Every Muslim who is going for Hajj first time wanted to know about how he can perform hajj in a proper way. if you want to know follow these steps.
1. Make sure you are ready to perform the Hajj.
Hajj should not be undertaken lightly or as an afterthought. In old times, it was not a common thing for pilgrims to die during their journey to Mecca.. Although modern conveniences now allow millions of Muslims to travel quickly and safely to and from the holy city, the Hajj has yet to be approached with the seriousness and dedication of these early pilgrims. Study the Hajj rituals, begin to clear your mind of worldly distractions, and most importantly, repent for past sins, which will be forgiven during your pilgrimage.
- As with all forms of Muslim worship, Hajj should be performed sincerely and out of devotion to God (Allah). Hajj cannot be performed for the purpose of worldly recognition or material gain in this life.
- The Hajj should be performed according to the words and deeds of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as described in the Sunnah.
2. Decide what type of hajj you will undertake.
when it comes to performing HAJJ Muslims have three different options. Each offers a slightly different experience in terms of the rituals performed and the chronology of the pilgrimage events. The three types of pilgrimage are
- Tamattu ‘. This is the most common form of pilgrimage and the one recommended by Prophet Muhammad himself (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Tamattu ‘involves the pilgrim performing the rites of the lesser pilgrimage ritual known as Umrah, and then performing the rites of the Hajj. The pilgrims who perform Tamattu ‘are called Mutamatti. As this is the most common type of pilgrimage, especially for foreigners to Saudi Arabia, the rest of this guide assumes that you will be doing this type of pilgrimage.
- Qiran. In this option, the pilgrim performs the rites of both the Umrah and the Hajj in one continuous act with no “break” in between. The pilgrims who perform Qiran are called Qaarin.
- Ifraad. Finally, this form of pilgrimage involves performing only the rites of the Hajj, not also the Umrah. This form of pilgrimage also stands out for being the only one that does not require animal sacrifice. The pilgrims who perform Ifraad are called Mufrid.
3. Plan your Trip to Saudia Arabia
The Hajj takes place in and around the holy city of Mecca, which today is in the country of Saudi Arabia. Just like when you travel to any foreign country, you will want to have your passports, travel documents, tickets, etc. resolved well in advance. Be aware that national governments can sometimes take time to issue new passports when old ones expire.
- Hajj occurs from 8 to 12 of Dhul-Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. Because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, the date of the Hajj changes from year to year in the Western Gregorian calendar. Please note that according to the Saudi government, the last day pilgrims can arrive at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah for Hajj is Dhul-Hijjah 4.
- The Saudi government offers special “Hajj visas” to American Muslims who have not made the pilgrimage in the past five years. Obtaining one of these visas requires an up-to-date passport, a completed application form, copies of marriage or birth certificates, and an up-to-date immunization record.
- Pilgrims often travel to perform the Hajj in groups as a sign of solidarity. Contact members of your local Muslim community to see if anyone is doing Hajj this year; If so, you may consider coordinating your trips.
4. Prepare to immerse yourself in religion.
As a traditionalist Islamic monarchy, the nation of Saudi Arabia has rules of personal conduct, especially for women, which may be unfamiliar to foreigners. All women who perform Hajj should plan to travel in the company of a mahram, any related man, such as their father, brother, husband, son, or an authorized person under Islamic law.
Women over the age of 45 can perform Hajj without a Mahram if they are part of a large group and have a notarized letter of consent from their husband.
- All people, women, and men, who attend Hajj should prepare to be extremely modest during their stay in Saudi Arabia.
- Clothing should be modest and unadorned; During much of the pilgrimage, special religious garb is required for men. Cologne, perfume, makeup, and scented soap should be avoided. When a pilgrim enters the sacred state of Ihram of ritual purity, smoking, cursing, shaving, cutting nails, and sexual intercourse are prohibited.