Hajj Explained: The Pillars and the Days

Hajj is an act of worship that Allah made a duty for people who are able to make the journey to the House, as mentioned in Quran 3:97. Being able means having enough health, enough money for the trip and for the family left at home, and a safe way to travel. Scholars differ on whether a woman needs a mahram to travel for Hajj: the Hanafi and Hanbali schools require one, while the Maliki and Shafi'i schools accept a safe group of trustworthy travellers.

If you are not able yet, the duty does not apply to you yet. A qualified local scholar can help you with your own situation.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that an accepted Hajj has no reward less than Paradise. He also said that whoever performs Hajj and avoids bad speech and wrongdoing returns as clean as the day his mother gave birth to him.

If a pillar is missed, the Hajj is not complete. The schools count the pillars differently. The Maliki and Hanbali schools count four, listed below. The Shafi'i school adds shaving or trimming the hair. The Hanafi school counts only standing at Arafah and tawaf al-ifadah as pillars, and treats ihram as a condition and sa'i as a wajib act. A scholar or a Hajj guide can explain the details.

• Ihram: the intention to begin Hajj and to enter the sacred state, with its rules.
• Standing at Arafah on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, "Hajj is Arafah." He added that whoever reaches Arafah before the dawn of the night of Muzdalifah has reached the Hajj.
• Tawaf al-ifadah: seven rounds around the Kaaba after Arafah.
• Sa'i: seven trips between the hills of Safa and Marwa.

On the 8th, pilgrims go to Mina. They pray there, rest, and spend the day and night in worship. This stay is a Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.

On the 9th, pilgrims go to Arafah. They stay there making dua (supplication), dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and reciting the Quran until sunset. This is the most important day of Hajj. The pillar is met by being present at Arafah at any time from the day of Arafah until the dawn of the 10th, but staying until sunset follows the Prophet ﷺ.

After sunset they travel to Muzdalifah. There they pray Maghrib and Isha together, rest for the night, and make dua. Most scholars say that staying the night there is obligatory, and they allow the weak to leave after midnight.

The 10th is the busiest day. Pilgrims usually do these rites in this order, although the Sunnah allows some flexibility. When people asked the Prophet ﷺ about doing these rites out of order, he said, "Do it, there is no harm."

• Stone Jamrat al-Aqabah, the large pillar in Mina, with seven small pebbles.
• Offer the sacrifice, which is required for those doing Hajj tamattu or qiran.
• Shave the head or trim the hair. Men may do either, and shaving is better. Women trim a small part of their hair.
• Go to Makkah for tawaf al-ifadah and sa'i, if sa'i has not been done already. Those doing Hajj tamattu perform sa'i for Hajj at this point.

On the 11th and 12th, pilgrims stone all three Jamarat in Mina after midday, with seven pebbles for each, and stay the nights there. Allah says there is no sin in leaving after two days, and no sin in staying longer (Quran 2:203). A pilgrim who leaves after two days should leave Mina before sunset on the 12th. Those who stay until the 13th also stone on that day.

Before leaving Makkah, pilgrims make the farewell tawaf. The Hanafi, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools say it is obligatory, while the Maliki school says it is recommended. A woman in her monthly period is excused.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told people to take their rites from him. Learn the steps before you travel, and follow your group scholar.