IMPORTANT

1. Talbiyah is recited throughout pilgrimage: "Labbayka Allaahumma Labbayk" (My God, I have responded to You). "Labbayka Laa Shareeka Laka Labbayk" (I have responded to You, and I proclaim that there is no other god besides You; I have responded to You). Audio of Talbiya at: /hajj/audio.html
2. Salat Prayers: All Salat Prayers are performed as normal and are due at their decreed times wherever you are. No special, short or additional Salat Prayers at Hajj (or any other time in Islam).

UMRAH

Umra is the first two steps of Hajj (Tawaf around the Kaabah and Saii between the safa and marwa). It can be observed by itself all year round or in conjunction with Hajj.

1. IHRAM

   Clean/bathe yourself (Ghusl)
   Wear Ihram Garments
   Make intention for Umrah
   Recite Talbiyah
   Avoid forbidden acts of Ihram. (State of sanctity)

2. UMRAH

   Make Tawaf (circumvolution) around Kaaba, seven times while glorifying God.
   Walk between Safa and Marwa seven times with occasional trotting, (Sa'i)
   Trim Hair and remove Ihram Garment to end Umrah

HAJJ

Hajj can be observed during the four sacred months according to the Quran (2:197) These are the months of Zul-Hijjah, Muharram, Safar and Rabi I. They are the 12 th, 1 st, 2 nd and 3 rd month of the Islamic calendar. This order of months was corrupted as seen in the Hadiths books.

1. IHRAM

   Clean/bathe yourself (Ghusul)
   Wear Ihram Garments Make intention for Hajj
   Recite Talbiyah
   Avoid the forbidden acts of Ihram. (State of sanctity)

2. TAWAF & SA'I

   Make Tawaf (circumvolution) around Kaaba, seven times while glorifying God
   Walk between Safa and Marwa seven times with occasional trotting, (Sa'i) This completes the "Umrah" portion of the pilgrimage. The state of Ihram can be either broken or maintained at this point and before proceeding to Mountain Arafat. If the state of ihram is broken, a pilgrim must offer a sacrifice or fast a total of ten days, three of them must be during the pilgrimage (2:196).

3. GOING TO ARAFAT

   Proceed to Arafat. (Going through or halting at Mena not a mandatory step)
   Stay in Arafat from Fajr till sunset
   Stay in any part of Arafat
   Glorify God, repeat supplication, repent and ask for forgiveness

4. GOING TO MUZDALIFAH

   Leave for Muzdalifah after sunset
   Observe Night prayers as usual
   Pick up 21 pebbles
   Stay overnight and perform Fajr prayer

5. PROCEED TO MINA

   Leave Muzdalifah for Mena in the morning
   Spend at least two days there
   On the first morning in Mina, offer an animal sacrifice
   Go to the three Jamarat stations and stone each with 7 pebbles while glorifying God

6. FAREWELL TAWAF

   Return to Mecca and observe a farewell circumvolution (Tawaf) seven times around Kaaba
   Cut or shorten hair
   All Ihram restrictions are now lifted and Hajj is completed

Important issues regarding Hajj

Once in a lifetime, Hajj and `Umrah are decreed for those who can afford it. Pilgrimage commemorates Abraham's exemplary submission to God (Appendix 9), and must be observed during the four Sacred Months -Zul-Hijjah, Muharram, Safar, & Rabi` I (12th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd months)

(2:197; 9:2,36). `Umrah can be observed any time. Like all other duties in Islam, Hajj has been distorted. Most Muslims observe Hajj only during a few days in Zul-Hijjah, and they consider Rajab, Zul-Qi'dah, Zul-Hijjah, and Muharram (7th, 11th, 12th, 1st months) to be the Sacred Months. This is a distortion that is strongly condemned (9:37).

The pilgrimage begins with a bath or shower, followed by a state of sanctity called "Ihraam," where the male pilgrim wears seamless sheets of material, and the woman wears a modest dress (2:196). Throughout Hajj, the pilgrim abstains from sexual intercourse, vanities such as shaving and cutting the hair, arguments, misconduct, and bad language (2:197). Cleanliness, bathing, and regular hygiene practices are encouraged. Upon arrival at the Sacred Mosque in Mecca, the pilgrim walks around the Ka`bah seven times, while glorifying and praising God (2:125, 22:26-29). The common formula is: "Labbayka Allaahumma Labbayk" (My God, I have responded to You). "Labbayka Laa Shareeka Laka Labbayk" (I have responded to You, and I proclaim that there is no other god besides You; I have responded to You). The next step is to walk the half-mile distance between the knolls of Safa and Marwah seven times, with occasional trotting (2:158). This completes the `Umrah portion of the pilgrimage.

The pilgrim then goes to `Arafat to spend a day of worship, meditation, and glorification of God, from dawn to sunset (2:198). After sunset, the pilgrim goes to Muzdalifah where the Night Prayer is observed, and 21 pebbles are picked up for the symbolic stoning of Satan at Mina. From Muzdalifah, the pilgrim goes to Mina to spend two or three days (2:203). On the first morning at Mina, the pilgrim offers an animal sacrifice to feed the poor and to commemorate God's intervention to save Ismail and Abraham from Satan's trick (37:107, Appendix 9). The stoning ceremonies symbolize rejection of Satan's polytheism and are done by throwing seven pebbles at each of three stations, while glorifying God (15:34). The pilgrim then returns to Mecca and observes a farewell circumvolution of the Ka`bah seven times.

Unfortunately, most of today's Muslim pilgrims make it a custom to visit the prophet Muhammad's tomb where they commit the most flagrant acts of idolatry and thus nullify their Hajj. The Quran consistently talks about "The Sacred Mosque," while today's Muslims talk about "The Two Sacred Mosques!" In a glaring act of idolatry, the Muslims have set up Muhammad's tomb as another "Sacred Mosque!" This is a blasphemous violation of the Quran, and, ironically, even violates Hadith. Hadith book as recorded this Hadith; "God has cursed the Jews and Christians for turning the tombs of their prophets into mosques." [Bukhari, Nawawi Edition, Vol. 6, Page 14]