Hajj literally means ‘to set out for a place’. Islamicly, however, it refers to the annual pilgrimage that Muslims make to Makkah with the intention of performing certain religious rites in accordance with the method prescribed by the Prophet Muhammad, may God praise him.

Hajj and its rites were first ordained by God in the time of the Prophet Abraham and he was the one who was entrusted by God to build the Kaaba - the House of God - along with his son Ishmael at Makkah. God described the Kaaba and its building as follows:

Preface:

All praise belongs to Allah, alone; peace and blessings of Allah be on the Last Prophet, Muhammad bin Abdullah, his family, and companions.

Multimedia: STEP-BY-STEP FOR HAJJ

This brief but comprehensive guide is presented to you, the pilgrims to the Sacred House of Allah, to outline some of the rites of Hajj and ‘Umrah with which you ought to be familiar. We begin with some important advice, which we direct first to ourselves and then to you in accordance with what Allah, the Most High, says concerning those of His servants who receive salvation and success in this world and the hereafter:

“They exhort one another to truth, and exhort one another to patience.” [Surah al-Asr 103:3]

With Allah's bounty, we are at the doors of very blessed days for both the hajij (pilgrims) and the residents. So we should know the Sunnah regarding these days in order to make the best out of them.

I.The First Ten Days of Dthul-Hijjah

1. Ibn Abbas (raa) reported that the Messenger (sas) said:

"There are no other days on which good deeds are more beloved to Allah than on these (Ten) Days" He was asked: "Not even Jihaad in Allah's way?" He replied: "Not even Jihaad in Allah's way; except for a person who went out (for Jihaad) with his self and wealth and came back with none (i.e., lost all for Allah)." [Al- Bukhari, ...]

During tawaf we noticed that some people stand at the beginning of tawaf and utter out loud their intention of doing tawaf. We also noticed that some of them push and shove in order to reach the Black Stone, and even fight over it. What is your opinion about these actions?

Praise be to Allah.

The following are mistakes that occur during tawaf:

1. Uttering the intention aloud when when performing Tawaf. You may see some pilgrims facing the Black Stone when he wants to perform tawaf, saying, “O Allah, I intend to circumambulate seven circuits for ‘Umrah” or “O Allah, I intend to do seven circuits of tawaf for Hajj,” or “O Allah, I intend to circumambulate seven times around the House in order to seek nearness to You.”