Brief Practical Tips for persons going for Haj [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

This is not intended to be a comprehensive document giving all the fiqh rules.

Please check
all fiqh issues & consult other books / Alims

1. Things to carry

• Identifiable polythene bags for
  slippers


• Extra pair of rubber slippers


• Small Sajdagah
  , preferably with Kerbala soil and a tasbih


• Small carryon bag for two (2)
  nights Arafat & Mina


• Two (2) sets of Ehram Men


• Belt for Men Ehram
  (stitched belts are permitted- avoid leather belts)


• Small water bottle (1/2 liter)


• Gloves


• Hands free bag (with zipper) for
  Women - preferable something you can hang around your neck


• Copies of Medina Ziarats & Arafat duas


• Small torch / flashlight


• Scissors


• Nail cutter / clippers


• Alarm clock (preferably small
  battery operated)


• Small cloth sling bag for
  collecting 100 small stones


• Sleeping Bag / Mat


• 3 to 2 pin adapter for Mobile
  phone charger converter

2. Miscellaneous Suggestions

• Always carry the address and phone
  number of the hotel / Kafila. You should also carry EMERGENCY contact
  name(s) & telephone number(s) and other identification information.


• Plenty of Zam-Zam water is
  available in tumblers/containers at the Haram (Containers/Tumblers tops
  marked GREEN are not cold)

3. General Fiqh Related Suggestions

• Salaat can be recited with the
  Jamaat (except Magrib prayer at the Haram which starts before the
  scheduled time)


• Do not follow the rules of Jamat
  prayers even though you may be a part of one. That is,




• Recite niyat
  of prayer in the same manner as praying alone.


• Recite SURAH's
  in low tone (whisper). Do not keep silent as in Jamat prayers.




• Full prayers only at the two (2)
  Harams at Medina / w:st="on">Mecca or in the old cities of
  Mecca/Medina


• If you plan to stay in cities
  other than Medina or w:st="on">Mecca for less than ten (10) days, recite
  Qasr prayers


• Niyat is intention in the mind &
  one need not actually recite the words. However, it's Mustahab to do so to
  be aware of our intentions

4. Prophets Mosque- Medina

• There are three (3) graves one
  BEHIND the other if you stand facing graves with your BACK towards the
  QIBLA. The Prophet's (S.A.W.) is buried in the third grave. A cement wall
  encloses his grave.


• It is not certain if Bibi Fatima
  Zehra (sa) is buried in the Mosque chamber or at Janatul-Baqi.


• Haram closes at 10:30 PM. It is
  less crowded around 9:30 PM for Men.


• In order to get prayer space in
  Jannat', men can go up to temporary clothe barrier separating the women's
  section one (1) hour before Zohar & take the place as soon as barrier
  opened.


• Women have special timings,
  starting one (1) hour after Fajr salat for three (3) hours. Again,
  starting one (1) hour after Zohar Salaat for about two (2) hours.


• Slippers can be
  carried into mosque in bag & placed in numbered boxes inside the
  mosque or you can keep
  them beside you.

When
visiting the mosque, do not forget the polythene bag, sajdagah and
tasbih.

In case
you forget, pray were floor is not carpeted.

5. Janat-Ul-Baqi cemetery - Opposite Prophets mosque in Medina

Women can go upstairs
up to the boundary wall / grill only after the gates to Baqi are closed for
men. These are between the hours of 9:00AM through 11:00AM & again at
1:30PM.

• Four (4) graves closest to
  entrance are those of:




• Imam Hassan's (as)


• Imam Sajjad's (as)


• Imam Mohammed Baqir's (as)


• Imam Jaffer-e-Sadiq's (as)




• Prophet's (SAW) uncle Abbas (as)
  & Fatima Bint-e-Asad (as) are buried in the same area


• Ummul Banin (as) (Hazrat Abbas's
  mother) is buried on the left side near the boundary wall


• Prophet's (SAW) son Ibrahim,
  daughters & wives are also buried here


• Martyrs' of Uhud & Martyrs' of
  event of Hurra

6. Travel Medina Mecca

• It takes approximately six (6)
  hours to reach Mecca
  by the bus


• It is recommended that every
  person should take bath/shower (ghusl) & wears the Ehram at their
  hotel in Medina before boarding the bus to w:st="on">Mecca. However, niyat of Ehram can only be done
  at the Miqat.


• Miqat is located 10 km from w:st="on">Medina.


• Travel is usually at night to
  avoid Kaffarra. Some Marjas permit traveling in a closed bus at night.


• The NIYAT must be made at Masjid
  Shajarah located in Miqat. Pilgrims must also recite TALBIYAH to become Muhrim.
  At this point certain things (approximately 25 things) become haram.


• Kaffarra for traveling at night, if
  applicable, can be paid in the pilgrim's country of origin upon their
  return from HAJ.

7. MECCA

• Haram has many
  doors/gates/entrances


• All doors/gates/entrances are




• Numbered


• Named


• Some are color coded




• It is important to know &
  remember the direction of your hotel's location


• It is possible to do wuzoo using
  little Zam Zam water available in the tanks at the Haram


• Women may be required to wear
  chador to perform wuzoo


• It is Mustahab to enter from
  Bab-us-Salaam located behind the Main Abdul Aziz gate in the middle of the
  Sae'e hall


• Jannatul Maala is an important cemetery.




• Located at 15-minute walking
  distance from the Marwa side gate.


• The graves of Abutalib (as), Bibi
  Khadija (as), Abdulmutalib(as), Abd Manaf, Bibi Amina (as)(Mother of the Prophet
  (SAW)) are located in this cemetery.




• Masjid-e-Jinn - This is a small
  mosque located at approximately 10 minute walking distance from the Abdul
  Aziz gate located on the left side




• Some Marja's permit making the
  intention of Haj or Niyat of Ehram at this mosque


• Part of the w:st="on">kingdom of Nabi
  Suleiman (as) is also located in this area.
  

8. Ehram

DONTS

Please avoid things
that are generally prohibited during HAJJ, and in particular, the following at
all times:

*
Do
not cover your head even while sleeping (men)

*
Do
not wear cap on your head (men)

*
Do
not wear slippers which covers the foot from the top (men)

*
Do
not wear any sewn clothes (men)

*
Do
not kill any insects/mosquitoes

*
Do
not look in the mirror

*
Do
not use perfumes / perfumed soap, tissue / flavored toothpaste

*
Do
not bite nails or fiddle with your hair

All male pilgrims
must travel (especially during day) on the roof of the bus

The Ehram can be
changed only if it becomes najis (not dirty)

9. Tawaf [idea of keeping Allah (swt) as the center]

• The starting point of tawaf is
  from the black line / green light indicator located near Hajar-a-Aswad


• There is no compulsory recitation
  while performing Tawaf.


• It is important to remember number
  of rounds, that is, seven (7) to be performed.


• It is wajib that the left shoulder
  ALWAYS points towards the Kaaba at all times (even at turns).


• In case of large crowd, it is not
  necessary to do tawaf inside the Maqam-e-Ibrahim. However, the tawaf
  should not go beyond the last line of people.


• Do not touch the wall of the Kaaba
  or Hijr-Ismail while performing tawaf.


• Women may wear gloves so their
  hands do not touch namehram.

10. Sae'e [idea of struggle in the way of Allah (swt)]

This is walking from w:st="on">mount Safa
to Marwa and back to Safa seven (7) rounds with chest
facing the front (not sideways). Pilgrims can stop in between & wuzoo is
not wajib during this proces. Any supplications can
be recited while walking. Pilgrims need not touch the mountain stone etc.,
going up to a little climb with sufficient room to turn the wheel chairs.

11. Taqseer

Cutting
of a little hair, clipping of nails is the act done by oneself with niyat in
order to get out of ehram after Sae'e for Umra & after Qurbani *at* Mina
for Hajj.

12. Arafat [Maharefa of Allah (swt)]

• Normally the Kafila will leave the
  hotel for Arafat on the night of 8^th Zilhaj. It is highly
  recommended that pilgrims rest as possible prior to leaving for Arafat.
  The Ehram has to be worn before getting on the bus & Niyat / Talbiya
  must be completed near the haram being "old w:st="on">Mecca." (Possibly near Masjid Jinn).


• Carry only small bag with maximum
  of 300 Saudi Riyals


• One (1) extra Ehram / slippers and
  sleeping mat/bag


• Perform
  amal of night of Aarafat if possible (Pilgrims must recite Dua-e-Arafat
  taught by Imam Hussein (as) during the day)


• It is wajib to be in Arafat from
  Zohar to Magrib


• The toilets in Arafat could be
  facing the Qibla & care is to be taken when they are used


• Preferably go to the toilet one
  (1) hour prior to departure at sunset


• Due to heavy traffic after magrib
  getting to the bus may be difficult


• Perform Magrib / Isha prayers at
  Arafat if you leave after 8 pm, however, it is preferable to pray in
  Muzdalifah

13. Muzdalifah [also known as Mashr-shuhr of Allah-consciousness]

This is an important night & morning
for prayer

• It is wajib for men to be in this
  plain between Fajr & sunrise. One should have this niyat at that time
  & recite Namaz-e-shab


• Quran describes this stop (wuqoof)
  & directs us to do Zikr, the best form of this is Tasbih-e-Zehra


• Typically, due to heavy traffic,
  the pilgrims reaches this plain at midnight


• It is better to stop as near as
  Mina as possible / practical


• Collect approx 75 stones/pebbles
  (size of thumb nail) here & wash them if possible. Don't go too far
  from Kafila as you can get lost


• Ladies (even without any
  compulsion) can proceed to Mina with a brief stop in the night itself. The
  brief stop can be used to collect pebbles & recite Tasbih.


• Men leave for Mina immediately
  AFTER sunrise. Leave all belongings in the bus, except the bag of pebbles


• One can also walk to Mina from
  Muzdalifah (It takes approximately 90 minutes on foot)

14. Rami (Stoning) Jamarat (cleaning of Nafs)

• It is much easier for women need
  to complete the first Rami in the night of 10^th. Preferably
  soon after they reach the Mina tents after a brief stopover at Muzdalifah


• Men can perform this ritual on 10^th
  Zilhaj Idd day. Most Muslims are required to do the Rami ONLY on the Big
  Satan pillar BEFORE Zohar so there is considerable difficulty in this. It
  is preferable to wait in the tent up to zohar as our Fiqh permits this
  & then go.


• Due to the crowds of pilgrims, it
  is advisable to tie the Ehram securely, leave valuables / slippers with a
  designated person in a pre-determined location.


• Pilgrims have to be 100% certain
  that all the 7 stones have hit the pillar. In order to accomplish this, it
  is necessary to get as close to the pillar before throwing the pebbles. As
  a precaution (ehtiyat) throw a few extra pebbles.


• Majority of pilgrims perform the
  stoning ritual on the 11^th Zilhaj & 12^th Zilhaj
  AFTER Zohar. As you can imagine it gets very crowded and unsafe.
  Fortunately, our Fiqh permits performing this ritual during the day (not
  night) before Zohar. A good time to
  perform this ritual is around 9:00AM for both women & men on both
  these dates.


• It is important to stone ALL the 3
  pillars / Jamarat in the right sequence starting with small, medium, and
  big. For your convenience, there are signs identifying the different
  pillars / Jamarat.


• The Jamarat are under a bridge
  & need to be stoned from below & NOT from top of the bridge


• They can be stoned from any
  direction look for less crowded areas (except big satan back side for
  Ayatollah Seestani's Muqallids')


• Prior to leaving Mina, please
  leave the extra stones / pebbles behind

15. Qurbani [giving away worldly possession in the way of Allah (swt)]

• This ritual cannot be performed by
  the pilgrims and must be performed after performing "RAMI". You must have
  confidence on Kafila who is responsible. Pilgrims need to make sure that
  all the necessities such as payments are arranged in advance with the
  designated person who is physically present at the slaughterhouse.


• Since the slaughter house is
  outside Mina, pilgrims need to make sure that the provide the necessary
  personal information, that is their name, etc., if this ritual is
  performed on their behalf or name of person on whose behalf this ritual is
  performed. There is no need to physically segregate quarbani meat in parts
  as per various current fatwas


• After the pilgrim is informed of
  the completion of this ritual, they can proceed with HALAQ (shaving of head) or Taqseer can be
  done.


• HOWEVER use of perfume (soap,
  toothpaste, tissue) is strictly prohibited until after Tawaf of Hajj

16. Halaq

There is great sawab
in doing this though not wajib at times. This is performed in Mina after
Qurbani (during the day?).

Ayatollah Khoie
recommends that taqseer & Halaq can be done simultaneously to get full
sawab (This is to avoid the penalty due to blood oozing due to cuts while
shaving).

Ayatollah Seestani
recommends completing Halaq at Mina to get sawab w/o taqseer.

17. Mina [Muna Love of Allah] wuqoof / stay

• It is wajib to stay half the night
  in Mina [calculation of half night is important]




• According to Ayatollah Khoie it
  is half the time between sunset and sunrise


• According to Ayatollah Seestani
  it is half the time between sunset and Fajr




• If a pilgrim does not spend the
  night at Mina, they have the to spend the night in "ibadat" (including
  wajibat of tawaf, Sae'e, etc.) Pilgrims cannot sleep at night.


• If possible, visit Masjid Khif.
  This is an important mosque to visit / pray.


• On 10^th Zilhaj,
  pilgrims can go to their hotel in Mecca BUT start well in time to reach
  Mina before sunset to compensate for heavy traffic


• It is convenient to go for wajibat
  of Tawaf & Sae'e etc., on the 11^th Zilhaj after 12.30AM
  after completing woqoof for night. Tawaf, Salat, Sae'e, Tawaf-un-Nisa
  & Salat all can be complete by Fajr. Upon completion of the necessary
  rituals, pilgrims can go to the hotel. (It is recommended to do Tawaf /
  Sae'e at late night since it is very crowded during the day)


• On 12^th Zilhaj after
  Rami / stoning of the 3 Jamarat pilgrims CANNOT leave Mina until after
  Zohar Azan. It is recommended to move to the outskirts of Mina prior to
  Zohar. This makes exiting from Mina much easier


• In case pilgrim(s) cannot leave
  Mina before sunset then they have to stay overnight in Mina, complete Rami
  of 3 Jamarat again & then leave
  the next day.


• All roads are extremely congested
  after Asr on 12^th Zilhaj & it is advisable not to travel by
  taxi / car at all on this day. It is strongly recommended to wait until 13^th
  Zilhaj for traveling.

18. Getting back

• Passport collection from Moalliim
  is a complicated issue but handled by group head


• Pilgrim(s) are urged to reach the
  Haj terminal at the airport four (4) hours prior to departure of their
  flights. Luggage is collected at a different place on the left side of the
  terminal which can have long queues / lines.


• Zam Zam will need to be repacked
  in polythene at airport


• Pilgrim(s) can get some refund of
  the draft amount paid for transportation from United agencies counter.
  This is in case you still have left over coupons with you.

19. Spirituality

• Please DO NOT let the crowd and
  associated behavior bother you during pilgrimage


• Recite whatever duas you like while doing
  Tawaf & Sae'e


• While drinking Zam Zam think of
  always seeking Rizq Halal


• While taking ghusl think of your
  own ghusl Mayyit


• While taking off normal clothes
  think of discarding disobedience & accepting complete obedience and
  discarding material attachment (e.g. family, business etc)


• While wearing ehram remember death
  & the kafan


• While walking between Safa &
  Marwa remember that you are between FEAR & HOPE


• While doing Tawaf remember our
  Imam & see that all momins are safe from your deeds


• While stoning Jamarat try to think
  of the rejecting adverse qualities in you


• While at Arafat think of the day
  of judgment & that your book of deed


• Let the Hajj be for HIS sake only
  & pray for Ikhlas - its acceptance

Thought provoking conversation between our fourth Holy Imam
Zainul-Abidin (AS) and Shibli.

(A must for those planning to go for Hajj).

When the 4th Imam
(AS) returned from Hajj, Shibli came to meet him.

They engaged in the following conversation:

Imam: Did you go for Hajj O shibli?

Shibli: Yes O son of the Messenger of Allah

Imam: Did you stop at the miqaat and
put away the sewn clothes and perform the sacred bath?

Shibli: Yes

Imam: When you stopped at miqaat did
you make the intention that you are taking off the clothes of disobedience and
putting on the clothes of obedience?

Shibli: No

Imam: And when you had taken off your sewn clothes did you
make the intention that you had taken off hypocrisy and entering dubious acts?

Shibli: No

Imam: And when you took the bath did you have the intention
that you are washing yourself from all sins and errors?

Shibli: No

Imam You did not stop at Miqaat, nor
did you take off sewn clothes nor didyou perform the
sacred bath

Imam: Did you cleanse yourself and put on Ihram and fulfil your covenant of Hajj?

Shibli: Yes

Imam: When you did this did you have the intention that you
are cleaning yourself with the nurah of the sincere
repentance to Almighty Allah the most high?

Shibli:No

Imam When you put on the ihram did you have the intention that
you are forbidding yourself everything that Almighty Allah has forbidden?

Shibli: No.

Imam: When you fulfilled the covenant of Hajj did you have the
intention that you have nullified all other covenants with other than Allah?

Shibli: No

Imam: You did not cleanse yourself nor did you put on the
ihram nor did you fulfil the covenant of hajj

Imam: Did you enter the miqaat and
pray the two rakats of the ihram and did you chant Talbiyah

Shibli: Yes

Imam: When you entered the miqaat, did
you make the intention of entering as a visitor?

Shibli: No

Imam: When you prayed the two rakaats
did you make the intention that you are trying to get closer to Allah SWT with
the best of acts from the prayers and the biggest of good deeds from the acts
of worship?

Shibli: No

Imam: When you chanted the Talbiyah
did you have the intention that you were talking to almighty Allah with all
obedience and keeping quiet from all disobedience?

Shibli: No

Imam: You did not enter miqaat nor
did you pray nor did you chant the Talbiyah

Imam: Did you enter the Haram and did you see the Kaaba
and did you pray there?

Shibli: Yes

Imam: When you entered the Haram did you have the
intention that you were prohibiting on yourself all backbiting of all the
Muslims from the Nations of Islam?

Shibli: No

Imam: And when you reached Makka did
you make the intention with your heart that you had come to Almighty Allah SWT?

Shibli: No

Imam: You have neither entered Haram nor seen the Kaaba nor prayed.

Shibli: No

Imam: Did you go round the house and did you touch the Rukn and did you make Saee?

Shibli: yes

Imam: And when you did the Saee did
you have the intention that you were running towards Almighty

Allah and did Allah the knower of all secrets know this?

Shibli: No

Imam: You did not go round the house nor did you touch rukn nor did you make Saee.

Imam: Did you taouch the Hajar e Aswad and did you stand
at the Maqame Ibrahim and
did you pray two rakats on it?

Shibli:Yes

Here the Imam gave a
scream as if he was about to leave this world saying Ah! Ah! Whoever touches
the black stone it is as if he has shaken hands with Almighty Allah SWT. So
Look O poor chap that you do not destroy the reward of something whose sacredness
has been made very great and you do not spoil

your Handshake by disobedience and by grasping evil like the sinners.

Then Imam
asked: Did you have the intention when you were standing on Maqame
Ibrahim that you were are standing on every obedience
and that you have put behind you all disobedience?

Shibli: No

Imam: When you prayed two rakaats
there didyou make the intention that you are praying
the prayers of Ibrahim and that you are
humiliating Shaitan with your prayers?

Shibli: No

Imam: You did not stand on Maqame Ibrahim nor did you pray two rakats
on it.

Imam: Did you look over the well of Zamzam and did
you drink from its water?

Shibli: Yes.

Imam: Did you have the intention when you were looking over
the well that you looking at obedience to Almighty Allah and closing your eyes
from all disobedience?

Shibli: No.

Imam: You did not look over it nor did you drink from it's
water.

Imam: Did you run between Safa and Marwa and did you walk between it repeatedly?

Shibli:Yes.

Imam: Did you have the intention that you were between hope and
fear?

Shibli: No

Imam: You did not run between Safa
and Marwa. Imam:Did you go
out to Mina?

Shibli: Yes.

Imam: Did you have the intention that every muslim was safe from your tongue, your heart and your and?

Shibli: No. You did not go out to Mina.

Imam: Did you stay a short time at arafa
and did you climb Jabal AlRahma
and did you recognize

the wadi of Namira and did
to supplicate to Almighty Allah near Al-Mil and Al-Jamaraat?

Shibli: Yes

Imam: Did you conceive by your stay in Arafa
the gnosis (Irfan) of Almighty Allah SWT and the
knowledge of good things and acts; and did you conceive that your book of deeds
was in the hands of Allah and that Allah had full knowledge of your secrets and
what is in your heart?

Shibli: No.

Imam: And when you climbed the Jabal
AL rahma did you have the intention that Almighty
Allah may have mercy on all believing men and all believing women and that He
will help all Muslim men and women?

Shibli: No.

Imam: Did you have the intention at wadi
Namira that you would not enjoin good until you
practice it yourself and you would not forbid evil until you leave it yourself?

Shibli: No

Imam: and when ou stopped at alam and Al-amirat did you have
the intention that they were witnessing all your acts of worship and that they
were guarding you together with guardian angels by the order of Almighty Allah?

Shibli No

Imam: then you did not stay at Arafat nor did you go up the
Mountain of Mercy nor did you recognize the wadi of Namirah nor did you supplicate to Almighty Allah Imam: Did
you pass between the two columns pray two rakah
before crossing, go to Muzdalifah pick up pebbles and
cross the Mash'arul Haram?

Shibli: Yes

Imam: When you prayed the two Rakats,
did you have the intention that you were praying the

prayer of thanksgiving within the ten nights which removes every hardship and
facilitates every ease?

Shibli: No.

Imam: At the time of passing between the two columns without
deviating to the right or the left did you have the intention that you would
never deviate from the true religion to the right or the left neither with your
heart, tongue nor with your limbs?

Shibli: No.

Imam: When you walked through Muzdalifah
and picked up the pebbles did you have the intention

that you have plucked all acts of disobedience and ignorance and that you had
affirmed knowledge and action?

Shibli: No.

Imam: Then when you walked in the Mash'aril
Haram did you have the intention that you had embossed your heart with the
identification of those who have taqwaand fear of
Almighty Allah the Most High?

Shibli:No.

Imam: Then you did not pass between the two columns nor did
you pray the two rakah,nor walked into Muzdalifah, nor picked up the pebbles nor walked in the Mash'arul Haram.

Imam: Did you arrive at Mina, throw stones at the Jamarah
and did you shave your head and slaughter the sacrifice and did you pray in Masjid al-Kheef and did you.
return to Makka and perform the Tawaf
of Ifadha (return) to Makka?

Shibli: Yes

Imam: When you reached Mina and pelted the jamaraat did you have the intention that you have attained
your goal and your Lord has fulfilled all your needs?

Shibli: No.

Imam: And when you pelted the Jamaraat
did you have the intention that you had pelted your enemy Iblees
and by completing this precious Hajj you had disobeyed him?

Shibli: No.

Imam: And when you shaved your head did you have the intention
that you had cleansed yourself from all filth and from all the injustice of the
children of Adam and that you had purified yourself from sin just like a new
born baby.

Shibli: No.

Imam: And when you slaughtered your hadiya
did you have the intention that you are cutting the artery of greed by holding
fast to the reality of piety and that you are following the tradition of Ibrahim A.S. when he was prepared to slighter his son, the
fruit of his heart, through which he established the sunna
of gaining nearness to Almighty Allah for those who came after him?

Shibli: No.

Imam: And when you returned to Makka
and did the tawaaf of Ifadha
did you have the intention that you had come back with the Mercy of Almighty
Allah to His obedience and that you had clasped His love that you had performed
your duty to Him and had gained nearness to him?

Shibli: No.

Imam: Then you did not reach Mina nor did you pelt the jamaraat nor did you shave your head nor did you slaughter
the hadiya nor did you pray in the Masjid Al-Kheef nor did you
return to Makka and perform the tawaaf
of Ifadha. Go back because you have not performed
Hajj!!

Having heard all this Shibli started to cry because
of what he had missed in his Hajj and he continued to learn the secrets of Hajj
until he could perform the Hajj through knowledge and understanding.