Initial preparation for hajj

Initial preparation for hajj

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Agent selection

Hajj agent generally arrange travel, accommodation & food at hajj related important places in Saudi Arabia . All hajj agents are not giving same good services to hajjis. So it is important to verify their services by interviewing hajjis who previously took their service for performing hajj. In some cases it is known from hajjis that agent did not give proper services as agreed before. Most of the hajjis have their own experience about this issue. So please write your experience here for pilgrims so that they can take necessary measures before to make their hajj easier.

Partner selection

If you can manage one or two partner of similar mentality,then your work will be much more easier to perform as your satisfaction. On the other hand some hajjis may have bitter experience with his partner. Share your good & bad experience here with pilgrims.

More issues about Initial preparation
Study materials

Maps

Useful material to carry

MapsofMakkah, Madinah, Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifah

MapsofMakkah, Madinah, Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifah

 بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Maps are also essential tools for hajjis. Hard copy of Makkah, Madinahh & Mina maps are very essential, digital copy of Google earth map & satellite map is also useful. Link of Google earth map of different important places are given here you can see the maps by clicking on the names of places. You can also print hard copy from here.map is very important when you will stay at mina.

Makkah, Madinah, Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifah

Journey to al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah

Journey to al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

The holly city al-madinah al-munawwarah is situated at 420 kilo meter far from makkah. All hajjis go there to visit Al-Masjid Al-Nabobi. It take 5-6 hours bus journey from makkah.

Al-Masjid Al-Nabobi

All muslim have highest respect to the Al-Masjid Al-Nabobi because in this mosque Rasulullah sallallahu alihe osallam is buried. So be very careful about to maintain proper atiquate to this mosque. You will be in al-madinah al-munawwarah for eight days, the reason behind this is to perform 40 okta salah with jamat at this mosque. Rasulullah sallallahu alihe osallam said the person who continuously perform 40 okta salah in my mosque It will be written that he will be safe from hell, safe from punishment & safe from nifaq.

Try to perform salah in old part of the mosque which was from the time of Rasulullah sallallahu alihe osallam to get borkat & rahmat.Do not talk, do not use mobile phone in this mosque, be very careful to switch off your phone. Spend most of your time in the study of tafser-e-quran & nofal salah. This is the great mosque where holly quran sent down on Rasulullah sallallahu alihe osallam. So this is the best place on earth to study quran . In sa'allah you will be able to get real understanding of quran in this mosque.

Zearat-e Rasulullah sallallahu alihe osallam , perform salah in reazul jannah & zearat-e jannat al-baki is the important work at al-madinah al-munawwarah.

Closing activities of hajj at Makkah

Closing activities of hajj at Makkah

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Tawaf-e-bida

After come back from mina to Makkah at your hotel try to spend most of your time in Al-Masjid Al-Haram. When your departure time is fixed, then go to Al-Masjid Al-Haram to perform tawaf-e-bida, do it one day before the date of your departure. After completion of tawaf-e-bida your hajj activities ended.

Shopping at Makkah & madinah

Some hajjis spend lot of time for shopping. Remember that the main objective of of your trip is to perform hajj to gain satisfaction of Allah. The main things you can buy is date-palm, tosbe, miswak, cap, books, holly quran audio CD, holly quran multimedia CD, DVD, Prayer mat etc. Try to buy things which are of KSA origin & used for religious purpose. Quantity should be limited. All hajjis are allowed to carry at least 5-10 liters of Zam Zam water with him in airplane. For this you have to buy a very good quality container. Some time it is seen that water falls down by breaking container during journey.

Main activities of hajj at Mina on 11th-12th Dh-Hijja

Main activities of hajj at Mina on 11th-12th Dh-Hijja

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Second day pebbles through

On 11th Dh-Hijja you have to through pebbles on three jamarat from noon to sunset, this is sunnah. But if not possible due to over crowd you can do it until sube sadik. If you did not do kurbani & tawaf-e zearat you can do it today. It is best to do before noon, you can do it until sunset.

Third day pebbles through

On 12th jllhaz you have to through pebbles on three jamarat from noon to sunset , this is sunnah, if you can do it until subesadik. If you did not do kurbani & tawaf-e zearat you can do it today. After stone through at three jamarat you can leave mina today before sunset , most of the hajjis do this. So a huge crowd seen at jamarat & also on roads to go back to Makkah. But this is not essential to leave mina on the 12th Dh-Hijja . This is sunnah to leave mina on 13th Dh-Hijja bfore sunset. Before that you have to through pebbles on three jamarat after noon to sunset. So you can think to stay at mina on 12th Dh-Hijja & leave mina on 13th Dh-Hijja . It will be much better to avoid crowd & follow sunnah.

 

Source: 

http://about-hajj-experience.blogspot.com/2013/01/main-activities-of-hajj-at-mina-on-11th.html

Main activities of hajj at Makkah on 10th Dh-Hijja

Main activities of hajj at Makkah on 10th Dh-Hijja

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Tawaf-e-zearat

You have to go to Makkah for tawaf-e zearat now. Perform tawaf-e zearat on 10th Dh-Hijja is best, you can do it till 12th Dh-Hijja before sunset. You can go to Makkah by walking through pedestrian way, it is about 8 kilo meter. You can also go by taxi or public bus. After performing tawaf you have to go back to Mina. You can go back to mina by walking through pedestrian way or by bus or taxi . You can get bus to go to mina just under Al-Masjid Al-Haram, under Al-Masjid Al-Haram there is tunnel way where you will get bus to go to jamarat.

Again you may be in trouble to come back to your tent at mina. So study about maps of mina , your tent number,road name, nearest bus/taxi stand to go to Makkah & also nearest bus/taxi stand where bus or taxi stops when come back from Makkah. The stand is not the same to go & come from Makkah. Keep your tent number ID card with you, if necessary you can take help from police or scout or others.

 

Source:

http://about-hajj-experience.blogspot.com/2013/01/main-activities-of-hajj-at-makkah-on.html

Main activities of hajj at Mina on 10th Dh-Hijja day

Main activities of hajj at Mina on 10th Dh-Hijja day

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Pebbles through

After arriving at mina on the 10th Dh-Hijja morning first thing to do is pebbles through at jamarah-e akaba. sunnah time is till noon but it is jaez to stone through till sunset. This is comparatively crowded area but the crowd is not same all day long, when you see much crowd stand aside for suitable time to pebbles through. After pebbles through you have to go out from jamarat through another way. This road seem to be new to you, Now see the map with you & find out road which lets you go back to your tent. Before going back to tent you have to perform kurbani & then cut your hair.

Kurbani

After stone through at jamarah-e akaba you have to perform your kurbani. If you have given money to bank to do kurbani on be half of you then you have to know the time of kurbani from the bank. You have to give this money to bank before going to mina at Makkah. Bank officer will give you a cupon & declare the time of kurbani on the 10th Dh-Hijja . This time is important because you have to shave your head or cut your hair after kurbani.

Hair cutting

After kurbani you have to shave your head or cut your hair, there are many hair cutting saloon or barber around mina, but the cost is little bit high. Do not go here & there to get cheap barber, you will get saowab for spending this money.

Back to the tent

Now this is the time to back to your tent. Many hajjis face trouble to back to tent. So always carry the map with you & try to remember the tent number & road name of your tent, it will help to come back safely to your tent. Always hang your tent number card on your chest. If necessary take help from police or scout. But problem is that they do not know English, they can help you if you have the tent number card because it is written in Arabic. After come back to tent take a bath leave ihram & wear normal dress, take rest for some time. Then take preparation to go to Al-Masjid Al-Haram for tawaf-e zearat.

 

Source: http://about-hajj-experience.blogspot.com/2013/01/main-activities-of-hajj-at-mina-on-10th.html

Main activities of hajj at Muzdalifah on 10th Dh-Hijja night

Main activities of hajj at Muzdalifah on 10th Dh-Hijja night

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Going to Muzdalifah

It is essential to stay at Arafat up to sunset of 9th Dh-Hijja . According to Arabic calendar after sun set of 9th Dh-Hijja the night of 10th Dh-Hijja starts. Most of the hajjis began to move from their tent towards Muzdalifah after ashor salah. They go to boarder of Arafat & stay there until sunset. After sunset the huge mass rush towards pedestrian way & the area become very much crowd y. If you go by walking you have enough time so do not rush to Arafat boarder earlier. Go slow to avoid over crowd. Arafat to Muzdalifah is 5-8 kilometer depending your tent location at Arafat. It is very easy to walk, do not walk very first or very slow. The pedestrian way is very broad. Lot of toilets / wash rooms are available on both side of the road. Take some water & fruit juice with you before start walking. You will be very thirsty during walking but do not drink much water.

It is comparatively difficult to walk maintaining big group of hajjis. So make small group of 2-3 hajjis, not more for easy walking. Take a long stick host one or two small colored flag for your identity with this stick. During walking host it up so that other person of your group can locate you easily. All walking people are on same dress ihram so it is very difficult to identify a person from behind, because all look alike. Many people can not think about it before but when problem occur they feel great tension . So be very careful about this issue. Share your experience for pilgrims.

Stay at Muzdalifah

When you reach to Muzdalifah the first thing to do is perform magrib & esha salah at a time, then take some food & go for sleep by placing mat on the ground, sleep until fazor azan then awake up & perform fazor salah & began to walk toward boarder of Muzdalifah to mina. You have to stay at Muzdalifah area until sunrise.

If you reach the boarder before sunrise stay there do not cross Muzdalifah boarder before sunrise. Muzdalifah to Mina is about 3-4 kilometer depending your location at Muzdalifah. So do not hurry, you are now going to your tent at Mina, use your map to locate your tent & see how to reach there, by which road you can go to your tent. When you enter into mina then find out the road of your tent & walk through that road to reach your tent easily. If you need rest then go to your tent for rest. If no rest required then go directly to jamarat for stone through before that take your breakfast. 

 

Source: http://about-hajj-experience.blogspot.com/2013/01/main-activities-of-hajj-at-muzdalifah.html 

Main activities of hajj at Arafat on 9th Dh-Hijja

Main activities of hajj at Arafat on 9th Dh-Hijja

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Going to arafat

It is sunnah to start going to arafat some time after sunrise on the 9th Dh-Hijja when sun light will spread around mina. But hajj package managers began to carry hajjis to arafat by bus from 8th Dh-Hijja night to avoid traffic jam. Keep your bag at the tent if you have weighty bag because you are coming back to your tent after one day. Carry the sleeping mat, map of mina & arafat, one piece of extra ihram cloth , a towel & your regular medicine if any. Do not carry any weighty food because lot of food are supplied to hajjis at arfat. If you carry weighty things to arafat you will be in trouble when you will come back from arafat to Muzdalifah & Muzdalifah to mina by walking.

Stay at arafat

Stay at arafat on the 9th Dh-Hijja noon to sunset is the most important activity of the hajj, without stay at arafat hajj will not be completed. Normally hajj package managers arrange tent for hajjis at arafat, hajjis can seat & take rest in tent at arafat. Many foods are supplied to hajjis by different donors. Do not eat heavy so that you become ill, bear it mind that you have to walk to Muzdalifah from arafat. Though there is arrangement to go to Muzdalifah from arafat by bus but due to severe traffic jam bus moves very slowly its take long time to reach & hajjis who are in bus feel great tension weather they will be able to reach to Muzdalifah in time, then some hajjis get down from bus & start walking.

Share your experience to stay at arafat.

Posted by aminul islam  

Source: http://about-hajj-experience.blogspot.com/2013/01/main-activities-of-hajj-at-arafat-on.html 

Performing umrah

Performing umrah

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Umrah

Meaning of umrah is to visit something. It is called small hajj. Except 9 – 13th Jilhaj of Arabic calendar any one can perform umrah at any day of of the year. Any person who is going to Makkah for performing umrah must wear ihram at Miqat or before crossing Miqat near to his way to Makkah.

Miqat

For all Muslim who are coming to Makkah in intention to perform hajj or umrah five places are decided as Miqat by Rasulullah sallallahu alihe osallam. Miqat is the place where hajjis change their dress & wear ihram. At all Miqat there are mosque , all hajjis perform salah after wearing ihram at that mosque. Hajjis who are coming to Makkah by air or by sea they must wear ihram before passing Miqat. Normally it is declared by pilot or captain to wear ihram before passing Miqat. Some hajjis wear ihram before on board to plane or ship, this is better. Share your experience here about this issue.

ihram

ihram is Arabic word, it's meaning is forbid something which are halal when you are with out ihram. but when you are in ihram & you wear ihram cloth then these things are forbidden. Normally ihram is two pieces of white stitch less clothes worn by hajjis. Many things are forbidden during ihram. So many hajjis may have experience doing forbidden things wrongly or unwillingly. Share your experience for pilgrims.

Hair cut

For umrah hajjis it is necessary (wajib ) to shave head or to short hair by cutting it all over the head after completion of Sa'i. For hajjis it is necessary (wajib ) to shave head or to short hair by cutting it all over the hesd after stone through on jamaratul akaba & after performing kurbani. For female hajjis it is necessary (wajib ) to cut hair about one inch at the end of the hair. Share your experience with this issue. 

 

Source: http://about-hajj-experience.blogspot.com/2013/01/performing-umrah.html

 

Main activities of hajj at Mina on 8th Dh-Hijja

Main activities of hajj at Mina on 8th Dh-Hijja

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Going to mina

You are going to mina for staying five days at mina, arafat & Muzdalifah. Carry only the essential things. A foam bed & one pillow is given to every hajjis at the tent. Take some dry food & necessary medicine. Take one extra piece of ihram cloth with you. You will be there wearing ihram before hair cutting on the 10th Dh-Hijja . After that you will be in normal dress for next two days, 11th Dh-Hijja & 12th Dh-Hijja till after noon, but it is sunnah to stay at mina till 13th Dh-Hijja after noon .

Stay at mina

Tamuttu hajjis who are staying at Makkah go to mina by wearing ihram at their home/hotel on the 8th Dh-Hijja . Normally hajj package managers carry hajjis to mina by bus on on 7th Dh-Hijja from afternoon to avoid crowd. It is necessary ( sunnah ) to stay at mina on 8th Dh-Hijja day after night. hajjis stay in tent at mina the tents are air conditioned but lot of hajjis are accommodated in every tent so there is a crowded situation. Share your experience of staying at tent at mina.

Food-stuff at mina

All kind of foods are not available at mina as like as Makkah. Over all hygiene & sanitation of mina is not so good. So there is a chance to be ill by food borne diseases. Be careful to eat food & strictly maintain personal hygiene. Share your experience of taking food at tent at mina.

Tent location

All the tents & roads at mina are mostly identical, so it is very difficult to identify own tent when go out from tent for any purpose. Map of mina with road name & tent number is very important tool to locate own tent. Before go to mina card with tent number & address is given to every hajjis. So try to locate your tent in the map, see the road name beside your tent. Make a study about all neighboring road name & how to go from one road to another & how to go jamarat from your tent & how to come back from jamarat. It is also important to locate the bus or taxi station near to your tent & how to go that station to go to Makkah. When you come back from Makkah by bus or taxi at that time the station is not the same from where you go to Makkah . It is another bus station at other location. So make a study about the bus station location & how to come back from there to your tent. Try to find out local bus or taxi route at mina, arafa & Muzdalifah. Many hajjis face problem to come back to own tent.

Share your experience here with pilgrims.

 
By aminul islam

Source: http://about-hajj-experience.blogspot.com/2013/01/main-activities-of-hajj-at-mina-on-8th.html