Understanding Hajj Manasik: Definition, Facts & Sacred Rituals Explained

Many Muslims seek to learn and dream of performing the hajj manasik, which we will discover step by step.

One of the five pillars of Islam is Hajj (pilgrimage). It is obligatory for every capable Muslim. To perform Hajj, Muslims go to Saudia Arabiya and visit the holy city of Makkah to start the Sacred Rituals of pilgrimage.

Let’s discover Manasik al hajj, its meaning, and more!

What is the Definition of Hajj Manasik?

Hajj Manasik refers to the sacred rituals of hajj. It is divided into:

• Intention and Preparation for Hajj.
• Tawaf.
• Sa’i.
• Clipping the hair.
• Entering the state of Ihram one more time.
• Mina.
• Arafah.
• Muzdalifah.
• The hajj manasik, Rami ritual.
• Tawaf al-ifadha.
• Ayyam al-tashreeq.
• Tawaf al-wida (the farewell tawaf).

Why is Hajj important?

Before we get to discover Hajj manasik let’s first understand the importance of Hajj. The benefits and virtues of Hajj are countless. One of the benefits that we all know is that all your sins are erased and you get to start new.

Our beloved prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “When a believer returns home after performing Hajj, he is as he was on the day which his mother gave birth to him.” (Sahih Bukhari)

The holy Kaaba is there to guide us, Allah Almighty said in the holy Quran:

إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍۢ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِى بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًۭا وَهُدًۭى لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ٩٦

“Surely the first House of worship˺ established for humanity is the one at Bakkah—a blessed sanctuary and a guide for all people.” [surah Al-Imran: 96]

Hajj is obligatory for every capable Muslim, and we should learn the hajj Manasik and understand it. Allah said in the holy Quran:

فِيهِ ءَايَـٰتٌۢ بَيِّنَـٰتٌۭ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُۥ كَانَ ءَامِنًۭا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ حِجُّ ٱلْبَيْتِ مَنِ ٱسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًۭا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ عَنِ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ٩٧

“In it are clear signs and the standing-place of Abraham. Whoever enters it should be safe. Pilgrimage to this House is an obligation by Allah upon whoever is able among the people.1 And whoever disbelieves, then surely Allah is not in need of any of His creation.” [surah Al-Imran: 97]

The prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said, “The Muslims; their lives are equal, they are united against those that oppose them, the protection offered by the humblest of them is inviolable, and they share with those, not with them.” (Ibn Majah)

Hajj is the safe place that we return to, it is like a refuge for all Muslims. Allah said in the holy Quran: “We made the House a place of return for the people and a refuge.” [Holy Quran 2: 125]

Our beloved prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion, and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the organs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever.” (Muslim)

How to perform Hajj Manasik step by step?

Manasik al hajj is divided into several steps which we will understand in this step-by-step guide.

Intention and Preparation for Hajj.

The first and foremost step in the hajj manasik is making your intention to perform Hajj for Allah. The intention comes from the heart you don’t need to say it verbally. This is done before arriving in Makkah. Then you should wear the Hajj clothes and say:

” Here I am for Hajj. Here I am, oh Allah, here I am. Here I am. You have no partner. Here I am. Surely all praise, grace, and dominion are yours, and you have no partners.”

Tawaf.

Once you arrive at Makkah come to the second step of the hajj manasik which is performing Tawaf. Tawaf refers to circling around the Kaaba in the anti-clock direction. Tawaf consists of 7 circuits starting and ending at the black stone. Therefore, to start your tawaf stand facing the black stone and walk in circles in the anti-clock direction. Once you arrive at the black stone you have completed one Tawaf. Continue until you finish the 7 tawaf. Additionally, you could offer prayers to thank Allah for this great opportunity.

Sa’i /Safa and Marwa.

The third step in the hajj manasik is what is called Sa’I which refers to walking between the Safa and Marwa. The beginning of this ritual is from the Safa and then walking towards the Marwa hill. The sa’i is performed 7 times, meaning that you will walk between the two hills seven times.

Clipping the hair.

The next step in the hajj manasik is clipping or shaving the hair for men. Once you finish the sa’i comes the time for shaving your hair if you are a man or clipping it. While women should cut a length of a fingertip of the hair.

Entering the state of Ihram one more time.

Now you will rest until the 8th day of Dhul Hijjah which marks the beginning of Hajj. On the 8th day of Dhul Hijjah, you will purify yourself, take a bath, wear your hajj clothes, and make your intention. Once you finish this step recite the following dua:

Once you’re all set, you’ll begin reciting the following invocation called the talbiyah:

لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ لاَشَرِيْكَ لَكَ

Labbayka Allāhumma labbayk. Labbayk lā shareeka laka labbayk. Inna al-ḥamda, wa n-‘imata, Laka wal mulk. Lā shareeka lak.

“Here I am, O Allah, here I am, here I am. You have no partner, here I am. Verily all praise and blessings are Yours and all sovereignty. You have no partner.”

Mina.

The next step in the hajj manasik is going to the city of Mina and offering the Dhuhr, Asr, Magrib, Isha, and Fajr prayers. You should shorten the four units’ prayer into two Rakats. This means that Ish, Duhr, and Asr will be offered in two Rakat instead of four. But don’t combine the prayers. Spend the rest of the 8th of Dhul Hijjah praying, reciting the Quran and Dua.

Arafah.

The next step in the hajj manasik after praying the Fajr on the 9th day of Dhul Hajjah is heading to Arafah. On the way recite duas, and ask Allah for forgiveness. Once you reach Mount Arafah pray the Duhr and Asr prayers combined and shortened.

One of the most important hajj manasik is the day of Arafah. The day of Arafah is an important day for all Muslims, our beloved Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“There is no day on which Allah frees people from the Fire more so than on the day of ‘Arafah. He comes close to those (people standing on ‘Arafah), and then He reveals before His Angels saying, ‘What are these people seeking.” (Muslim)

Muzdalifah.

When the sun sets you and your Hajj team will head to Muzdalifah which is a place between Mina and Arafah. Once you reach the Muzdalifah perform the maghrib and isha prayer, and don’t forget to shorten the Ish prayer to two Rakat.

As Abdullah ibn Umar (RA) narrates: “The Prophet (SAW) offered the maghrib and isha prayers together at Muzdalifa with a separate iqama for each of them and did not offer any optional prayer in between them or after each of them.” (Bukhari)

For the rest of the day you could worship Allah, supplicate, recite the Quran, and rest. You could also collect stones for the next hajj manasik which is the stoning of the devil. You need to collect 49 pebbles or more because for the coming three days you will throw stones. On the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, you will throw 7 stones. On the 11th of Dhul Hijjah throw 21 stones and on the 12th of Dhul Hijjah throw 21 stones.

The hajj manasik, Rami ritual.

On the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, you will start by offering the Fajr prayer then you and your Hajj group will take off to Mina. Don’t forget to recite the Talbiyah dua continuously. Among the hajj manasik is Stoning of the devil. In this ritual, you will throw small stones (the size of dates) at a three-stone structure in Mina.

When reaching the Jamarat head to Jamarat al-Aqaba, which is the big pillar. Here you will throw the first 7 stones at the concrete pillar and recite the takbir اللهُ أَكْبَرُ (Allāhu ‘Akbar): “Allah is The Greatest” when throwing each stone.

Then an animal should be sacrificed, and after the sacrifice, you should shave your hair if you are a male, while women should cut a fingertip of their hair. After finishing this hajj manasik you are free to wear any comfortable clothing. And for men, it is a sunnah to apply perfume.

Tawaf al-ifadha.

The next hajj manasik is hiding back to Makkah and performing tawaf al-ifadha and sa’i. This Hajj ritual should be done between the 10th and 12th Dhul Hijjah after the rami ritual and shaving or clipping your hair. After finishing this step take a break, do anything that you want, and then return to your tent in Mina.

Ayyam al-tashreeq

The 11th and 12th Dhul Hijjah is known as the Ayyam al-tashreeq. On these two days, you will continue the hajj manasik which is known as the Rami ritual (stoning the devil). On the afternoon of the 11th of Dhul Hijjah, you will prepare your 21 stones to stone the three Jamarat. Throwing 7 stones at each one of the three Jamarat, starting with Jamarah al-Ula (the small pillar), then Jamarah al-Wusta (the middle pillar), and ending with Jamarah al-Aqaba (the big pillar). Don’t forget the Takbir upon each throw. Once you finish stoning the first and second Jamarat stop, face the Kaaba, and make dua. When you finish this hajj manasik go back to your tent rest, make dua, recite Quran, and worship Allah.

On the next day, you will repeat the process.

Tawaf al-wida (the farewell tawaf)

Now you have finished the hajj manasik and you are ready to go back to Makkah. But before hiding back to Makkah don’t forget to perform the farewell Tawaf. Perform Twaf al-wida 7 times, offer two Rakat, and drink the water of Zamzam.

That is it, you have completed the Hajj Manasik, Hajj Mabrook!

Conclusion

Hajj is obligatory upon every capable Muslim. As Muslims, we all strive to perform Hajj for its many benefits and virtues for us. And to perform Hajj we need to learn about manasik al hajj. Hajj Manasik refers to the sacred rituals of the hajj. It is divided into:

• Intention and Preparation for Hajj.
• Tawaf.
• Sa’i.
• Clipping the hair.
• Entering the state of Ihram one more time.
• Mina.
• Arafah.
• Muzdalifah.
• The hajj manasik, Rami ritual.
• Tawaf al-ifadha.
• Ayyam al-tashreeq.
• Tawaf al-wida (the farewell tawaf).

We explained all the sacred hajj rituals in detail to make it easier for you to understand. We hope you enjoyed this article and found what you were looking for. If you need any help or have any questions don’t hesitate to drop a comment below.