Every year, pilgrims from around the globe travel to Mecca for the Hajj, a custom that Prophet Muhammad began 1,377 years ago. If a Muslim is physically and financially capable, he or she should make the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. Two to three million people each year are predicted to visit Umrah packages there. A pilgrimage to Mecca is performed between the eighth and thirteenth days of the Islamic calendar’s 12th week or Dhul-Hijjah. 

The Kaaba, a stone building wrapped in black silk in the middle of Mecca’s Grand Mosque, is said to have been constructed by the Prophet Ibrahim.

Hajj is not an easy occasion, to put it briefly. There are several schools of Islamic thought, and the practice can take many different shapes. These are the stages needed to complete the hajj.

ihram (the sacred state)

When a pilgrim leaves the Miqat or outer limits of Mecca, they enter the hallowed condition of the ihram. On the eighth day of Dhul-Hijjah, pilgrims enter ihram, which entails wearing loose-fitting, unstitched clothes and adhering to certain prohibitions, such as refraining from displaying anger or engaging in sexual behaviour.

Ladies Ihram

Female pilgrims are not required to wear such a garment, in contrast to males, who must wear two unstitched pieces of clothing for the Hajj. Women are thus recommended to dress modestly, as is the norm for Muslims. Loose, unobtrusive clothing is best.

The finest clothes to wear are in light colours, without scents or other cosmetics. In order to blend in with their male companions, the ladies frequently don abayas and white scarves. However, it’s not necessary.

What is prohibited during Ihram?

The following is a list of authorized activities for Muslim women that are not permitted when they are in Ihram. Most of these are once again lawful when the Hajj/umrah packages are finished and the Ihram is revoked.

• Wearing colourful, form-fitting attire.
• Clipping body hair and nail trims.
• Use of cosmetics, scented oils, and fragrances (e.g., kohl, contact lens, etc.).
• Examining oneself in a mirror to make one look better.
• The act of adorning oneself by wearing jewellery.
• A hand and facial covering.
• Sexually interacting with one’s hubby.
• Committing to a marriage.
• Disagreements, arguments, or backbiting.
• It is forbidden to hunt or in any manner injure other living things, including insects (unless in self-defence).
• Removing a bloodline or a tooth.

At Mina

From Mecca to the enormous tent city of Mina, a distance of around 8 kilometres, pilgrims doing the Hajj are transported in large groups by bus, automobile, or foot. They spend the night in Mina before departing early the next morning. The majority of their time is spent in Mina, worshipping and thinking of Allah.

Spend a day at Arafat

After travelling 14.4 kilometres from Mina to Arafat, the site of the Prophet Muhammad’s last speech, hajj and umrah packages pilgrims offer solemn prayers on Mount Mercy. The day is one of Islam’s holiest days, according to analysts.

Many Muslims all throughout the globe fast on this day.

Collect stones at Muzdalifah

After travelling 9 kilometres to Muzdalifah, where they spend the night under the stars, the hajj pilgrims return. Many people will also gather stones here for tomorrow’s rituals before leaving once more just after daybreak.

At the pillars, throw stones

It is said that Yawm-ul Hajj Al-Kabar is the largest and longest day of the Hajj. Eid al-Adha, which falls on the tenth of Dhul-Hijjah, is possibly the most widely observed of the two Muslim festivals.

In Muzdalifah, the hajj pilgrims and umrah packages start their day, and soon before daybreak, they start their journey back to Mina. The first rami are carried out at Mina, where seven stones are flung at the biggest of three columns known as Jamarat.

This is a representation of stoning the devil according to historical tradition (rituals of the hajj). God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son as a sign of his faith. The devil is said to have come here during Abraham’s stay in Mina and tried to stop him from obeying the instruction. Abraham retaliated by hurling stones at him to frighten him off.

Millions of hajj pilgrims congregate at Jamarat Bridge each year to act out the narrative.

More than 350 people died in stampedes that took place at the bridge in 2006.

However, there haven’t been any significant mishaps during the event in recent years.

The sacrifice is required of Hajj pilgrims after they have thrown their stones. Finally, when Abraham went to offer his son as a sacrifice, he found that God had set a ram in its place.

Therefore, Hajj pilgrims must kill sheep, goats, cows, or camels, or they can hire someone else to do it.

Hajj pilgrims cut or shave their hair (men only) and take off their ihram clothing at this time. Following this, many Muslims will go to Mecca to complete the tawaf and see, which entails circumnavigating the Kaaba and walking between the highlands of Safa and Mount Marwa seven times.

They head back to their campground in Mina at the end of the day.

Final days in Mina

Once more, the Hajj pilgrims will throw seven stones at each of the three pillars to represent stoning the devil. The pilgrims performing the hajj will now spend the following two to three days in Mina after completing the most challenging stage.

After spending their whole stay in Mina, Hajj pilgrims and umrah packages travel to Mecca to do a “farewell” tawaf or the last circle of the Kaaba.