Before We Start: The Big Picture 🗺️

Think of Hajj as a 5-day journey with specific tasks each day. Here's the quick overview:

See? When you break it down, it's not that scary! Now let's go into detail...

STEP 1: Getting Into Ihram 👕

WHEN: Before you reach the Miqat (boundary points around Makkah)

WHAT TO DO:

For Brothers:

1️⃣ Take a shower (ghusl) - you can use soap and shampoo

2️⃣ Put on your Ihram clothing (two white unsewn cloths)

3️⃣ Pray 2 rakats (Sunnah before Ihram)

4️⃣ Make your intention: "O Allah, I intend to perform Hajj, please accept it from me and make it easy"

5️⃣ Start reciting the Talbiyah (loudly for men)

For Sisters:

1️⃣ Take a shower (even if you're menstruating - that's fine!)

2️⃣ Wear modest clothes (any color, but many prefer white or black)

3️⃣ Pray 2 rakats

4️⃣ Make your intention

5️⃣ Recite the Talbiyah (softly for women)

⚠️ NOW YOU'RE IN IHRAM - What's Forbidden:

❌ Perfume or scented products

❌ Cutting hair or nails

❌ Sexual relations

❌ For men: covering head, wearing stitched clothes

❌ For women: covering face with niqab (you can cover with raised cloth that doesn't touch your face)

❌ Hunting

❌ Fighting or arguing

DAY 1 (8th Dhul Hijjah): Mina 🏕️

WHAT HAPPENS:

After Fajr prayer, you head to Mina (a tent city about 8km from Makkah). This is basically a warm-up day!

WHAT TO DO:

✅ Pray your five daily prayers (Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha, and next day's Fajr)

✅ Make lots of dua and dhikr

✅ Rest and prepare mentally for tomorrow

✅ Stay in your tent

✅ Recite Talbiyah frequently

PRO TIP: Get a good night's sleep! Tomorrow is THE big day and you'll need your energy. Don't wander around shopping or sightseeing. This is your spiritual prep time. 💤

DAY 2 (9th Dhul Hijjah): ARAFAT - The MOST Important Day! ⭐

This is it. THE day. The Prophet ﷺ said "Hajj IS Arafat." If you miss this, you miss Hajj. No pressure, right? 😅

MORNING:

🌅 After sunrise, leave Mina and head to Arafat (about 14km away)

🚌 Most groups go by bus (don't worry, your guide will organize this)

ZUHR TIME (around 12pm):

🕌 Pray Zuhr and Asr combined and shortened (2 rakats each)

📢 Listen to the Khutbah (sermon) at Masjid Namira (usually broadcast)

AFTERNOON - THE GOLDEN HOURS:

This is what you came for. From after the khutbah until sunset, you stand at Arafat making dua.

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF ARAFAT:

1️⃣ Face the Qibla (not the mountain! Common mistake)

2️⃣ Raise your hands in dua

3️⃣ Recite this powerful dua:

4️⃣ Make dua for:

💚 Forgiveness of ALL your sins

💚 Your parents (dead or alive)

💚 Your family and friends

💚 The entire Ummah

💚 Paradise and protection from Hell

💚 Health, rizq (provision), guidance

💚 Whatever's in your heart!

5️⃣ Cry your heart out. Seriously. This is the time. Don't hold back.

6️⃣ STAY UNTIL SUNSET! Don't leave early. This is CRUCIAL. The Prophet ﷺ stayed until sunset.

AFTER SUNSET:

🌙 Head to Muzdalifah (about 9km away)

🚌 It's crowded. Be patient. You might be stuck in traffic for hours. Keep making dua!

🌃 Pray Maghrib and Isha combined when you reach Muzdalifah

🪨 Collect 49 small pebbles (for stoning) - size of chickpeas

😴 Sleep under the stars (yes, on the ground! It's part of the experience)

Women, elderly, and sick people can leave Muzdalifah after midnight. Everyone else stays until Fajr.

DAY 3 (10th Dhul Hijjah): Eid Day - The BIG Day! 🎉

You have FOUR major things to do today (in order, if possible):

1️⃣ STONE THE BIG PILLAR (Jamarat al-Aqaba)

2️⃣ SACRIFICE (Qurbani) 🐑

You don't do this yourself. You either:

→ Pay for it through your Hajj package (most people do this)

→ Give money to someone to do it on your behalf

→ Use authorized Qurbani services in Mina

3️⃣ CUT YOUR HAIR ✂️

Men: Shave head completely (preferred) OR trim at least 1 inch from all over

Women: Cut a fingertip's length (about 1 inch) from your hair - that's it!

4️⃣ TAWAF AL-IFADAH & SA'I 🕋

Head to Makkah for:

Tawaf al-Ifadah (The Main Tawaf):

→ Circle the Kaaba 7 times counter-clockwise

→ Start from the Black Stone corner

→ Make dua throughout

→ This is a PILLAR of Hajj - you MUST do it!

Sa'i (Walking between Safa and Marwa):

→ Walk 7 times between the two hills

→ Start at Safa, end at Marwa

→ Make dua and dhikr

→ Men jog lightly in the green-lit section

THEN: Head back to Mina for the night

DAYS 4-5 (11th-12th Dhul Hijjah): Stoning Days 🪨

WHAT TO DO:

Each day, AFTER ZUHR (very important - not before!), stone all THREE pillars in order:

1️⃣ Small pillar (Jamarat as-Sughra): 7 pebbles

→ Make dua after stoning

2️⃣ Middle pillar (Jamarat al-Wusta): 7 pebbles

→ Make dua after stoning

3️⃣ Big pillar (Jamarat al-Aqaba): 7 pebbles

→ No dua after this one, just leave

TIMING OPTIONS:

🌞 After Zuhr (most crowded)

🌅 After Asr (moderate)

🌃 After Maghrib (less crowded)

🌙 Night (least crowded - elderly and weak can do this)

FINAL STEP: Farewell Tawaf (Tawaf al-Wada) 👋

WHEN: Last thing before leaving Makkah for home

WHAT: Circle the Kaaba 7 times - this is your goodbye to the House of Allah 😢

WHO'S EXEMPT: Menstruating women don't have to do this

IMPORTANT: This should be the LAST thing you do in Makkah. Don't go shopping or sightseeing after - go straight to the airport/home

Common Mistakes to Avoid ⚠️

Learn from others' mistakes (including mine! 😅):

❌ DON'T leave Arafat before sunset - this invalidates your Hajj!

❌ DON'T stone before Zuhr on the 11th, 12th, 13th

❌ DON'T think you have to hit the pillar exactly - the area around counts

❌ DON'T face the pillar when making dua after stoning (face Qibla instead)

❌ DON'T forget Tawaf al-Ifadah - it's a PILLAR!

❌ DON'T do anything after Farewell Tawaf - go straight to airport

❌ DON'T argue or fight - this can nullify your Hajj's reward

❌ DON'T panic if you make a mistake - most have a fidyah (penalty) solution

✅ DO stick with your group

✅ DO be patient with crowds

✅ DO make LOTS of dua, especially at Arafat

✅ DO help others when you can

✅ DO focus on worship, not selfies!

✅ DO stay hydrated and rested

Quick Summary Checklist ✅

Print this and keep it with you!

After Hajj: Maintaining the Glow ✨

Hajj isn't just a trip - it's supposed to transform you. Here's how to keep that Hajj glow alive:

🌟 Guard your tongue - No backbiting, lying, or foul language

🌟 Keep praying on time - You did it in Mina, do it at home

🌟 Stay patient - You managed millions of pilgrims, you can handle traffic!

🌟 Be generous - Remember how people helped you

🌟 Maintain ties - Call those relatives you made dua for

🌟 Teach others - Share your experience and knowledge

May Allah accept your Hajj, forgive your sins, and write you among the people of Paradise! 🤲💚