The Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) is one of the five pillars of Islam, the obligations that all Muslims must fulfill. Every adult Muslim (male or female) who has the physical and financial means must travel to Mecca to perform Hajj once in their lifetime. In Mecca, Muslims from all over the world gather in a show of faith, unity, and solidarity by re-enacting the ritual that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) performed on his last pilgrimage. Make sure you are ready to perform Hajj. Hajj should not be undertaken lightly or as an afterthought. In ancient times, it was not uncommon for pilgrims to die during their journey to Mecca. Although modern conveniences now allow millions of Muslims to travel quickly and safely to and from the holy city, the Hajj still needs to be taken seriously, and the dedication of these early pilgrims. Study the Hajj rituals, begin to clear your mind of worldly distractions, and most importantly, repent of past sins, which will be forgiven during your pilgrimage. As with all forms of Muslim worship, Hajj must be performed sincerely and out of devotion to God (Allah). Hajj cannot be performed for the purpose of gaining worldly recognition or material gain in this life.[1] Hajj must be performed in accordance with the words and actions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as described in the Sunnah.[2]

1. How to Perform Hajj Step-by-step
Guide 2022
The Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) is one of the five pillars of Islam, the obligations that all
Muslims must fulfill. Every adult Muslim (male or female) who has the physical and
financial means must travel to Mecca to perform Hajj once in their lifetime. In Mecca,
Muslims from all over the world gather in a show of faith, unity, and solidarity by
re-enacting the ritual that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him) performed on his last pilgrimage.

2. Step 1:
How to prepare for the Hajj
Make sure you are ready to perform Hajj. Hajj should not be undertaken lightly or as an
afterthought. In ancient times, it was not uncommon for pilgrims to die during their
journey to Mecca. Although modern conveniences now allow millions of Muslims to
travel quickly and safely to and from the holy city, the Hajj still needs to be taken
seriously, and the dedication of these early pilgrims. Study the Hajj rituals, begin to clear
your mind of worldly distractions, and most importantly, repent of past sins, which will be
forgiven during your pilgrimage.
● As with all forms of Muslim worship, Hajj must be performed sincerely and out
of devotion to God (Allah). Hajj cannot be performed for the purpose of gaining
worldly recognition or material gain in this life.[1]
● Hajj must be performed in accordance with the words and actions of the
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as described
in the Sunnah.[2]

3. Step 2:
Decide which type of Hajj you will undertake
When it comes to Performing hajj as a Muslim we have three different options.Each
offers a slightly different experience in terms of the rituals performed and the timeline of
pilgrimage events. The three types of pilgrimage are:[3]
● Tamattu’. This is the most common form of pilgrimage and the one
recommended by the Prophet Muhammad himself (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him).[4] Tamattu’ involves the pilgrim performing the rites of the
lesser pilgrimage ritual known as Umrah, and then performing the rites of Hajj.
The pilgrims who perform the Tamattu’ are called Mutamatti. As this is the
most common type of pilgrimage, especially for foreigners to Saudi Arabia, the
rest of this guide assumes that you will be doing this type of pilgrimage.
● Qiran. In this option, the pilgrim performs the rites of Umrah and Hajj in one
continuous act with no “interruptions” in between. Pilgrims who perform Qiran
are called Qaarin.
● Ifraad. Finally, this form of pilgrimage involves performing only the rites of Hajj,
not Umrah either. This form of pilgrimage also stands out for being the only
one that does not require animal sacrifice. Pilgrims who perform Ifraad are
called Mufrid.

4. Step 3:
Plan your Visit to Saudia Arabia
Plan your trip to Saudi Arabia. Hajj takes place in and around the holy city of Mecca,
which is now in the country of Saudi Arabia. Just like when you travel to any foreign
country, you will want to have your passports, travel documents, tickets, etc. resolved
well in advance. Note that national governments can sometimes take time to issue new
passports when old ones expire.
● Hajj takes place from the 8th to the 12th of Dhul-Hijjah, the 12th month of the
Islamic calendar. As the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, the date of Hajj
changes from year to year in the Western Gregorian calendar. Please note
that according to the Saudi government, the last day pilgrims can arrive at

5. King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah for Hajj is the 4th day of
Dhul-Hijjah.
● The Saudi government offers special “Hajj visas” to American Muslims who
have not made the pilgrimage in the past five years. Obtaining one of these
visas requires a current passport, a completed application form, copies of
marriage or birth certificates, and a current vaccination record.
● Pilgrims often travel to perform Hajj in groups as a show of solidarity. Contact
members of your local Muslim community to see if any are performing Hajj this
year; if so, you might consider coordinating your travels.

6. Step 4:
Prepare to be immersed in religion
Get ready to delve into religion. As a traditionalist Islamic monarchy, the nation of Saudi
Arabia has rules of personal conduct, especially for women, which may be unknown to
foreigners. All women performing Hajj must plan to travel in the company of a mahram,
any related male such as a father, brother, husband, son, or a person approved in
accordance with Islamic law[5]. Women over 45 years old can perform Hajj without
Mahram if they are part of a large group and have a notarized consent letter from their
husband.

7. ● All people, women and men, who participate in the Hajj should prepare to be
extremely modest during their stay in Saudi Arabia. Clothing should be modest
and unadorned; during much of the pilgrimage, men require special religious
attire. Colognes, perfumes, makeup and scented soaps should be avoided.
When a pilgrim enters the sacred state of Ihram of ritual purity, smoking,
cursing, shaving, cutting nails and having sex are forbidden.
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