Performing Hajj and Umrah (3)

You then descend from as-Safa and do the Sa’ayi of the Umrah seven times. Increase your pace between the green posts, but walk at a normal pace before and after them. When you climb on Marwah, praise Allah and do as you did at as-Safa, repeating your supplications. If you can conveniently do so, three […]

You then descend from as-Safa and do the Sa’ayi of the Umrah seven times. Increase your pace between the green posts, but walk at a normal pace before and after them. When you climb on Marwah, praise Allah and do as you did at as-Safa, repeating your supplications. If you can conveniently do so, three times.
There are no required formulas or supplications for Tawaf and Sa’ayi. It is up to the worshipper to praise Allah or supplicate Him with due regard to the supplications which the Prophet (peace be on him) recited during the performance of those rites.
After Sa’ayi, end your Umrah by shaving or shortening your hair. After this, the prohibitions pertaining to the state of Ihram are lifted and you may resume your normal life.
If you are doing Hajj al-Tamatt’u the sacrifice of a sheep or the seventh part of a camel or a cow becomes obligatory for you on the Day of Sacrifice (the 10th of Dhul-Hajjah). If you cannot afford this sacrifice, it is obligatory for you to fast 10 days – three of them during the Hajj and seven after returning home.
If you are performing Hajj al-Tamatt’u or Hajj al-Qiran, it is preferable to fast these three days before the Day of Arafat (the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah).
The performance of Hajj
If you ‘are performing Hajj al-Ifrad or Hajj-Qiran (i.e. hajj combined with ‘umrah), you enter into ihram at the station of Ihram (almiqat) through which you pass on your way to Makkah.
If you do not pass through any station of lhram on your way to Makkah for hajj from your residence in Makkah on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah, perform ghusl (shower or washing of the entire body), perfume yourself if possible, and put on the two garments of Ihram. This applies to men. Women likewise perform ghusl but are not to use perfume. They may wear any suitable clothes they have as long as they do not show their adornments and cover part of their bodies except the hands and face.
For woman, if she is in the presence of other men who are not her immediate relatives, like her husband, father, brother or son, she should cover her face. After putting on ihram make your niyyah (intention) by saying:
Labbayk Allahumma labbayk. Labbayka La shareeka lak. Innal-hamda wannamata laka wal-mulk La shareeka lak.  (Here I am at your service. O Lord, here I am here I am. You have no partner. Here I am, truly, the praise and the favor is yours, and the dominion. you have partner).
You then go to Mina, where you pray the Dhuhr, Asr, Magrib, Isha and Fajr prayers at their proper times, shortening prayers of four raka’as to two raka’as. Do not ‘combine these prayers.
When the sun has risen on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, proceed toward Arafat in a dignified manner and without harming your fellow pilgrims.
At Arafat, pray the Dhuhr and Asr prayers, shortened and combined during the time of Dhuhr with one adhan and two iqamahs. Make sure that you are within the boundaries of Arafa. Stay within the boundaries of Arafat, except the valley of Oranah, reciting the praise of Allah the Most High, and offering supplications facing the qiblah with upraised hands as was the practice of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Remain at Arafat untill after sunset.
When the sun has set, proceed towards Muzdalifa in a peaceful and dignified manner, reciting the talbiyyah. Do not harm or cause any discomfort to your fellow Muslims.
When you arrive at Muzdalifa, pray the Magrib and Isha prayers combined, shortening Isha to two raka’ats. Stay at Muzdalifa untill you have prayed the Fajr prayer, Then wait unti1 the brightness of the morning is wide spread; supplicate facing the qibla with upraised hands, following the practice of the prophet (PBUH)
For women or weak individuals, it is permissible to proceed to Mina any time after midnight.
In Muzdalifah, pick seven pebbles to throw at the stone piller of ‘Aqbah. Other pebbles can be picked at Mina. There is no harm if the seven pebbles to be thrown at the stone pillar of ‘Aqbah are also picked up at Mina.
When you arrive at Mina, do the following:
(a) At the Stone Pillar of ‘Aqbah (this is the pillar nearest to Makka) throw the seven pebbles one after the other, saying “Allahu akbar” at each throw.
(b) Shave your head or cut some hair from it. Shaving is preferable for men, while for women the lenght of hair to be cut is that of a fingertip.
The above-mentioned order of doing things is preferred, however, if they are done in some other order, there is no harm in it.
After you have thrown the pebbles and shaved or cut some of your hair, the prohibitions of ihram are lifted, except the prohibition of sexual intercourse with your spouse. This is the first tahallul, i.e. returning to one’s normal state. You can now wear your usual clothes.
Then you go to Makkah and perform the tawafal-ifadah (the tawaf which is an essential part of the Hajj). If you are doing Hajj al-Tamatt’u, you also perform Sa’ayi. If you are performing Hajj al-Ifrad or Hajj al-Qiran and you did not perform Sa’ayi with Tawafal-Qudum (the Tawaf of Arrival), you must do Sa’ayi now. After this, the prohibition of marital relations is also lifted and you return to a completely normal life.

DSP Ahmad Kutubi is the Imam, Zone 7 Police Hqtrs, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja