Hajj and Umrah GuideHajj step by step
The rites of the Hajj in order: ihram, tawaf, sai, Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifah, the stoning of the pillars, the sacrifice, the hair cut, tawaf al-ifadah and the farewell tawaf, in plain words.
This is a plain outline of the main rites. It is not a manual: pilgrims go in organised groups with guides and scholars, and schools of thought differ on details.
Before the 8th: arrival and ihram
Pilgrims enter the state of ihram at the boundary (miqat) before Makkah, with the intention for the Hajj. See ihram. On arrival most perform a first tawaf (circling the Kaaba seven times, counter-clockwise) and the sai (walking seven times between Safa and Marwa), depending on the type of Hajj.
8 Dhu al-Hijjah: Mina
Pilgrims go to the tent city of Mina, a few kilometres from Makkah, where they spend the day in prayer.
9 Dhu al-Hijjah: Arafat
The central rite. From noon to sunset, pilgrims stand at the plain of Arafat in prayer and supplication; the Hajj is said to be "Arafat". Without standing at Arafat on this day the Hajj is not valid.
The night of the 9th: Muzdalifah
After sunset, pilgrims go to Muzdalifah, pray the Maghrib and Isha prayers together, spend the night in the open and collect small pebbles for the next day.
10 Dhu al-Hijjah: Eid al-Adha
Pilgrims return to Mina and throw seven pebbles at the largest pillar (Jamarat al-Aqaba), offer a sacrifice (usually arranged by an authorised agency), and have the head shaved (men) or a lock of hair cut (men and women). The restrictions of ihram are then largely lifted. They go to Makkah for the tawaf al-ifadah and the sai, and return to Mina.
11 to 13 Dhu al-Hijjah: the days of Tashreeq
Pilgrims stay in Mina and throw pebbles at all three pillars on each day. Pilgrims may leave after the 12th or stay for the 13th.
The farewell
Before leaving Makkah each pilgrim performs the tawaf al-wada, the farewell circling. Many then visit Madinah, the city of the Prophet's mosque, though this visit is not part of the Hajj.
Read next
Questions people ask
How many days is the Hajj?
The rites run from the 8th to the 12th or 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah, about five days, within a longer stay of a few weeks.
What is the most important rite?
Standing at Arafat on the 9th.
This is a plain introduction, not a manual and not a fatwa. Schools of thought differ on details, and pilgrims follow the guidance of the scholars of their group. Rules, fees and procedures are set by the Saudi authorities and your national Hajj authority and change every year: check the official sources. We do not sell packages.