The Obligatory Acts of Hajj

They are thirteen, as follows:

1. Ihram in Mecca, and the best place there is al-Masjid al-Haraam. If one is not capable of doing Ihram in Mecca for a certain reason, they must do Ihram in any place they are able to.

2. Staying in ‘Arafaat on the ninth day of the sacred month of Dhil-hijjah from after noon time until sunset, enough for the pilgrim to do the ghusl and pray noon and afternoon prayers. ‘Arafaat falls about twenty two kilometres from Mecca.

3. Staying in Muzdalifah for any part of the night of ‘Eid (the night of the tenth of Dhil-hijjah) until before sunrise. Muzdalifah is between Arafaat and Mecca.

4. Casting the Jamrah al-‘Aqabah in Mina on the day of ‘Eid, and Mina is about less than six kilometres away from Mecca.

5. Slaughtering of an animal in Mina on the day of ‘Eid or the days of Tashriq.

6. Shaving or shortening of hair in Mina, and everything that was forbidden for him to do during Ihram becomes permissible, other than women and perfume, and hunting by precaution.

7. The Tawaf of Ziyarah after returning to Mecca.

8. Prayer of Tawaf.

9. Sa’i between Safa and Marwah, and after this perfume become permissible to use.

10. Tawaf al-Nisa`.

11. The prayer of Tawaf al-Nisa`, and after this women become halal.

12. Staying over in Mina on the night of the eleventh and twelfth of Dhil-hijjah, and in some circumstances until the night of the thirteenth.

13. The casting of the three Jamaraat on the eleventh, twelfth, and in some circumstances until the thirteenth day.