BUANASENI

HAJJ 101 FOR BEGINNERS 

By Johan Ishak

26 June 2023 / 8 Zulhijjah 1444 Hijrah

10:00 pm

Mekkah (Mecca), Saudi Arabia

Hajj, or Haji, is the fifth and the last of the pillars of Islam; after; first, Syahadah (Declaration of Acnowledging the One God, Allah and Muhammad s.a.w. as His Messenger); second, Solat (Praying 5 times a day); third, Fasting in the month of Ramadhan; and fourth, Zakat (giving money and food to the poor). Unlike Solat and Fasting where Muslims are required to do it daily non-stop and 30 consecutive days in a specific month yearly respectively; Hajj is only required to be done once in a lifetime only if you have the means to do it. This would be when we are in good of health and wealth to facilitate our journey to Mekkah in Saudi Arabia.

Hajj is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mekkah, Saudi Arabia, particularly at Arafah and the Kaabah. It is noted that in 2023, the headcount of Muslims from outside Saudi Arabia reached 3.5 million people, the highest record to date. Whilst it carries with it religious and spiritual necessity amongst Muslims, it provides two other social benefits, that are, economic trades as well as social networking.

Hajj has quite complicated yet simplistic set of procedures. When you understand it especially its sequence and running order, it becomes easy. To comprehend what is required, one will need to digest clearly the Rukun(s) and Wajib(s) of the Hajj. Rukuns are pillars of Hajj. Without them, the Hajj is incomplete. They are:

1. Niat - Before everything or anything, in your heart, be honest and acknowledge that you want to do the Hajj and comply with its requirement, the Ihram.

2. Wukuf in Arafah from Noon to Night on 9 Zulhijjah - While in Full Ihram (Ihram is explained later in this article). Wukuf means, to be present even for a while in Arafah. It is believed that in Arafah, Prophet Adam a.s. finally found Hawa (Eve) on Earth after a long search since they were expelled from Heaven. Wukuf is partly to remember this history as well as to emulate partly how hot and disomforting will Padang Mahsyar be when all of mankind is awaken from their graves to be judged after the Qiamat (Armageddon/End of Days). Wukuf is the core pillar for Hajj. During the prayer time Asar to Maghrib, it is strongly encouraged for Muslims to do'a (ask from Allah) for whatever they need in life especially to forgive their sins and to obtain Hidayah (light) from Allah to guide them in their lives. It is also customary for family and friends who are not going for Hajj to request a Hajj participant to do'a for them. Some of the usual generic ones would be to pray for wealth, health and peace and the more specific ones would be stuff like, to get a baby, to get a promotion, to get good exam grades, to get a wife, to be cured from a critical disease or even to pray for Liverpool to win football games. The day Wukuf is done is called Arafah Day, on 9 Zulhijjah, a date when Islam was perfected. The desert plain of Arafah is also where Prophet Muhammad s.a.w gave his last sermon to Muslims.

3. Tawaf to be done in 7 rounds on 12 Zulhijjah after Melontar - Not in Full Ihram. Tawaf is an anti-clockwise round around the Kaabah. It is believed that when Prophet Adam a.s. was lonely on Earth prior to his unity with Hawa, he wandered the Earth from a place now known as Sri Lanka to a place now known as Mekkah. In Mekkah, he saw a light in the desert. He went to the light and felt the presence of God Almighty, Allah. But yet he was also in doubt fearing that it may be one of the many tricks that the Iblis (Satan or Lucifer or Devil) may be playing on him - especially when Hawa and him were expelled from Heaven because they were fooled by Iblis to have eaten the forbidden fruit in Heaven. To ascertain himself that it was not Iblis, he circled the glooming light 7 times, after which, he was sure that it was indeed a medium that Allah wanted to connect with him. So he piled rocks at the spot to mark it as the subliminal House of Allah, which later became Kaabah when it was built properly by Prophet Ibrahim a.s. (Abraham) and his son, Prophet Ismail a.s. (Ishmael). Tawaf is obviously to mark these historical events.

4. Saei to be done 7 times between Safa Hill and Marwah Hill immediately after Tawaf - Not in Full Ihram. A trip from Safa to Marwah is counted as 1 and the return trip back to Safa from Marwah is counted as 2. It is believed that when Prophet Ibrahim a.s. left his second wife, Hajar (Hagar), and his infant son, Prophet Ismail a.s., at a rocky desert now known as Mekkah, Hajar and Ismail were in hunger and thirst. She, carrying Ismail, ran from one hill to another in a relay between two hills (now known as Safa and Marwah) searching for water. As she stopped running and settle to rest, Ismail's little feet knocked on the rock and out came abundance of water for their consumption. That exact point is now known as the Zam Zam Well. So, Saei is to remember this event.

5. Tahlul - This ends the Ihram fully. Tahlul is when you cut at least 3 strands of your hair. Many, typically men, would just shave their entire head bald. 

6. Tertib - All of the above are to be done in correct order of sequence as above as well as the below specifications on Wajibs.

Continuing from the Rukuns, there are also things you need to do but if you don't or breach them, you will have to pay Dam, a form of monetary penalty such as Saudi Rial of sixty (SR60) to be given equally to 6 poor people before you leave Mekkah. Different offence incurs different magnitides of Dams. These requitements are called Wajib(s). They are:

1. Ihram. A Full Ihram is basically to comply to 13 forbidden things, one of which is, men cannot wear normal clothes other than a pair of white cloth with a belt and a pair of slippers that does not cover the toes. So, underwears not allowed. Not in Full Ihram is when only 3 things forbidden, namely Sex, Foreplay and Nikah. So, when Not in Full Ihram, you can wear jeans if you want to, to Melontar rounds 2 to 7, Tawaf and Saei. However, Saudi Government compels men to still wear the pair of white cloth for Tawaf and Saei (but spiritually, you are not in full Ihram). Please do your own research to uncover the entire set of 13 rules / forbidden matters.

2. Mabit at Muzdalifah at midnight of 10 Zulhijjah. Mabit is to be present at a place or a passing by a place with a self acknowledgement of the place in your heart.

3. Mabit at Mina on 10 Zulhijjah after Muzdalifah.

4. Melontar (throwing stones) 7 rounds x 7 stones. Round 1 at Jamrah Qubro on 10 Zulhijjah after Mabit at Mina. Rounds 2 and 5 at Jamrah Sughra. Rounds 3 and 6 at Jamrah Wusta. Rounds 4 and 7 at Jamrah Qubro. Rounds 2, 3 and 4 on 11 Zulhijjah and Rounds 5, 6 & 7 on 12 Zulhijjah. The act of throwing stones at the Jamrahs is symbolism of leaving behind sinful deeds that needs to be honestly acknowledged in your heart. Jamrahs are simply the designated areas in Mina where the Melontar ritual is to be done.

I hope with this article, there is sufficient information for people to learn about what Hajj is from both Fiqah (Technicalities) and Tauhid (Faith) perspectives, along with the historical context to which Hajj had capitalised as its subliminal essence. I wrote this article in Mekkah on 8 Zulhijjah 1444 Hijrah (26 June 2023) while waiting for the bus to go to Arafah for us (me and my colleagues from Malaysia) to do Wukuf the next day on 9 Zulhijjah. Our bus had broken down and hence, we had to wait for hours before we could leave Mekkah in a replacement bus. 

So, this article was written while I was in Ihram. We were told that you should do Ibadah (good deeds) while in Ihram. Most people would read the Holy Quran or do more prayers. I chose to write this article so that I can share my knowledge to others in lay man terms. Hopefully not only Muslims, but also Non-Muslims can learn if they wish to do so. Sharing knowledge is also an Ibadah for how else would others do the Ibadah of Hajj when there is no one to educate them? I sincerely hope that this article will benefit many.

To my fellow Muslims around the globe, do consider to do this once in a life time pilgrimage when you still have the money, time, health, convenience and are still alive rather than when you are poor, busy, sick, in disorder or dead. To my fellow 3.5 milion Muslims who are doing Hajj now in Mekkah and specifically to my fellow 30,000 Malaysian Muslims who are also in Mekkah for Hajj for the year 1444 Hijrah (2023), I pray that Allah grants us all a Mabrur (Complete and Fulfilling) Hajj and acknowledges our prayers. Amin. Assalamualaikum. God bless you all.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on the author's experience during his Hajj pilgrimage in 2023 (1444 Hijrah) and it is not to be taken as the confirmed information to be used by others. Please consult the proper authorities such as Tabung Haji, Imams and/or Ulamaks if readers intend to craft their own planning for Hajj.