhr time, one adhan, two iqamahs)
• After that, this is your time with Allah. Face the Qiblah, raise your hands, and pour your heart out
• Ask for everything — forgiveness, guidance, health, success, for your parents, your family, the whole Ummah
• Cry if you can. This is the day Allah frees the most people from the Hellfire
• The Prophet ﷺ said the best dua on this day is:

Also make lots of istighfar (asking forgiveness):

Important: You must stay in Arafah until after sunset. Do not leave early.

After the sun sets, head to Muzdalifah. Do NOT pray Maghrib at Arafah — you'll pray it at Muzdalifah.

This is the night of the 9th into the 10th of Dhul Hijjah.

After sunset at Arafah, everyone heads to Muzdalifah. It's between Arafah and Mina — about 9 km from Arafah. The roads will be packed. The bus ride could take 2-5 hours for what's normally a 15-minute drive. Stay patient. Keep making dhikr and Talbiyah.

What is Muzdalifah?

An open plain with no tents — just the ground and the sky. This is one of the most memorable parts of Hajj. Millions of people sleeping under the stars together on this flat rocky ground. It's simple and humbling.

What to do at Muzdalifah:

• As soon as you arrive, pray Maghrib and Isha combined (Maghrib = 3 rak'ahs, Isha = 2 rak'ahs shortened, one adhan, two iqamahs). This is the Sunnah even if you arrive very late
• Collect pebbles for stoning the Jamarats. You'll need 7 pebbles for tomorrow (Day 3). Grab extra — at least 49 total for all the stoning days, plus spares in case you miss. Pebbles should be small — about the size of a chickpea or a large lentil. Just pick them up from the ground
• Lay down your prayer mat and rest. Sleep if you can
• Wake up before Fajr, pray Fajr at its earliest time
• After Fajr, face the Qiblah and make dua until it gets light out. This is a Sunnah the Prophet ﷺ practiced
• Then head to Mina before sunrise

Who can leave Muzdalifah early?

Women, elderly, and those who are weak or sick can leave after midnight and head straight to Mina. This is a valid concession. If you're healthy and able, stay until Fajr.

This is the 10th of Dhul Hijjah — Eid al-Adha!

This is the busiest day of Hajj. You have four things to do today, ideally in this order (but any order is fine):

1. Stone the big pillar (Jamrat al-Aqabah)
2. Sacrifice an animal (Hady)
3. Shave or trim your hair (Halq or Taqsir)
4. Tawaf al-Ifadah + Sa'i in Makkah

Let's break each one down.

1. Stone the big Jamrah (Jamrat al-Aqabah)

Head to the Jamarat area in Mina. There are three stone pillars (nowadays they're actually large walls with a basin underneath). Today, you ONLY stone the big one — the last one, closest to Makkah. It's called Jamrat al-Aqabah.

• Throw 7 pebbles, one at a time
• With each throw, say "Bismillāh, Allāhu Akbar" (In the name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest)
• Aim for the basin around the pillar. You don't need to hit the pillar wall itself — just get the pebble into the basin area
• Stop saying the Talbiyah after you throw the first pebble. You won't say it again for the rest of Hajj

Timing: Best time is after sunrise until noon. But you can do it anytime on the 10th — even at night if needed.

2. Animal sacrifice (Hady)

If you're doing Hajj Tamattu' (which you most likely are), you must sacrifice an animal. Most people pay their Hajj group or an official service to handle this. You don't need to be physically present for the slaughter. Just make sure it's arranged and paid for.

3. Shave or trim your hair (Halq or Taqsir)

• Men: shaving the entire head (Halq) is better. The Prophet ﷺ made dua three times for those who shave and only once for those who trim
• Men who prefer to trim: cut at least a fingertip-length from all over the head
• Women: trim about an inch from the ends of your hair. Women do NOT shave their heads

After this, you're in a partial state of freedom from Ihram. You can now:

• Wear normal clothes
• Use perfume
• Cut your nails
• Everything except sexual relations with your spouse (that's allowed after Tawaf al-Ifadah)

4. Tawaf al-Ifadah + Sa'i

Head to Masjid al-Haram in Makkah. This Tawaf is a pillar of Hajj — you must do it.

• Circle the Ka'bah 7 times (just like you did for Umrah)
• Pray 2 rak'ahs behind Maqam Ibrahim
• Then do Sa'i — walk between Safa and Marwah 7 times

After this, ALL Ihram restrictions are completely lifted. You're done with the hardest part.

Head back to Mina to spend the night.

These are the 11th, 12th, and (optionally) 13th of Dhul Hijjah.

The hard part is over. These days are mostly about staying in Mina and stoning the three Jamarats each day.

Daily stoning routine:

Each day, after Dhuhr (noon), go to the Jamarat area and stone all three pillars in order:

1. Small Jamrah (Jamrat al-Sughra) — the one farthest from Makkah. Throw 7 pebbles, then step aside, face the Qiblah, and make dua
2. Middle Jamrah (Jamrat al-Wusta) — throw 7 pebbles, then step aside, face the Qiblah, and make dua
3. Big Jamrah (Jamrat al-Aqabah) — throw 7 pebbles. No dua after this one — just leave

That's 21 pebbles per day. Say "Bismillāh, Allāhu Akbar" with each throw.

Timing: You must stone after noon on these days (unlike the 10th when you can stone in the morning). Best time is early afternoon — avoid peak rush if you can.

When can you leave Mina?

• Option 1: Leave on the 12th after stoning, before sunset. This is the easier option and it's perfectly valid. The Quran says: "Whoever hastens in two days, there is no sin on him" (2:203)
• Option 2: Stay for the 13th and stone one more time. This is better if you can handle it

If the sun sets on the 12th and you're still in Mina, you have to stay for the 13th.

What else to do:

• Spend nights in Mina (obligatory according to most scholars)
• Pray all five prayers shortened (2 rak'ahs for 4-rak'ah prayers)
• Make dhikr, read Quran, reflect on the journey
• These are the days of Eid — so say the Takbir often:

This is your last act of Hajj.

Before leaving Makkah, you must perform Tawaf al-Wada (the Farewell Tawaf). This is obligatory for everyone except women who are menstruating — they are excused from it.

How to do it:

• Go to Masjid al-Haram
• Perform Tawaf — circle the Ka'bah 7 times, just like before
• Pray 2 rak'ahs behind Maqam Ibrahim
• Drink Zamzam water
• There is no Sa'i after this Tawaf

Important: This should be the very last thing you do in Makkah. Don't do it and then go shopping or hang around. The whole point is that the Ka'bah is the last thing you see before you leave.

If you can reach the Multazam (the area between the door of the Ka'bah and the Black Stone), press your chest against it and make dua. This is a place where duas are accepted.

That's it. Your Hajj is complete.

If you followed these steps, you've performed one of the five pillars of Islam. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit any obscenity or sin will return like the day his mother gave birth to him" — completely free of sin.

Take a moment to let that sink in. You came here with a lifetime of mistakes, and you're leaving with a clean slate. Don't waste it.

May Allah accept your Hajj. Hajj Mabroor.