This is the first of a 3-part series on practical tips for a productive Hajj.

1. Hajj Tips Series
Part 1: Pre-Departure and Madinah

2. Intentions
 Actions are judged by intentions. Frequently
purify and renew your intentions ,
especially when you face challenges or feel
lazy.
 Guard yourself from that which can pollute
your intentions. Be cautious about thoughts,
feelings, activities, discussions, and people
that could take you away from Allah [swt]’s
pleasure.

3. Personal Preparation
 You’re on a journey of dua, so write a dua
list with your own duas and the ones that
others ask you to make for them. The list will
help when you’re overwhelmed by emotion
or tiredness but need to remember those
duas.
 Learn how to pray the Janazah salah.
You’ll get many opportunities to pray it and
get its rewards and benefits.
 Practise abundant sabr. Things will go
wrong, so be mentally prepared and make
the decision to be patient, not panic, and
enjoy it, taking positives from it. Stop and
think before you complain, and try to see the
wisdom in Allah [swt]’s putting the problem in
your path.

4. Personal Preparation
(Continued)
 Fear and anxiety are all in your
mind. The reality usually isn’t as
bad as you imagined.
Necessity conquers fear , so
try to save yourself the trouble
beforehand by remembering this.
 At all times, DO NOT do
things that will displease
Allah [swt] . Be very careful of
mixed-gender social gatherings,
and be careful of over-indulging
in food and other pleasures.

5. Logistics
 Don’t pack a lot of clothes . Be prepared
to do a little bit of your own washing
(handwashing in the bath) every few days –
unless you want to pay crazy laundry prices.
 Don’t fret over foreign exchange .
Consult your operator if there are money
exchanges near the Haram (other than
banks). At the very least, have some Riyals
for your first day or so.
 When travelling, always keep your money
on you (i.e. not in a suitcase). If you’re
travelling with someone, split the money
between you for safety reasons.
 Make your luggage uniquely
identifiable. Even if you have to put bright
children’s stickers on, do it. Embarrassment
is better than struggling to find your bags.

6. While
Travelling
 Guard your salah at all times .
Learn about salaah of the traveller,
including how to make wudu and salah
on a plane. Fajr on the plane is about an
hour before sunrise – wherever you are
– so ask the flight crew to help with
timing and qibla direction, and do your
best. Don’t skip salah, or make it late,
just because of travel. You have to try to
make salah on the plane.
 Look for positive opportunities to help
others. Share your food, and if you’re
efficient in handling paperwork, luggage
and getting to the right places, try to
help those who find it difficult. Make a
special effort to help the elderly.

7. While Travelling
(Continued)
 Avoid in-flight entertainment . Start avoiding these distractions so that it’ll be easier
to shun them in Madinah or Makkah (where TV is available in your hotel room).
 If your leader(s) seem to be making things worse, keep your cool and encourage
others to do the same. Be firm, but in a constructive manner, to ensure that things get
sorted out – without being insulting to those who are not fulfilling your expectations. Be
patient, make dua for them and focus on making the trial as smooth as possible.
 While waiting, use your time wisely . Avoid things that have no spiritual benefit, and
stick to that which is beneficial – even if it’s not formal worship – such as spiritually
beneficial conversations.
 When foreigners push and shove, be patient, compassionate and firm . Maybe
they’re not trying to be rude. Maybe it’s just normal behaviour in their country.
 Before disembarking, use the toilet on the plane. The airport toilets might not be
clean.

8. General Tips for
Madinah
 Early on, imagine how it’ll be
when you have to leave
Madinah. Use this feeling to help
you appreciate it and make the most
of it.
 Consider Madinah as an
essential Hajj preparation.
Make an intention that your time
there will be spent in activities that
help purify you and bring you closer
to Allah [swt], so that when you get
to Makkah (and beyond that, Mina
and Hajj), you’re in a far better state
than you were when you left home.

9. General Tips for
Madinah
(Continued)
 Mobile phones and other distractions will often be
present. You can’t change or avoid this, so don’t
complain. Accept the reality and try to focus
your heart on Allah[swt] instead – building a
strong connection that won’t let these minor things
disturb you. Make dua to achieve that state, and try
to achieve it through sabr.
 Hajj is a journey of dua and constant
connection to Allah [swt], so make all the
duas you want. Strengthen your bond with Allah
[swt] througha acts of worship pleasing to Him.
After all, back home, you’ll probably never get this
kind of chance to focus 100% on such activities.
Embrace and use the chances while you have
them on this trip.
 Drink plenty of zam-zam, and make intentions
each time, and duas with it. Believe with certainty
that it has the benefits mentioned in the hadiths.

10. General Tips for
Madinah (continued)
 Since you’ll probably be spending a lot of
time in the masjid between salahs, plan
your time beforehand and take the stuff
you’ll need (e.g. your Qur'an, books, pen and
paper, and even your Netbook / iPad /
tablet).
 For males, if it’s too busy in or outside the
masjid, try to go up to the roof. It’s
amazing up there – and much quieter.
 In the Rawda, don’t push and don’t be
rude, even if others are. Be patient, and
when you get your chance, don’t take too
much time. Give others a chance.
Remember that as soon as you’re on the
cream carpet, you’re in the Rawda. So even
if you can’t make salah yet, still make dua –
because you’re in a piece of Jannah!

11. Touring in
Madinah
 When touring, you’ll meet people who
make things difficult for others. If you
have no control, don’t complain or
whine. Just appreciate that you got to
be there and make the most of it. Make
dua that you’ll get another chance to
FULLY experience it in future.
 When visiting masajid and sacred sites,
don’t disturb the people there.
Maintain the proper etiquettes of the
place and follow the posted rules (e.g.
no photography).
 When learning about historical events
and places, try to extract lessons that
you can apply in today’s times, and your
own personal life.

12. Touring in Madinah
(Continued)
 Don’t believe everything you hear about the historical sites. Many people narrate
unauthentic stories and folklore that may have no real basis.
 Although the Saudi government discourages visits to certain historical sites, try to
understand the reasoning behind this. If you want to visit those sites for legitimate
reasons (i.e. you’re NOT going to do bi’dah there), visit. It helps you make more of your
trip, and also gives you a taste of other areas that aren’t so shiny and impressive.
 Try to visit the Madinah Multimedia Museum if possible.
 Very carefully manage and limit your shopping so that you can maximise your time
in the masjid. You may never visit Madinah again, so remember that shopping is a side
benefit – not the main reason you’re there.

13. Touring in
Madinah
(Continued)
 For males, try to visit
Janatul Baqi – but DO
NOT carry out any acts of
shirk or bidah. Never,
ever pray TO the dead –
only pray FOR them!
 Participate in a burial
if you can – and make it a
means of benefit:
remember that you will
be in this position
one day.

14. Credits
 Tips extracted from the “Hajj
Chronicles” e-book:
http://wp.me/p12QS-su.
 Pictures from:
 Fagrie Hendricks
 Zeenat Parker
 Yacoob Manjoo
 http://culturextourism.com
 http://www.empowernetw
ork.com
 www.travelpod.com
 http://navedz.com/
 http://susieofarabia.wordp
ress.com/
 http://almiskeenah.com