One of the fundamental obligations in Islam is performing Hajj, which is one of the five pillars of Islam.
Every Muslim is required to undertake this journey at least once in their lifetime.
This is the annual pilgrimage that starts and ends in the holy city of Makkah located in today’s Saudi Arabia. And unlike other sacred sites, Makkah is closed off to believers of other faiths: only Muslims are permitted to perform the Hajj.
Before we start our article, let us pray for Muslims who travel for Hajj to really and truly come back with a Hajj mabroor. And what we mean by Hajj mabroor is that Allah accepted the Hajj to the degree that the person returned as pure as the day they were born.
Al-Bukhari (1773) and Muslims (1349) narrated from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:
“An accepted Hajj brings Paradise.”
For the Hajj to be accepted, a person must complete his pilgrimage sincerely. When Allah, the Highest, enjoined Hajj on Muslims in the Quran, he indicated that this obligation is for him and nothing else.
You may be wondering if your Hajj has been accepted or not. The good news is that it’s easy to tell, and in this article, we will guide you through the process.
First: How to perform an accepted Hajj
Second: Signs of an accepted Hajj
Third: A guide to Hajj
How to Perform an accepted Hajj:
The pilgrim must have a purely sincere intention to observe this great pillar of Islam, Hajj, solely for the sake of Allah. This is the most important requirement, and if not met, the Hajj will be invalid.
1- You should intend to perform Hajj for Allah. This is sincerity (ikhlaas). You should perform Hajj according to the way the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did. To ensure the acceptance of any righteous deed, including performing Hajj, two fundamental conditions must be met: sincere intention and adherence to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said during his Hajj: “Learn from me your rituals.”
2- Another condition is that Hajj must be done with halal funds, for Hajj done with haram funds is haram and not permitted. Some scholars even said Hajj is not valid in this case.
3- You have to avoid whatever Allah has forbidden, whether in the Hajj or elsewhere. This includes immorality and sin, haram speech, haram deeds, listening to music, etc. You should also avoid what Allah has forbidden particularly in Hajj, such as al-rafath (intercourse with women). Also, avoid wearing what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade us to wear in Ihram. In general, you should avoid everything forbidden while in Ihram.
4- The pilgrim should also be kind, generous, and easy-going with his wealth and actions. You should treat your brothers well as much as possible. You must avoid annoying or disturbing Muslims in the holy places and marketplaces, or in the crowded conditions of the mataaf (the area around the Ka’bah where tawaf is performed) and the mas’aa (the place where saa’i is performed) and around the jamaraat, and in others.
It is important to treat your brothers with kindness as much as possible, while also being mindful to not bother or disrupt Muslims in the holy places, marketplaces, or in the crowded conditions of the mataaf (the area around the Ka’bah where tawaf is performed) and the mas’aa (the place where saa’i is performed) and around the jamaraat, and in others.
The pilgrims must do all these things as they are obligatory for them. The optimal approach to achieve this is to embark on your journey with a wise and learned companion who can provide guidance and reminders about the teachings of your faith. If that is not possible, you should read scholars’ books before leaving for Hajj; so that you can worship Allah with knowledge.
Signs of an Accepted Hajj:
The below-mentioned signs are some signs of an Accepted (Mabroor) Hajj. The pilgrim should continue performing good deeds and acts of worship regularly until you meet Allah Almighty. May Allah accept the Hajj of all pilgrims this year!
1- An accepted Hajj is one that is performed truly and offered with full sincerity to Allah Almighty.
2- Additionally, signs of an accepted Hajj include returning as a better person than before and refraining from sins.
3- The pilgrim must maintain sincerity of intention even after completing the Hajj and should avoid showing off.
4- A clear sign of an accepted Hajj is a positive change in the pilgrim’s life and behavior. They will actively engage in good deeds and strive to follow Allah Almighty’s commands.
5- If the Hajj is accepted, the pilgrim will distance themselves from all things disliked by Allah Almighty.
6- The pilgrim should make every effort to fulfill the obligations set by Allah and express gratitude for the acceptance of their Hajj.
How to Perform Hajj?
Step 1 Ihram and Intentions
Making a pure intention and wearing the Ihram are the two of the first essential steps when traveling for Hajj. After making the niyat (intention), Muslim pilgrims are advised to wear the Ihram- two pieces of unstitched white sheets for men and a loose-fitting Abaya for women, properly covering the whole body. It is recommended that pilgrims should wear the Ihram on Dhul-Hijjah before entering Miqat – the outer boundaries of Makkah.
Step 2 Mina aka “City of Tents”
Mina, also known as the city of tents, is a valley famous for its important role during Hajj Pilgrimage. It is located 8 kilometers east of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Inside the valley, as far as the eye can see, the open space is covered with tents.
Mina can hold up to 3 million people and is also the largest tented city in the world. Pilgrims coming to Hajj have to camp in Mina for multiple nights. During the Hajj season, the city is crowded with pilgrims and remains deserted the rest of the year.
The valley of Mina is also the place where Prophet Ibrahim was ordered to sacrifice his son Ismael in a dream by Allah.
Step 3 Mina to Arafat, 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah
9th of Dhu’l-Hijjah: This is the Day of Arafat. You will be in Arafat from dawn until sunset on the 9th of Dhu’l-Hijjah.
After performing the dawn (Fajr) prayer at Mina, leave for Arafat on the morning of the 9th of Dhu’l-Hijjah.
When you reach Arafat, you may stay anywhere in Arafat, except in ‘Batn Oranah, the valley immediately after the Namirah Mosque in the direction of Qibla. Devote as much of your time as possible to prayer. Repent of your sins, and seek Allah’s forgiveness.
At the Namirah Mosque listen to the Arafat day sermon.
From the afternoon onwards, perform Wuquf at Arafah. This is the most holy of times when you stand alone with Allah. Go outside your tent, and face towards the Qibla in the Holy City of Makkah, raise your hands and pray to Allah, pray as you wish, pray in your language, pray for sin forgiveness, and pray with all your heart.
When the sun sets, leave Arafat for Muzdalifah.
Step 4 Muzdalifah
On their return from ‘Arafat to Makkah, pilgrims pass al-Ma’zimayn which is located between two mountains. Ma’zim refers to a narrow pass and a gorge. It refers to the two narrow passages of going and coming through this area, passing which pilgrims arrive at Muzdalifah or the land of al-Mash’ar al-Haram.
After sunset on the Day of Arafat, pilgrims leave Arafat and move toward Muzdalifah. The time of staying in Muzdalifah is from the fajr of Eid al-Adha until sunrise. In Muzdalifah, there is nothing obligatory other than staying there.
However, performing many actions is recommended including remembrance of God and collecting stones for Rami al-Jamarat.
Step 5 Rami al-Jamarat
Rami al-Jamarat, also known as the “Stoning of the Devil,” is a rite carried out by Hajj pilgrims in Mina where small pebbles are thrown at three pillars that symbolically represent the devil, serving as a reenactment of Prophet Ibrahim’s rejection of Satan’s temptation. The act of throwing stones at the Jamarat is known as “Rami”.
Step 6 Nahr
The Day of Nahr is the day of ‘Eed Al-Adh-ha, the Day of the Great Hajj, and the best day of the entire year, according to scholars. These great virtues and merits are because it coincides with great rites of the Hajj that are carried out by pilgrims and acts of worship that are carried out by non-pilgrims.
Slaughtering the Hadiy (sacrificial animal) if it is affordable. If the pilgrim cannot offer a Hadiy on that day, he can offer the sacrificial animal on any of the following three days and nights.
Step 7 Farewell Tawaf
Performing circumambulations of the holy Kaaba during Umrah is known as Tawaf. It is a compulsory ritual for all pilgrims aiming to perform Umrah successfully. It is a holy ritual and hence there are several prerequisites and duas associated with it.
Tawaf is one of the important religious rituals in the Umrah. During the age of Jahiliyyah, before the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Arabs used to perform Tawaf naked, regarding it as an ancestral ritual. They believed that clothes contained sins and let people tramp on them. Many legends explain why Tawaf is performed. Scholars give more than one reason regarding the importance of Tawaf and its process. One of the reasons why pilgrims perform Tawaf in one direction in a circular fashion is that it symbolizes their belief in the one and only Almighty Allah.
Like other pillars of Islam, Hajj is considered sacred because it strengthens your spirituality and connection to Allah SWT. But its emphasis on Islam’s history can also help you better understand the religion, strengthening your relationship with Allah SWT even more.
If you are interested in visiting Makkah and Madinah, you are welcome to join us on our next Umrah trip. Jerusalem will also be part of our trip.
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