Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam — obligatory once in a lifetime on every able Muslim. “Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to Allah by those who can find a way to it.” (Qurʾān 3:97). It is performed over the days of 8–13 Dhū-l-Ḥijja.
The rites in order
- 1
🤍8th (Tarwiya): enter iḥrām and go to Minā.
- 2
🏔️9th (ʿArafah): stand at ʿArafa from midday to sunset — the greatest pillar. “Hajj is ʿArafa.”
- 3
🌙Night at Muzdalifa: pray, gather pebbles, rest.
- 4
🪨10th (Naḥr): stone the large Jamra, sacrifice, shave/trim, then Ṭawāf al-Ifāḍa and saʿy.
- 5
🏕️11th–13th (Tashrīq): stay at Minā, stoning the three Jamarāt each day after midday.
- 6
🕋Before leaving Makkah: Ṭawāf al-Wadāʿ (the farewell ṭawāf).
The pillars (arkān) of Hajj
Farḍ- • Iḥrām (entering the sacred state with intention).
- • Standing at ʿArafa (wuqūf) — miss this and there is no Hajj.
- • Ṭawāf al-Ifāḍa around the Kaʿba.
- • Saʿy between Ṣafā and Marwa.
The three types
- • Tamattuʿ — Umrah first, exit iḥrām, then a fresh iḥrām for Hajj (a sacrifice is due).
- • Qirān — Umrah and Hajj together in one iḥrām (a sacrifice is due).
- • Ifrād — Hajj alone (no sacrifice due for this reason).
Compare the schools
Tap a school to see its ruling first everywhere on this page.
ʿArafa
Wuqūf at ʿArafa — sunset & the night
Hanafi: Daytime presence is the rukn; remaining until sunset is wājib — leaving before Maghrib incurs a damm.
Other schools
Maliki: Presence for a portion of the NIGHT (after Maghrib) is a rukn — daytime presence alone is insufficient.
Shāfiʿī: Wuqūf is valid at any moment from zawāl on the 9th to Fajr on the 10th; staying to sunset is a sunna, not obligatory.
Hanbali: One present in the daytime must remain until sunset — a damm is due otherwise.
Wuqūf ʿArafa — al-Mawsūʿa al-Fiqhiyya.
Muzdalifa
Mabīt at Muzdalifa
Hanafi: The wuqūf (a moment after Fajr at al-Mashʿar al-Ḥarām) is wājib; the night-stay itself is a sunna.
Other schools
Maliki: Dismounting and stopping for part of the night is wājib.
Shāfiʿī: Presence for part of the second half of the night is wājib; one may leave after midnight.
Hanbali: Staying until Fajr is wājib; the weak may leave after midnight.
Mabīt bi-Muzdalifa — al-Mawsūʿa al-Fiqhiyya.
Minā (Tashrīq)
Mabīt at Minā (nights of Tashrīq)
Hanafi: Spending the nights at Minā is a sunna; leaving is makrūh but incurs no damm.
Other schools
Maliki: Wājib — a damm is due for omitting it without excuse.
Shāfiʿī: Wājib — a damm is due for omitting it without excuse.
Hanbali: Wājib — a damm is due for omitting it without excuse.
Mabīt bi-Minā — al-Mawsūʿa al-Fiqhiyya.
Evidence
“Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to Allah by those who can find a way to it.”
Qurʾān 3:97
“Hajj is ʿArafa” — whoever reaches ʿArafa in its time has caught the Hajj.
Tirmidhī 889 / Abū Dāwūd 1949 ṣaḥīḥ
“Whoever performs Hajj without obscenity or sin returns as on the day his mother bore him.”
Bukhārī 1521 ṣaḥīḥ
Content is being reviewed for authenticity by a qualified scholar. Follow your local scholars for personal rulings.