Description of Hajj and ‘Umrah, and prohibited acts during Ihraam                

In these days comes the season of your traveling to visit the Sacred House, hoping Allah’s Forgiveness from all sins and misdeeds and anticipating to win the everlasting felicity in the Abode of Peace, and firmly believing that you will get the immediate recompense from Allah, the Lord of Majesty and Splendor.

O Muslims! You head for virtuous places in virtuous times and dignified sanctuaries to perform one of the most honored kinds of worship, not out of pride or  hypocrisy, nor for fun or recreation. Rather, you do this for the sake of Allah and as an asset for the Last Abode. Thus, you should practice this worship as commanded by Allah, without excess or negligence, so that you may attain your goal, i.e., the remittance of sins and winning the everlasting felicity. In your travel and stay you should abide by what Allah enjoined on you of purification, prayer, as well as other religious rituals. If water is available, you should purify yourselves with it, and if it is lacking, you may resort to Tayammum, wiping over your faces and hands with the pure dust.

Establish prayer in congregation, and don’t be diverted from it, by occupying yourselves with tasks that you can fulfil after establishing prayer. Soon after departing your towns, you may shorten the four-Rak’ah prayers, Thuhur, ‘Aser , and ‘Ishaa’ prayers, reducing each to two Rak’ahs only until you return home. This is applicable in all cases, unless you join congregational prayers performed completely. Combine both Thuhur and ‘Aser  prayers together, making both at the time of Thuhur prayer or at the time of ‘Aser , and combine Maghrib  and ‘Ishaa’ prayers, making both at the time of Maghrib  or at the time of ‘Ishaa’. This is applicable if you are on the move. However, if you are settling in Makkah  or Mina, it will be nearer to the Sunnah not to combine prayers, but you will still have the option to combine.

 Adopt good moralities of truthfulness, tolerance, cheerfulness, generosity and benevolence as Allah loves the benevolent. Be patient for what you face of hardships and harm, since Allah is with those who are patient. It was reported that journey ‘Safaar’ was called so in Arabic, because it reveals (Asfar) the real moralities of people. When you reach the Miqaat, bathe yourselves and apply perfume to your bodies, including your heads and beards, then wear the uniform of Ihraam without performing it. The uniform of Ihraam for men includes two pieces of white upper and lower garments. As for women, they may wear whatever they wish of clothes, without revealing their adornments. Don’t exceed the Miqaat without putting on Ihraam! Perform Ihraam from the first Miqaat you pass by, because the Prophet (peace be upon him) defined Miqaats and said: “These are for their dwellers and for those who pass by them other than their dwellers.” In case of traveling by air, passengers should prepare themselves for Ihraam then intend Ihraam when they pass alongside Miqaat before exceeding it. After Ihraam, you should go to Makkah  while pronouncing Talbiah, like that pronounced by the Prophet (peace be upon him) i.e., labbayka allahumma labbayka, labbayka la sharika laka labbayka (I respond to Your call O Allah, I respond to Your call, and I am obedient to Your orders, You have no partner, I respond to Your call. All the praises and blessings are for You, all the sovereignty is for You, and You have no partners with you.) Only men should raise their voices while pronouncing Talbiah.