The days of Hajj, from the 8th to the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah, at a glance
A day-by-day timetable of Hajj's rites, from the Day of Tarwiyah to leaving Mina, together with the three sermons and the exemption from Eid prayer.
Here is the whole of Hajj's busiest week laid out day by day, from the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah to the 13th.
| Day | Where | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 7th | Makkah | A sermon is given after Zuhr, explaining the rites ahead. |
| 8th: Tarwiyah | Mina | Put on ihram for Hajj after Fajr, then travel to Mina and stay there overnight. |
| 9th: Arafah | Arafat, then Muzdalifah | Travel to Arafat after sunrise; stand there in dua until sunset; then travel on to Muzdalifah and combine Maghrib and Isha there. |
| 10th: Eid | Mina, then Makkah, then Mina | After Fajr at Muzdalifah, go to Mina: stone Jamrat al-Aqabah, offer the sacrifice, cut the hair. Then go to Makkah for Tawaf al-Ziyarah (and saʿy, if not already done). Return to Mina for the night. |
| 11th | Mina | After a sermon and Zuhr, stone all three Jamarat. Stay the night. |
| 12th | Mina | After Zuhr, stone all three Jamarat again. Many pilgrims leave Mina today. |
| 13th | Mina, then Makkah | Those who stayed stone all three Jamarat once more after Zuhr, then leave, stopping for a while at Muhassab on the way. |
Two parts of this week are essential and Hajj is not complete without them: standing at Arafat on the 9th until sunset, and the Tawaf al-Ziyarah in Makkah on the 10th.
12Some other parts are necessary too: spending the night at Muzdalifah and praying Fajr there, stoning Jamrat al-Aqabah on the 10th and all three Jamarat on the 11th and 12th after midday, and offering the sacrifice if you joined Umrah with your Hajj.
123456The rest of the timetable follows the Prophet's ﷺ way: the sermons on the 7th, 9th and 11th, praying Zuhr and Asr together at Arafat, cutting the hair after the sacrifice on the 10th, staying the nights in Mina, and stopping at Muhassab on the way back to Makkah. Pilgrims do not pray the Eid prayer.
123456| Day | Location | Main rites |
|---|---|---|
| 7th | Masjid al-Haram, Makkah | The Imam delivers the first of Hajj's three sermons after Zuhr (a single sermon, without a sitting in between) explaining the rites ahead. |
| 8th: Tarwiyah | Makkah, then Mina | Ihram for Hajj is entered after Fajr; a voluntary tawaf is recommended beforehand. The pilgrim travels to Mina with the Imam, prays the five prayers from Zuhr to Fajr there, and spends the night in Talbiyah and dua. |
| 9th: Arafah | Mina, then Arafat, then Muzdalifah | After Fajr, the pilgrim proceeds to Arafat. The Imam's second sermon (in two parts, like the Friday sermon) precedes Zuhr and Asr, combined at Namira. The standing (wuquf) continues until sunset, after which the pilgrim moves to Muzdalifah and combines Maghrib and Isha there. |
| Night of the 10th | Muzdalifah | The night is spent in dhikr and dua. Fajr is prayed early, followed by dua at Mash'ar al-Haram until near sunrise. |
| 10th: Eid al-Adha (Yawm al-Nahr) | Mina, then Makkah, then Mina | Seven pebbles are thrown at Jamrat al-Aqabah; the sacrifice is offered (wajib for Qiran and Tamattu); the hair is shaved or trimmed. Tawaf al-Ziyarah (and saʿy, if still outstanding) follows in Makkah. The night is spent again in Mina. |
| 11th | Mina | The Imam's third sermon follows Zuhr, similar in form to the 7th's. All three Jamarat are stoned in order (smallest, middle, then al-Aqabah) with dua after the first two. The night is spent in Mina. |
| 12th | Mina | All three Jamarat are stoned again after Zuhr. Departure from Mina on this day is permitted (Nafr Awwal). |
| 13th | Mina, then Makkah | For those who remain, all three Jamarat are stoned once more after Zuhr before departing (Nafr Thani), the more common practice among the pious. A stop at Muhassab, between Mina and Makkah, follows. |
Eid prayer is not performed by pilgrims at Hajj, since the 10th is occupied with stoning, the sacrifice, shaving, Tawaf al-Ziyarah and saʿy, and the return to Mina. Jumuʿah, unlike Eid, is not exempted if it happens to fall on the 10th, and is valid at Mina provided the ruler, the governor of Makkah, or their representative is present.
Two of the rites in this timetable are the obligatory pillars of Hajj: the standing (wuquf) at Arafat on the 9th, from midday until sunset, and Tawaf al-Ziyarah in Makkah on the 10th (with saʿy if still outstanding). Without them there is no Hajj.
12Several rites in the timetable are necessary (wajib): the night and Fajr at Muzdalifah, with Maghrib and Isha combined there; stoning Jamrat al-Aqabah with seven pebbles on the 10th and all three Jamarat, in order, after midday on the 11th and 12th (and the 13th for those who remain); and the sacrifice, which is wajib for Qiran and Tamattu.
123456The remaining rites of the timetable are sunnah: the three sermons of the 7th, 9th and 11th; Zuhr and Asr combined at Arafat; shaving or trimming the hair after the sacrifice on the 10th, after which every restriction of ihram lifts except intimacy; the nights spent in Mina; and the stop at Muhassab on the way back to Makkah. Pilgrims are exempt from the Eid prayer.
123456| Day | Location | Rites, in order |
|---|---|---|
| 7th | Masjid al-Ḥarām | First khuṭbah, after Ẓuhr (a single, undivided khuṭbah) explaining the rites to come. Attendance is necessary. |
| 8th: Yawm al-Tarwiyah | Makkah, then Minā | Iḥrām for Ḥajj after Fajr (preceded, ideally, by a nafl tawāf). Departure for Minā with the Imam; the five prayers Ẓuhr–Fajr prayed there, uncombined; the night spent in Talbiyah, duʿā and istighfār. |
| 9th: Yawm ʿArafah | Minā, then ʿArafah, then Muzdalifah | Departure after sunrise. Second khuṭbah before Ẓuhr at Masjid Namirah (in two parts with a sitting between, as the Jumuʿah khuṭbah) followed by Ẓuhr and ʿAṣr combined (jamʿ taqdīm) with one adhān and two iqāmahs. Wuqūf continues from zawāl until sunset. Departure to Muzdalifah follows, Maghrib and ʿIshāʾ combined there at ʿIshāʾ's time. |
| Night of the 10th | Muzdalifah | Dhikr and duʿā through the night; Fajr prayed in the last darkness; duʿā at Mash'ar al-Ḥarām (Jabal Qazaḥ) until near sunrise. |
| 10th: Yawm al-Naḥr | Minā, then Makkah, then Minā | Seven pebbles at Jamrat al-ʿAqabah (Talbiyah ceasing at the first); the sacrifice (mustaḥabb for Ifrād, wājib for Qirān/Tamattuʿ); ḥalq or taqṣīr, every prohibition of iḥrām lapsing thereafter save intimacy with one's spouse. Tawaf al-Ziyārah, with saʿy if deferred, follows in Makkah; the night returns to Minā. |
| 11th | Minā | Third khuṭbah after Ẓuhr, in the single form of the 7th's. Ramy of all three Jamarāt in order (al-Ṣughrā, al-Wusṭā, al-ʿAqabah) with a standing duʿā after the first two only. Night at Minā (sunnah; wājib per al-Shāfiʿī). |
| 12th | Minā | Ramy of all three Jamarāt repeated after Ẓuhr. Nafr Awwal, departure this same day, is permitted. |
| 13th | Minā, then Makkah | For those remaining, Ramy of all three Jamarāt once more after Ẓuhr, then Nafr Thānī (departure), the preferred course among the pious; a stop at al-Muḥaṣṣab follows. |
ʿĪd prayer is not obligatory upon pilgrims at Ḥajj, occupied as the 10th is with Ramy, the sacrifice, ḥalq, Tawaf al-Ziyārah, saʿy, and the return to Minā; where the 10th coincides with a Friday, Jumuʿah is nevertheless not exempted, being a lighter burden than ʿĪd and only an occasional coincidence, and Jumuʿah at Minā is valid provided the ruler, the governor of Makkah, or a delegate of either is present there.
Of the rites in this timetable, two are the farḍ pillars of Ḥajj: the wuqūf at ʿArafah on the 9th, from zawāl until sunset, and Tawaf al-Ziyārah in Makkah on Yawm al-Naḥr (with saʿy, if deferred). Ḥajj is not valid without either of them.
12Several rites of the timetable are wājib: the halt at Muzdalifah, Maghrib and ʿIshāʾ combined there at ʿIshāʾ's time and Fajr prayed there; ramy of Jamrat al-ʿAqabah with seven pebbles on Yawm al-Naḥr and of all three Jamarāt in order after zawāl on the 11th and 12th (and the 13th for those who do not make Nafr Awwal); and the sacrifice, wājib for Qirān and Tamattuʿ and mustaḥabb for Ifrād.
123456The remaining rites of the timetable are sunnah: the three khuṭbahs of the 7th, 9th and 11th; Ẓuhr and ʿAṣr combined (jamʿ taqdīm) at Namirah; ḥalq or taqṣīr after the sacrifice on Yawm al-Naḥr, after which every prohibition of iḥrām lapses save intimacy with one's spouse; the nights at Minā (sunnah, wājib per al-Shāfiʿī); and the halt at al-Muḥaṣṣab on the return to Makkah. Pilgrims are exempt from the Eid prayer.
123456This is the English translation of Nisab Ahle Khidmaat Sharia, exactly as the book has it, for the passages this page was written from. About 1,227 words. Switch back to Guide for the rewritten version.
Permissible Actions in the State of Ihram
On the 7th of Dhul-Hijjah, after the Dhuhr prayer, the Imam of Masjid al-Haram gives a sermon in which he explains the rituals of Hajj. It is necessary for pilgrims to listen to it.
On the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah, known as the day of Tarwiyah, the pilgrim, whether from the local area or from outside, should enter the state of Ihram after the Fajr prayer, and proceed to Mina along with the Imam and all others. [Mina is a place located three miles east of Makkah. There are houses and shops built there, and during the Hajj season, the market is elegantly decorated. The name "Mina" is derived from the Arabic root meaning "to estimate" or "to desire," which is associated with the practice of estimating sacrificial rites. Another reason it is named "Mina" is that when the Angel Jibreel (salutations upon him) was about to depart from Adam (salutations upon him) at this location, he said: "Tamannay," meaning "Wish." Adam (salutations upon him) replied, "I wish for Paradise." Thus, the place was named Mina because it is where Adam's wish (Tamanna) took place.]
After performing the Fajr prayer in the darkness of the early morning, the pilgrim should wait and, when the sun rises, proceed from the path of Mount Khayf, known as Dhubb, towards Arafat. [The reason Arafat is named so is that it was there that Prophet Ibrahim (salutations upon him) received the understanding that his dream was from Allah, or that it was there that Jibril (salutations upon him) taught him the rituals of Hajj, or that it was where Adam and Hawwa (salutations upon him) recognized each other.] Alternatively, they may return via the path between Muzdalifah and Arafat. As they set out towards Arafat, they should recite the following supplication:
After completing the prayers, they should immediately head to the area of Arafat (except for the Wadi Arna) and, where possible, mount their camel or find a place to stay, facing the Qiblah, behind or beside the Imam. However, it is preferred to stay near the large black stones of Jabal al-Rahmah, as this is where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stood. This area is now surrounded by the mosque. It is not necessary to climb the mountain, nor is it considered superior to the other areas for standing. It is permissible to stand, sit, or lie down on foot. In this position, the pilgrim should spread their hands like a poor and needy person and make supplications, reciting: "سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلَآ إِلٰهَ إِلَّا الله" [Glory is to Allah, all praise belongs to Allah, and there is no deity but Allah]. The pilgrim should continue to recite these with great humility until sunset, and after every hour, they should call out "Labbaik" (Here I am). They should remember their sins and weep profusely, seeking repentance and forgiveness with the heart and tongue.
After sunset, while reciting "Labbaik" and other supplications, walk calmly and with dignity alongside the Imam towards Muzdalifah.
Before unloading the belongings, if at ease, pray Maghrib and Isha Salah combined at the time of Isha, with one Adhan and one Takbir (Iqamah) behind the Imam. However, according to Imam Shafi’i and Imam Malik, pray with two Takbirs. Perform the Sunnah and Witr prayers of Maghrib and Isha after the Fard prayers. For Maghrib Salah, also intend Qada (make-up) prayer. Congregation for this combined prayer is an emphasised Sunnah. If one prays alone, both prayers should still be combined.
When dawn arrives, offer the Fajr prayer behind the Imam or alone in the darkness of early morning. Then, proceed to the mountain of Mash’ar al-Haram, also called Jabal Qazah, where a structure is now built. While facing the Qibla, engage in reciting Labbaik, Tasbih (glorification), Tahleel (affirmation of Allah’s oneness), Takbir (exaltation), Tahmid (praising Allah), and Salat upon the Beloved Prophet (ﷺ).
Next, collect pebbles the size of a chickpea or broad bean from Muzdalifah and proceed towards Mina. Stand five yards or slightly more away from the Jamrah al-Aqaba, positioning the soil mound to the right and the Kaaba to the left. While on foot or mounted, face the Jamrah and strike it with pebbles using your right hand’s thumb and forefinger. Aim deliberately and throw the pebbles one by one at the Jamrah al-Aqaba while reciting:
Upon returning, perform the sacrifice. For a Mufrid, sacrifice is recommended (Mustahabb), whereas it is obligatory (Wajib) for Qarin and Mutamatti.
After the sacrifice, shave the head or trim the hair, as previously mentioned in the description of Umrah. While shaving the head or after doing so, one should recite Takbeer and make supplications as described for Umrah.
Perform the Tawaf of Ziyarah the same day in Makkah. If Raml and Sa’ee were already performed earlier, this Tawaf can be completed without Iztiba and Raml. Otherwise, only Raml should be performed, not Iztiba. Following the Tawaf, perform Sa’ee between Safa and Marwah.
On the eleventh day, after the Zuhr Salah, the Imam of the Masjid Khaif will deliver a sermon, explaining the remaining rituals. After listening to the sermon, proceed to the first Jamarah, located near Masjid Khaif, and throw seven pebbles as per the previous method.
On the twelfth day, after the Zuhr Salah, throw pebbles at the three Jamarat just as was done on the eleventh day. If one departs from Mina on this day, it is permissible. Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:
For this reason, many people leave Mina on this day, and it is referred to as the First Nafr (Nafr Awwal). However, it is better to stay until the thirteenth day, throw the pebbles after Zuhr, and then depart with utmost humility and submission. This practice is common among righteous and pious individuals. The thirteenth day is referred to as the Second Nafr (Nafr Thani).
After this, stop at Muhassab [a valley located between Makkah and Mina that contains pebbles]. [Stopping here is general, whether overnight, briefly getting down, or remaining seated on one's ride; however, staying overnight is better.] Engage in supplications, as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) also stopped there.
There are three sermons for Hajj, one after each Zawal (decline of the sun) on the seventh, ninth, and eleventh of Dhul-Hijjah, each giving instructions related to the Hajj rites.
1. The first sermon is on the seventh of Dhul-Hijjah, after Zuhr. It is a single sermon with no sitting in between.
2. The second sermon is on the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah in Arafat, before Zuhr, and is like the Friday sermon, consisting of two parts with a sitting in between.
3. The third sermon is on the eleventh of Dhul-Hijjah in Mina, before Zuhr, and is similar to the seventh sermon.
The Eid prayer is not obligatory for Hajj pilgrims because they are busy with other tasks on the 10th, such as stoning the Jamrat, performing the sacrifice, shaving their heads, and performing Tawaf al-Ziyarah and Sa’i between Safa and Marwah, then returning to Mina. Due to this, Eid prayer is exempt for them. However, if Eid falls on a Friday, the Friday prayer is not exempt, as Friday occasionally coincides with the 10th, and it is not as troublesome as Eid, which always falls on the 10th. Jumu’ah prayer in Mina is allowed, provided the authorized ruler or the governor of Makkah or their representative is present there.
Related
- The Days of Tashriq: stoning all three pillars (Jamarat), and leaving Mina Stoning the three pillars (Jamarat) on the 11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah, the choice of leaving early or staying, and the stop at Muhassab.
- The 8th of Dhul-Hijjah (the Day of Tarwiyah): entering the pilgrim's state (ihram) for Hajj and going to Mina How Hajj begins on the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah: entering the pilgrim's state (ihram), the arrival circling (Tawaf al-Qudum), travelling to Mina, and spending the night there.
- The circling of visitation (Tawaf al-Ziyarah), the pillar of Hajj When the circling of visitation (Tawaf al-Ziyarah) is performed, why it is the pillar (rukn) of Hajj, and what follows it in Makkah before returning to Mina.
- The obligatory (fard), necessary (wajib) and sunnah acts of Hajj and Umrah, at a glance The five acts Hajj cannot be valid without, the thirty-one necessary (wajib) acts, the emphasised sunnahs, and what invalidates Hajj or Umrah outright.