Islamic

Rituals and Things to do in Hajj a Step by Step Guide

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Following the particular rituals in their set pattern is so important in religious journey such as Hajj. We have jotted down all those rituals for you here in so as to make this journey easier for you and save you from going and ask someone separately or look deep into the hefty booklets. All you could do is follow these simplified steps we have jotted down for you and make the best of the time available for you at the Holy city of Makah and Medina.

 
 

Assuming Ihram and its Dos and Don’ts

Amongst the various rites observed for Hajj the first one is entering the condition of ihram. For men it comprises of two sheets of white cloth. It is worn before the pilgrim crosses the boundaries of Mecca. As for women loose clothes preferably the gown called abaya suffices. While the pilgrims have assumed this state, they no longer can engage in any sexual activity, kill even an insect or be angry. All these things are specially taken care off.

Mina, the Tent City

First the people head towards the place called Mina which is sprawling with tents.  One could travel to Mina through bus, car or could go by feet.  A day has to be spent there before leaving for the next destination early in the dawn. That time is spent in religious supplication and prayers.

A Day at Maidan-e-Arafat

It is amongst the most significant days. Arafat has its own importance not only for Hajj but also in various contexts for the Muslims. This place is 14.4 kilometers away from Mina, the previous destination. Here, likewise, the pilgrims offer prayers that have been specially prescribed for this area.

Preparations for Muzdalifah

When the sun has set, the pilgrims have to move yet again to a new destination 9 kilometers away from their present place. At this spot the pilgrims have to spend a night under the sky. Pebbles are collected for the next day rite of hitting the pillars with them.

The Longest Day of the Hajj

This day is called as the Yawm-ul Hajj al-Akbar for the length of the day and its back to back rites which have to be observed. It is on the 10th of Zil Hajja. It is also the Eid-ul-Adha for the Muslims around the world. They start with going back to Mina and performing the first rami. Seven pebbles are thrown at the largest pillar displayed there.  In this act they mean to hit the Shaitan. This is in the memory of the time when Satan appeared before Hazrat Ibrahim and tried to misguide him from his sacrifice and path. Hazrat Ibrahim had responded with pebbles at him back then.

Sacrifice of Animals and Trimming the Hair

After the Rami are done, sacrifice of the animals is carried out. Goats, sheep, cow or camels are slaughtered or payments are made to the concerned people with the intention of sacrifice. The pilgrims then trim their hair off and take off their ihrams.

For the performance of the last tawaf the pilgrims then head towards Mecca. There, they perform Tawaf and Sa’ee a ritual of walking between the mount of Safa and Marwa. After the completion of the Sa’ee, the pilgrims return to Mina.

Last Days at Mina

On the fourth and the fifth day, the Hajji stone seven pebbles on each day on one of the devils. The pilgrims have to stay in Mina for 2 two three days and when their time finishes they have to head back again towards Mecca. In the holy mosque, the pilgrims perform their farewell Tawaf.

Many people after getting done with all the rites of the Hajj go to Medina for visiting Holy Prophet’s mosque where he is buried. This is not amongst the rites of the Hajj, however. Many others tend to visit Medina even before the rites of the Hajj start to settle in the environment easily and get used to the surroundings. People who tend to have short Hajj trips will also have to go through all the compulsory rites.

General Guidelines

From Pakistan scores and scores of haji go to the holy mosque for Hajj every year. People hire the best Hajj group in Karachi, Pakistan or Hajj from UAE for Pakistani and avail their best Hajj packages to make their trip more comfortable and less stressful. For anyone who is aiming to make the best of this trip should have know-how of everything related to their journey and places they want to visit. Especially knowing about the weather and packing according to it helps a lot. It saves you from unnecessary expenditure. Plus, you should be self-sufficient. This is because during the journey one has to go through a lot of walking and may also experience fatigue or change in the weather. Therefore you should have quick fixes like medicines and bandages to be used when needed immediately.

Apart from that, once you have got all the official work done for your journey, it is recommended that you practice walk every day as during this entire process walking is excessively involved. People who are of older age should specially take these advices and do some walk on regular basis so that they can successfully complete all the rituals on their feet.so, anyone of you who is planning to go to Hajj next year should take all the above mentioned advices in account. These will make your journey easy for you. Especially those of you who are going to travel for the first time and do not know much about their destination could greatly benefit from here. From looking for the best Hajj group to your packing cloths are things you need there, you have to choose carefully as you should not miss out anything and also, not carry excessive baggage. This is because in either of the cases you will have to face the problem. Staying sufficient and not overburdened should be your go-to option for this journey. Are you ready yet?