بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
What we must do, what we must avoid, and the supplications for the journey — Madinah, then Makkah.
A plain-language reference, following the majority position.Madinah · Makkah · ʿArafah · Muzdalifah · Minā
Not everything in Hajj carries the same weight. Knowing the difference is what protects your Hajj.
Scholars sort the acts of Hajj into three tiers. This reference is built around them — the obligatory acts are stated plainly and first; recommended acts appear where they matter most (the common and recommended duʿāʾs in Part IV).
If you miss one, the Hajj itself is invalid. It cannot be repaired with a sacrifice — it must be completed properly. There is no compromise here.
If you miss one without excuse, the Hajj remains valid, but you must offer a dam — a compensatory sacrifice (a sheep, or a one-seventh share in a cow or camel), slaughtered in the Haram and given to the poor.
Extra reward and the beauty of following the Prophet ﷺ. Omitting these is no sin and requires nothing.
The four schools (Ḥanafī, Mālikī, Shāfiʿī, Ḥanbalī) agree on the heart of Hajj but differ on a handful of classifications — for example, whether Saʿī is a pillar or an obligation, the minimum circuits of Saʿī, and whether the Farewell Ṭawāf is obligatory or recommended. Where a difference materially affects what you do, it is flagged. Your Hajj group will follow one school — let their scholars be the final word for your specific situation, especially for any penalty or mistake. This document follows the majority position and notes the alternatives.
Most pilgrims travelling from abroad perform Hajj al-Tamattuʿ — ʿUmrah first, exit iḥrām, then re-enter iḥrām for Hajj on the 8th of Dhū al-Ḥijjah. The timeline below assumes Tamattuʿ. Tamattuʿ and Qirān both require a Hady (sacrifice). If your group has chosen Ifrād or Qirān, the sequence is the same but you do not exit iḥrām between ʿUmrah and Hajj.
Visited first on your route — but visiting Madinah is not a rite of Hajj.
There is no obligatory act of Hajj that takes place in Madinah, and your Hajj is complete and valid whether or not you ever go there. The journey is undertaken to pray in the Prophet's Mosque (al-Masjid an-Nabawī) — one of the three mosques to which travel is encouraged — not to the grave itself. Keep that intention clear: you are travelling to the mosque to worship Allah, and while there you also offer salām to the Prophet ﷺ and his two companions.
Scholars agree on sending salām and that worship is for Allah alone. They differ on secondary matters of etiquette and on tawassul (seeking intercession through the Prophet’s status) — a long-standing, legitimate point of difference between respected scholars. Follow the guidance of your group’s scholars; this guide stays on the ground all agree on.
The pillars cannot be skipped. The obligations, if missed, cost a sacrifice. Everything here is one or the other.
The pillars must be done in their proper sequence. Iḥrām before ʿArafah; ʿArafah before Ṭawāf al-Ifāḍah; Saʿī after a valid ṭawāf.
The operational order of obligatory acts (Sunnah refinements omitted for clarity):
Enter iḥrām for ʿUmrah at/before the mīqāt → Ṭawāf (7) → two rakʿah at/behind Maqām Ibrāhīm → Saʿī (7) between Ṣafā and Marwah → shorten the hair → exit iḥrām. You are now in normal clothing until the 8th.
Make iḥrām for Hajj from your residence in Makkah, intend Hajj, resume the Talbiyah. Proceed to Minā. Pray Ẓuhr, ʿAṣr, Maghrib, ʿIshāʾ and the next Fajr there — four-unit prayers shortened to two, not combined.
After sunrise move to ʿArafah. Be present within ʿArafah’s boundary from the time fixed by your school (after Zawāl for the majority) until sunset. Combine and shorten Ẓuhr and ʿAṣr. Spend the day in duʿāʾ facing the qiblah — this is the summit of the whole Hajj. Do not leave ʿArafah before sunset. After Maghrib, depart to Muzdalifah (Maghrib is delayed and prayed at Muzdalifah).
Pray Maghrib and ʿIshāʾ combined there. Remain (the obligation), gather pebbles, rest. The Sunnah is to stay until after Fajr and make duʿāʾ at al-Mashʿar al-Ḥarām; the weak may leave after midnight.
The recommended order is as listed, but there is breadth here: if some are done out of order on this day, the majority hold there is no penalty. Return to Minā for the night.
Spend the nights in Minā (obligation). Each day after Zawāl, stone the three pillars in order — the small (Ṣughrā), then middle (Wusṭā), then large (ʿAqabah) — seven pebbles at each, Allāhu Akbar with every throw. You may leave after the 12th (before Maghrib) — this is permitted; or stay for the 13th, which is more complete.
The final act: seven circuits, then leave. No Saʿī and no shaving after it. Make it the last thing you do in the Haram. Menstruating women are excused from it.
From the moment you enter iḥrām until you are released from it, certain ordinary things become forbidden.
For most iḥrām violations (perfume, cutting hair/nails, wearing prohibited clothing) the expiation is a choice of one: fast three days, feed six poor persons, or sacrifice a sheep. Hunting has its own specific compensation. An act done by genuine mistake, forgetfulness, or compulsion generally carries no penalty by the majority — simply stop and correct it. For anything serious, consult your group’s scholar rather than guessing.
Arabic, transliteration, and meaning — for each station of the journey.
Apart from the Talbiyah and the intention, there is no fixed wording obligatory at any station. The narrated duʿāʾs below are recommended; between them, pour out your own heart in your own language. Allah hears every tongue and looks at the heart. Write your personal list before you travel — in the emotion of the moment you will forget.
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
Labbayk Allāhumma labbayk. Labbayk lā sharīka laka labbayk. Inna l-ḥamda wa n-niʿmata laka wa l-mulk. Lā sharīka lak.
"Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Verily all praise, grace, and sovereignty belong to You. You have no partner."
Bukhārī 1549 · Muslim 1184
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ حَجًّا · لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ عُمْرَةً
Labbayk Allāhumma Ḥajjan · Labbayk Allāhumma ʿUmratan
"Here I am, O Allah, for Hajj." · "Here I am, O Allah, for ʿUmrah."
Muslim 1218
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ الْحَجَّ فَيَسِّرْهُ لِي وَتَقَبَّلْهُ مِنِّي
Allāhumma innī urīdu l-Ḥajja fa yassirhu lī wa taqabbalhu minnī.
"O Allah, I intend to perform Hajj, so make it easy for me and accept it from me."
Practice of the early generations
اللَّهُمَّ مَحِلِّي حَيْثُ حَبَسْتَنِي
Allāhumma maḥillī ḥaythu ḥabastanī.
"O Allah, my place of release is wherever You prevent me." (If something then prevents you, you may exit iḥrām without penalty.)
Bukhārī 5089 · Muslim 1207
اللَّهُمَّ زِدْ هَذَا الْبَيْتَ تَشْرِيفًا وَتَعْظِيمًا وَتَكْرِيمًا وَمَهَابَةً، وَزِدْ مَنْ شَرَّفَهُ وَكَرَّمَهُ مِمَّنْ حَجَّهُ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَهُ تَشْرِيفًا وَتَعْظِيمًا وَتَكْرِيمًا وَبِرًّا
Allāhumma zid hādhā l-bayta tashrīfan wa taʿẓīman wa takrīman wa mahābah, wa zid man sharrafahu wa karramahu mimman ḥajjahu awi ʿtamarahu tashrīfan wa taʿẓīman wa takrīman wa birrā.
"O Allah, increase this House in honour, esteem, nobility, and reverence; and increase those who honour and ennoble it among those who perform Hajj or ʿUmrah in honour, esteem, nobility, and righteousness."
Reported by al-Bayhaqī / al-Shāfiʿī
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Bismillāhi, Allāhu Akbar.
"In the name of Allah; Allah is the Greatest."
Reported by al-Bayhaqī
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbanā ātinā fi d-dunyā ḥasanatan wa fi l-ākhirati ḥasanatan wa qinā ʿadhāba n-nār.
"Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the Fire."
Qurʾān 2:201 · Abū Dāwūd 1892
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
SubḥānAllāhi, wa l-ḥamdu lillāhi, wa lā ilāha illā llāhu, wAllāhu Akbar, wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh.
"Glory be to Allah; all praise is for Allah; there is no god but Allah; Allah is the Greatest; there is no power nor strength except with Allah."
Ibn Mājah
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا، وَرِزْقًا وَاسِعًا، وَشِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ
Allāhumma innī asʾaluka ʿilman nāfiʿan, wa rizqan wāsiʿan, wa shifāʾan min kulli dāʾ.
"O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, abundant provision, and a cure from every illness." (Zamzam is for whatever it is drunk for — make your most heartfelt duʿāʾ.)
Reported by al-Dāraquṭnī · Ibn Mājah 3062
وَاتَّخِذُوا مِنْ مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى
Wa-ttakhidhū min maqāmi Ibrāhīma muṣallā.
"And take the standing place of Ibrāhīm as a place of prayer." (Then pray two rakʿah — Sūrat al-Kāfirūn in the first, al-Ikhlāṣ in the second — then make duʿāʾ.)
Qurʾān 2:125
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ — أَبْدَأُ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللَّهُ بِهِ
Inna ṣ-Ṣafā wa l-Marwata min shaʿāʾirillāh — Abdaʾu bimā badaʾa llāhu bih.
"Indeed, Ṣafā and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah — I begin with what Allah began with."
Qurʾān 2:158 · Muslim 1218
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ. لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ. لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ، أَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ، وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ، وَهَزَمَ الْأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ
Allāhu Akbar (×3). Lā ilāha illā llāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu l-mulku wa lahu l-ḥamdu wa huwa ʿalā kulli shayʾin Qadīr. Lā ilāha illā llāhu waḥdah, anjaza waʿdah, wa naṣara ʿabdah, wa hazama l-aḥzāba waḥdah.
"Allah is the Greatest (×3). There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner; His is the sovereignty and His is the praise, and He is able to do all things. There is no god but Allah alone; He fulfilled His promise, aided His servant, and defeated the confederates alone."
Muslim 1218
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْأَعَزُّ الْأَكْرَمُ
Rabbi-ghfir wa-rḥam innaka anta l-aʿazzu l-akram.
"My Lord, forgive and have mercy; indeed You are the Most Mighty, the Most Generous."
Reported practice of the Salaf
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Lā ilāha illā llāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu l-mulku wa lahu l-ḥamdu wa huwa ʿalā kulli shayʾin Qadīr.
"There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner; His is the sovereignty and His is the praise, and He is able to do all things."
Tirmidhī 3585
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ كَرِيمٌ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Allāhumma innaka ʿAfuwwun Karīmun tuḥibbu l-ʿafwa faʿfu ʿannī.
"O Allah, You are the Pardoner, the Generous; You love to pardon, so pardon me."
Tirmidhī 3513
رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا وَإِنْ لَمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
Rabbanā ẓalamnā anfusanā wa in lam taghfir lanā wa tarḥamnā lanakūnanna mina l-khāsirīn.
"Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves; if You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will surely be among the losers."
Qurʾān 7:23
اللَّهُمَّ آتِ نَفْسِي تَقْوَاهَا وَزَكِّهَا أَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا أَنْتَ وَلِيُّهَا وَمَوْلَاهَا
Allāhumma āti nafsī taqwāhā wa zakkihā anta khayru man zakkāhā, anta waliyyuhā wa mawlāhā.
"O Allah, grant my soul its piety and purify it — You are the best to purify it; You are its Guardian and Master."
Muslim 2722
فَإِذَا أَفَضْتُمْ مِنْ عَرَفَاتٍ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ عِنْدَ الْمَشْعَرِ الْحَرَامِ وَاذْكُرُوهُ كَمَا هَدَاكُمْ
Fa-idhā afaḍtum min ʿArafātin fadhkurū llāha ʿinda l-Mashʿari l-Ḥarām, wadhkurūhu kamā hadākum.
"And when you depart from ʿArafāt, remember Allah at al-Mashʿar al-Ḥarām; and remember Him as He has guided you." (Make duʿāʾ, takbīr and tahlīl facing the qiblah until the sky brightens.)
Qurʾān 2:198
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allāhu Akbar.
"Allah is the Greatest."
Bukhārī · Muslim
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ حَجًّا مَبْرُورًا، وَسَعْيًا مَشْكُورًا، وَذَنْبًا مَغْفُورًا
Allāhumma-jʿalhu ḥajjan mabrūran, wa saʿyan mashkūran, wa dhanban maghfūrā.
"O Allah, make it an accepted Hajj, an effort that is appreciated, and a sin that is forgiven."
Reported by al-Ḥākim
After the large pillar (Jamrat al-ʿAqabah), do not stand to make duʿāʾ — the Prophet ﷺ stoned it and left immediately. (Bukhārī 1751)
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ، اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
Bismillāh, wa ṣ-ṣalātu wa s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Allāhumma-ftaḥ lī abwāba raḥmatik.
"In the name of Allah; prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, open for me the gates of Your mercy."
Muslim 713 (mosque-entry duʿāʾ) · with salām on the Prophet ﷺ
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
As-salāmu ʿalayka yā Rasūlallāhi wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh.
"Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings." (Then step right: "As-salāmu ʿalayka yā Abā Bakr" … then "As-salāmu ʿalayka yā ʿUmar.")
Established practice of the Companions
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
Bismillāh, tawakkaltu ʿalā llāh, wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh.
"In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah; there is no power nor strength except with Allah."
Abū Dāwūd 5095 · Tirmidhī 3426
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ
SubḥānAlladhī sakhkhara lanā hādhā wa mā kunnā lahu muqrinīn, wa innā ilā Rabbinā lamunqalibūn.
"Glory be to Him who subjected this to us, and we could never have done it ourselves; and indeed, to our Lord we shall return."
Qurʾān 43:13–14 · Muslim 1342
رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ، وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
Rabbanā taqabbal minnā innaka anta s-Samīʿu l-ʿAlīm, wa tub ʿalaynā innaka anta t-Tawwābu r-Raḥīm.
"Our Lord, accept from us; indeed You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. And turn to us in mercy; indeed You are the Acceptor of Repentance, the Most Merciful."
Qurʾān 2:127–128
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَعَافِنِي وَارْزُقْنِي
Rabbi-ghfir lī wa-rḥamnī wa-hdinī wa ʿāfinī wa-rzuqnī.
"My Lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, grant me wellbeing, and provide for me."
Muslim 2697
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي، فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
Allāhumma anta Rabbī lā ilāha illā ant, khalaqtanī wa anā ʿabduk, wa anā ʿalā ʿahdika wa waʿdika ma-staṭaʿt. Aʿūdhu bika min sharri mā ṣanaʿt, abūʾu laka bi niʿmatika ʿalayya wa abūʾu bi dhanbī, fa-ghfir lī fa-innahu lā yaghfiru dh-dhunūba illā ant.
"O Allah, You are my Lord; there is no god but You. You created me and I am Your servant; I hold to Your covenant and promise as best I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil I have done; I acknowledge Your blessings upon me and I acknowledge my sin — so forgive me, for none forgives sins but You."
Bukhārī 6306
Prepared as a personal reference for the journey. The narrated duʿāʾs are recommended, not obligatory — sincerity outweighs exact wording. For any ruling, mistake, or penalty specific to your situation, the scholars accompanying your Hajj group are your authority.