Ifraad Hajj

Ifraad Hajj

*  The pilgrim commences the state of Ihraam (sacral state) with the intention of performing Hajj, saying, “Labbayka Hajjan (Here I am O Allah -- in response to Your call -- performing Hajj).” Upon arrival in Makkah, the pilgrim performs “Arrival Tawaaf” (circumambulation), then if he wishes to perform Sa‘y (seven circuits between Safa and Marwah) of Hajj early after the Arrival Tawaaf he is permitted to do so. Then, he remains in a state of Ihraam until the Day of Tarwiyah (the 8th day of Thul-Hijjah).

*  On the 8th day of Thul-Hijjah, he heads to Mina and stays there until the 9th day of Thul-Hijjah.

*  On the morning of 9th Thul-Hijjah, he leaves Mina to ‘Arafah and remains within its borders remembering Allah The Exalted and supplicating to Him until sunset.

*  After sunset of the Day of ‘Arafah, the pilgrim heads to Muzdalifah, where he performs the Maghrib (sunset) and ‘Ishaa’ (night) prayers and stays there until Fajr (dawn) prayer.

*  Before sunrise on 10th Thul-Hijjah, he leaves from Muzdalifah to Mina. However, if he has a valid excuse under Sharee’ah (Islamic legislation), it is permissible to go to Mina at midnight to pelt Jamrah (pillar) of Al-‘Aqabah. Then, he shaves or shortens his hair and he is not required to slaughter a sacrificial animal because he is performing Ifraad Hajj. After finishing these acts, the pilgrim makes his first dissolution of Ihraam.

*  The pilgrim then goes to Makkah and performs Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah, and Sa‘y, except if he had previously performed his Sa’y after the Arrival Tawaaf. In such a case, he is only required to perform Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah. After finishing these acts, he makes his second dissolution of Ihraam and the pilgrim is allowed to remove all restrictions of Ihraam including sexual intercourse with his wife.

*  If the pilgrim could not perform Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah, then it is permissible for him to delay it until the Days of Tashreeq.

*  After ending his state of Ihraam on the tenth day of Thul-Hijjah, the pilgrim goes to Mina to spend the night there and throw the pebbles. He spends the eleventh and the twelfth nights of Thul-Hijjah at Mina if he is in a hurry to leave, or spends the thirteenth night if he wants to leave later.

*  During the Days of Tashreeq, he throws the pebbles starting from the Thuhr (afternoon) prayer time each day starting with the Sughra Jamrah (smaller pillar), then the Wusta Jamrah (middle pillar) and finally the Jamrah of Al-‘Aqabah (largest pillar).

*  After finishing the rites on the Days of Tashreeq, it is obligatory for the pilgrim to perform the Farewell Tawaaf, but the menstruating woman or the woman who has a postpartum bleeding are exempted from this obligation of performing Tawaaf. After performing the Farewell Tawaaf, the rites of Ifraad Hajj have ended.

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