How to Perform Hajj: Step-by-Step Guide

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam — a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Makkah that every able Muslim is obligated to make. Allah says, "Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to Allah by those who are able to make the journey" (Surah Aal 'Imran, 3:97). It is more than a trip. Done sincerely, it wipes the slate clean: the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that whoever performs Hajj without obscenity or wrongdoing "will return [free from sin] as the day his mother bore him" (Narrated by Bukhari, 1521).

This guide walks you through every rite in order, from the moment you enter ihram to the farewell Tawaf.

Quick overview: Hajj takes place over five days (8th–12th of Dhul-Hijjah). You enter ihram, spend the 8th in Mina, stand at Arafah on the 9th, gather pebbles at Muzdalifah, then on the 10th you stone Jamrat al-Aqabah, sacrifice, shave or trim your hair, and perform Tawaf al-Ifadah and Sa'i. You stone the pillars again on the days of Tashreeq, then end with the farewell Tawaf.

What you'll learn:

• The three types of Hajj and how to choose one
• What ihram is and what it forbids
• The day-by-day rites in the correct order
• The most common mistakes pilgrims make

Before you begin: prerequisites

Hajj is performed during the well-known months, culminating in the first days of Dhul-Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. Allah says, "Hajj is [during] well-known months" (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:197).

Before you travel, settle three things:

• Sincerity of intention. Hajj must be for Allah alone, funded by lawful (halal) earnings.
• Debts and disputes. Repay what you owe and seek forgiveness from those you have wronged.
• The basics of the rites. Learn the sequence in advance — the crowds leave little room to figure it out on the spot. Knowing your prayer schedule helps too, since prayers are combined and shortened during the journey. You can check accurate times for any location right here:

Choosing your type of Hajj

There are three valid ways to perform Hajj. Most non-residents choose Tamattu.

If you are doing Tamattu, you will complete a full Umrah — Tawaf and Sa'i — before the Hajj days begin. Our step-by-step Umrah guide covers that part in full.

What is ihram?

Ihram is the sacred state you enter before crossing the miqat (the appointed boundary around Makkah). It has two parts: an inner intention and an outer form.

Men wear two unstitched white cloths; women wear ordinary modest clothing without covering the face or hands. Before entering ihram it is sunnah to perform ghusl (a full-body ritual wash) — see our ghusl guide — and to pray two rak'ahs.

Once in ihram, several normally-allowed things become forbidden: cutting hair or nails, using scented products, hunting, marital relations, and (for men) wearing sewn garments or covering the head. You then recite the Talbiyah, the pilgrim's chant:

لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ

Labbayk Allahumma labbayk, labbayk la sharika laka labbayk, inna al-hamda wan-ni'mata laka wal-mulk, la sharika lak.

"Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Truly all praise, favor, and sovereignty belong to You. You have no partner."

The step-by-step guide

The Prophet (peace be upon him) told pilgrims, "Learn your rites from me" (Narrated by Muslim, 1297). What follows is the order he taught.

Day 1 — 8th of Dhul-Hijjah (Yawm at-Tarwiyah): Go to Mina

Enter ihram again if you did Tamattu, then head to Mina, a valley a few kilometers from Makkah. Here you pray Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha, and the next day's Fajr — each at its own time but shortened to two rak'ahs for the four-rak'ah prayers. Spend the night in Mina in worship and rest for the demanding day ahead.

Day 2 — 9th of Dhul-Hijjah (Yawm Arafah): Stand at Arafah

This is the heart of Hajj. After sunrise, move to the plain of Arafah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, الْحَجُّ عَرَفَةُ — al-Hajju Arafah — "Hajj is Arafah" (Narrated by Tirmidhi, 889). Miss this standing and you have missed Hajj.

• Pray Dhuhr and Asr combined and shortened at the time of Dhuhr.
• Spend the afternoon until sunset in du'a, dhikr, and repentance, facing the qiblah with raised hands. This is the day sins are forgiven — do not waste it sightseeing.
• Do not leave Arafah until the sun has fully set.

The night at Muzdalifah

After sunset, travel to Muzdalifah. Pray Maghrib and Isha combined there, then rest under the open sky. Before you leave, gather small pebbles for the stoning — many pilgrims collect them here. Depart for Mina after Fajr.

Day 3 — 10th of Dhul-Hijjah (Yawm an-Nahr / Eid al-Adha)

This is the busiest day, with four rites in sequence:

1. Stone Jamrat al-Aqabah. Throw seven pebbles at the largest pillar, saying Allahu Akbar with each throw.
2. Offer the sacrifice (hady). Slaughter a sheep or goat (or a share of a larger animal). Today most pilgrims pay for this through an authorized agency.
3. Shave or trim the hair (halq or taqsir). Men shave the head or trim it; women cut a fingertip's length. After this, most ihram restrictions lift.
4. Perform Tawaf al-Ifadah. Return to Makkah, circle the Ka'bah seven times, and perform Sa'i between Safa and Marwah. This Tawaf is a pillar of Hajj — it must be done.

Days 4–6 — 11th, 12th, and 13th (Days of Tashreeq)

Stay in Mina and, each afternoon, stone all three pillars — the small, the middle, then Jamrat al-Aqabah — with seven pebbles each. You may leave after stoning on the 12th if you depart before sunset; otherwise you stay and stone again on the 13th.

The farewell: Tawaf al-Wada

Before leaving Makkah, perform Tawaf al-Wada, a final seven circuits of the Ka'bah. It is the last thing you do — the Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed that no one leave until their last act is Tawaf around the House.

Want to browse authentic supplications for each stage of the journey? Explore our dua collection with Arabic, transliteration, and translation.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Leaving Arafah before sunset. Some pilgrims move early to beat traffic. Departing before the sun sets can invalidate the standing — the Prophet stayed until after sunset.
• Rushing the rites out of order on the 10th without knowing that minor reordering is forgivable, then panicking. Learn the sequence, but know that scholars permitted flexibility on that day when the companions asked.
• Neglecting the day of Arafah in idle talk. The most valuable hours of the year are spent chatting or resting instead of in du'a.
• Skipping Tawaf al-Ifadah or assuming the arrival Tawaf counts for it. Tawaf al-Ifadah is a separate pillar; Hajj is incomplete without it.
• Treating ihram lightly — using scented soap or arguing. Allah says of Hajj, "let there be no obscenity, nor wickedness, nor quarreling" (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:197).

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I miss standing at Arafah? Your Hajj for that year does not count, and you must repeat it in a future year. This is why Arafah is treated as the single non-negotiable rite (Tirmidhi 889).

Can I perform Hajj on behalf of someone else? Yes. You may perform Hajj for a deceased parent or someone permanently unable to travel, provided you have already performed your own Hajj first.

What is the reward for an accepted Hajj? The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "The reward of an accepted Hajj (Hajj mabrur) is nothing but Paradise" (Narrated by Bukhari, 1773; Muslim, 1349). An accepted Hajj is one free of sin and performed sincerely.

Summary

Hajj follows a clear order: enter ihram, spend the 8th in Mina, stand at Arafah on the 9th, pass the night at Muzdalifah, then on the 10th stone, sacrifice, shave, and perform Tawaf al-Ifadah. Stone the pillars again during the days of Tashreeq, and close with the farewell Tawaf.

Learn the sequence before you go, guard your ihram, and pour your heart into the day of Arafah. Do that, and you return home with the slate wiped clean — reborn, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) promised.