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The Rites of Hajj and Umrah
The miqats, tawaf, sai and the main stages described in the Prophet’s pilgrimage.
Key concepts
Miqats and entering ihram
The miqats mark where those intending Hajj or Umrah enter ihram on the designated routes. Ibn Abbas’s report names Dhul-Hulaifah for Madinah, Al-Juhfah for Sham, Qarn al-Manazil for Najd and Yalamlam for Yemen. These designations also apply to other pilgrims who pass through those places; the route matters, not only where someone lives.
Tawaf and sai
The Prophet began tawaf at the Black Stone, completed seven circuits and prayed two units at the Station of Ibrahim. Sai starts at Safa and ends at Marwah after seven one-way passages. One passage is a journey from one hill to the other; this avoids confusing a single passage with a complete return trip.
Mina and Arafat
In Jabir’s pilgrimage account, the Prophet went to Mina on the day of Tarwiyah, the eighth of Dhul-Hijjah, and to Arafat the following day. He remained at Arafat until sunset before leaving. These stages give the pilgrimage its sequence of places and times and help distinguish its rites from those of Umrah.
Muzdalifah and the day of sacrifice
At Muzdalifah, the Prophet combined Maghrib and Isha. On the day of sacrifice he threw seven pebbles at Jamrat al-Aqabah. His supplication repeatedly mentioned those who shaved their heads before including those who shortened their hair. These reports help identify the main acts of the pilgrimage.
Farewell and specific allowances
The farewell tawaf is the final rite before departure, with the stated exemption for a menstruating woman. The Prophet told Aishah to defer tawaf during menstruation while taking part in the other pilgrimage activities. In the report about acts performed in a changed order on the day of sacrifice, he answered the questions with reassurance to proceed.
Further reading and resources
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