Makkah Tours

Hajj literally means 'to set out for a place'. Islamically however it refers to the annual pilgrimage that Muslims make to Makkah with the intention of performing certain religious rites in accordance with the method prescribed by the Prophet Muhammad .

Hajj and its rites were first ordained by Allah in the time of the Prophet lbrahim [Abraham] and he was the one who was entrusted by Allah to build the Kaba - the House of Allah - along with his son Ismail [Ishmael] at Makkah.

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Three Forms of Hajj Rituals...

Tamattu': A pilgrim wears Ihram for Umrah only during the months of Hajj, which means when a pilgrim reaches Makkah, he/she makes Tawaf and Sa'yi for Umrah. Then shaves or clips the hair. On the day of Tarwiya, which is the eighth of Dhul-Hijja, a pilgrim puts on his Ihram for Hajj only and carries out all of its requirements.

Ifraad: A pilgrim wears Ihram for Hajj only. When he reaches Makkah, he performs Tawaf for his arrival and Sa'yi for Hajj. He doesn't shave or clip his hair as he doesn't disengage from Ihram. Instead, he remains in Ihram till after he stones Jamrah Al-Aqaba on the Eid day. It is permissible for him to postpone his Sa'yi for Hajj until after his Tawaf for Hajj.

Qiran: A pilgrim wears Ihram for both Umrah and Hajj or he wears Ihram first for Umrah, then makes intentions for Hajj before his Tawaf for Hajj. The obligations on one performing Ifraad are the same as those on one performing Qiran, except that the latter must slaughter whereas the former is not obligated to do so. The best of the three forms is Tamattu'. It is the form that the prophet-may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him encouraged his followers to perform.

*Even if a pilgrim makes intentions to perform Qiran or Ifraad he is allowed to change his intentions to Tamattu'; he can do this even after he has performed Tawaf and Sa'yi.

When the Prophet - may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him- performed Tawaf and Sa'yi during the year of the Farewell Hajj with his companions, he ordered all those who hadn't brought sacrificial animals to change their intentions for Hajj to intentions for Umrah. cut their hair, and disengage from Ihram till Hajj. He said, " If I hadn't brought the sacrificial animal, I'd have done what I've ordered you to do."

Labbaik Allahumma labbaik... (Here I am present, O' God, I am present...) This is the chant which the pilgrims say when they are traveling for pilgrimage.
 

Some Virtues of Hajj and Umrah

The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Umrah is an expiation for the time between it and the previous ‘Umrah’ and an accepted Hajj has no less a reward than Paradise”. (Narrated by al-Bukhari 1683, Muslim 1349).

The Prophet (pbuh) said: “He who performs Hajj and does not speak obscenely or commit evil then he returns just as the day his mother gave birth to him” (Narrated by Bukhaari, Ahmed, Nasai and Ibn Majah from Abu Hurairah).

The Prophet (pbuh) said: “There is no day on which Allah frees more of His slaves from Fire than the Day of Arafah.” (Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu’minin).

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was asked which deed is the best? He said, “Belief in Allah and His messengers. He was asked, then what? He said, Jihad for the sake of Allah. He was asked, then what? He said, Hajj Mabrour (an accepted Hajj).” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari 26).