HAJJ AL-TAMATTU
This Hajj consists of the following rites:
1. Ihram:
The best time of Ihram, is the eighth of Dhul-Hijjah (Yam al-Tatwiiya). But this date may be preceded by three days or be delayed to noon of the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah. Ihram starts in the holy city of Mecca and preferably at the Holy Mosque. The pilgrim should make his/her intention as follows: WI begin Ihram of Hajj al-Tamattu seeking Allah's nearness Subsequently the pilgrim starts Talbiyah (saying of labbaik) after donning the attire of Ihram. A person after finishing Ummrah al-Tamattu and leaving aside Ihram, should not leave Mecca because of a need and if the need arises, it is obligatory to wear Ihram for the Hajj al-Tamattu in Mecca and leave Mecca in the state of Ihram and in the same state of Ihram, return for the Hajj.
2. Staying at Arafat:
Arafat is the name of a valley in which the pilgrim stays on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah. It is an area of more than two square miles and is approximately 12 miles outside Mecca. The pilgrim should stay at Arafat on the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah, from noon till sunset. Kindly note that it is forbidden to leave Arafat before sunset be it intentionally or unintentionally. The pilgrim should also make the intention of seeking Allah's nearness, so if the pilgrim spends the whole time in sleep or in unconciousness, the staying will be invalid and the type of pilgrimage is changed to Umrah al-Mufredah. Thus Hajj al-Tamattu should be performed the following year. The obligation and definition of staying in Arafat is precisely the absolute staying in that noble place, whether you reach there by walking or sitting in or on a means of transportation.
3. Staying at Muzdalifah:
On the night of the Eid (festival), and while leaving Arafat after sunset, the pilgrim sets out for Muzdalifah (the name of a place also called Al-misha' r al-Hararn. The obligatory time for this is between the whiteness of dawn and sunrise.
Staying in Mash'ar is a form of worship in which the intention is obligatory. If you pass through the valley of Mash'ar before the rising of the sun, you have committed a transgression but without redeeming it. It is permitted for the following (those who meet difficulty because of the large crowd on the morning of Eid) to leave Muzdalifah before dawn:
1. People who do not have the strength like women, children and old men.
2. People who have an excuse like fear or sickness.
3. People who are the guides to the above-mentioned people and must watch out for or take care of them.
4. The Obligations of the Pilgrim in Mina:
The pilgrim, after leaving Muzdalifah, should set out for Mina to perform the following three acts:
1. Pelting in Jamrah al-A-qabah:
It is (the largest symbol of the devil which is situated on the outskirts of Mina towards Mecca), and should be thrown with seven pebbles on the tenth day, and the followings should be observed:
a. Throwing of the pebbles must be accompanied by the intention of seeking Allah's nearness.
b. The number of pebbles must be seven.
c. Pebbles must be thrown separately (one after the other) i.e. it is not permitted to throw several pebbles at a time.
d. Pebbles should reach the place and whatever does not reach, does not count.
e. The time of throwing is from the rising of the sun of the Eid day, till the sunset of the same day.
Note:
It is permissible to those who meet difficulty (in throwing the pebbles at the exact time) or fear for themselves because of the large crowd (like women, the old men, sick and the weak), to do it on the night of Eid.
f. Pebbles must be from the sacred area; and those outside (the sacred area) are not acceptable.
g. Pebbles should not have been used previously (even if they were used in the preceding years).
h. It is recommended that the pebbles be collected in Mash'ar.
i. Throwing must be done with the hands.
j. A person must be sure that the pebbles should hit the mark.
k. Another person may act as a representative (in throwing the pebbles) for children, the sick and those who, because of an excuse, cannot themselves go to the place for the throwing of the pebbles.
l. A person who is excused from throwing the pebbles in the day time, can do so at any time during the night.
2. Offering the Sacrifice at Mine:
a. It is obligatory for the pilgrim to slaughter an animal at Mina with the intention of seeking Allah's nearness.
b. For the sacrifice, one of four types of animals must be used: Camel (not less than five years), cow (not less than two years), sheep (more that one year) or goat (more than two years). Among them, the camel is the best.
c. The animal should be healthy, free of defect (not sick. blind, lame, too old or very lean).
d. If the pilgrim is unable to buy the sacrificial animal, instead one must fast ten days (three in Mina and the other seven in his/her homeland).
3. Shaving (Halq) wad cutting some hair or the nails (Taqseer):
a. Shaving is preferred (for men), particularly for the one who is performing Hajj for the first time. Some jurisprudents consider shaving (for men) as obligatory; but (for women) shaving is not permitted. instead, she must cut only a bit of her hair or nails.
Note: After performing the above mentioned obligations, everything which was forbidden for the pilgrim during Ihram, becomes lawful except using perfumes and having sex if one is married.
5. The Acts in Mecca:
After the performance of the rituals on the tenth day in Mina, the pilgrim has to go to Mecca for day of Eid to perform the following:
1. The circumambulation of the Hajj. It is exactly like the circumambulation of Umrah and should be done with the intention of seeking Allah's nearness.
2. The rituat prayer (two rak'as) of circumambulation of the Hajj should be done behind Ibrahim's station, preceded with the intention of seeking Allah's nearness.
3. The Sa'y (going and coming) between Safa and Marwah with the intention of seeking Allah's nearness.
6. The Circumambulation of Women:
It is similar to the circumambulation of Umrah, done with the intention of seeking Allah's nearness.
7. The Ritual Prayer of the Circumambulation of Women:
It is obligatory to perform the two raka's prayer behind Ibrahim's station with the intention of seeking Allah's nearness.
Note: the circumambulation of women and its prayer are obligatory for both men and women. If they perform it not, both women for men and men for women do not becomes permissible. This however, is not a pillar of Hajj and nonperformance does not invalidate the pilgrimage.
8. Spending the Night at Mimi:
After performing the pilgrim has to go back to Mina and spend the 11th and 12th nights of Dhul-Hijjah at Mina with the intention of seeking Allah's nearness.
The pilgrim can leave Mina after the noon of the 12th day. Should he/she stay at Mina till sunset, one is obliged to spend the 13th night and pelting Jamarat on that day becomes obligatory.
9. Pelting the Jamarat:
The last compulsory duty of the three Jamarat should be performed on the 11th and 12th of Dhul-Hijjah with the intention of seeking Allah's nearness. If one spends the 13th night this makes pelting the Jamarat necessary on the next day.
Note:
1. The first Jamarat should be pelted first and then the middle one, and lastly the Jamarat al-A qabah.
2. The pilgrim should throw only seven pebbles, following the same rules of the day on which the offerings are slaughtered.
Regulations Concerning Women During Hajj and Umrah:
1. On the one hand, it is forbidden for a woman, while in Ihram, to cover all or part of her face (that which must be washed during ablution wudu with a veil or even a covering that she puts on her forehead where it clings to her face. On the other hand, it is permissible for her to cover her face while sleeping.
2. It is permitted for her to be in the state of Ihram with sewn covering and her regular shoes where the upper part of her feet are not uncovered.
3. She should perform sa' y (going and coming back seven times between Safa and Marwah) emulating Hajar's search for water) at her usual pace; not hurrying.
4. In order for her to be out of the state of Ihram, she should only perform taqsir (to cut a bit of her hair not shave her head).
5. If she has begun to menstruate she is forbidden to do the umrah of tamattu. When she arrives in Mecca and has more time, she should wait until she is purified and if she is purified even during the ninth day of Dhil-Hijjah; during which she can perform her Umrah and, then, assumes I/tram for Hag, in this case, it is obligatory for her first to do circumambulation tawaf of Umrah; to pray two ritual Rak'ah prayers of circumambulation; to performs the endeavor (sa'y); to cut a bit of her hair taqsir; to make Ihram of Hajj and, then, go to Arafat.
6.If she is having her monthly period and she has not been ritually purified until the last moments for the umrah of tamattu, she should change her intention to hajj of Ifrad , that is, perform the umrah after the end of the hajj, and her hajj is correct and replaces the Islamic Hajj.
7. Menstruation and bleeding after childbirth do not forbid her from performing certain acts like assuming Ihram in stated Miqats, standing in Arafat and Muzdalifah, performing the acts to be done in Mina and doing sa'y (the endeavor between Safa and Marwah). They only forbid her from entering the Sacred Mosque, or doing circumambulation and other actions which are forbidden in this state.
8. If her menstruation or bleeding after childbirth has stopped and she cannot do ritual bathing ghusl, because of her sickness or finding no water, she should do tayamum (a substitute for ablution) and, then, do her obligatory circumambulation.
9. If her menstruation started before performing the circumambulation of Hajj and she could not stay in Mecca to be purified and do her obligations, because her caravan of pilgrims does not wait for her, she must appoint another person to do her circumambulation, then, she, performs her endeavor sa'y after the circumambulation of her representative.
Performing Hajj Representing Others:
1- Whoever is capable in his/her life to perform Hajj, but, dies without performing it, while leaving an inheritance, it is obligatory, in this case, to appoint a representative to perform their Hajj out of his/her inheritance before its being divided among his or her heirs, because Hajj is considered as a debt.
2- It is obligatory for men and women who are unable to perform the acts of Hajj, due to their sickness or agedness while being financially capable to perform it, to appoint others to fulfill this divine duty.
3- The one who represents another in performing Hajj should have the following qualifications: attained puberty, is sane, is a believer and, also, should not be, himself, charged with a Hajj which has not been performed yet.
4- It is right for both man and woman to represent each other in performing the acts of Hajj.
Hajj's Recommendations:
1. Tawaf of al-Wida'e (the Farewell Circumambulation).
It is recommended for the pilgrim, when leaving Mecca, to bid farewell to the Sacred House by performing another seven circumambulations as farewell, and to touch the Black Stone, and praise and glorify Allah by saying peace and blessing be upon Muhammad and his progeny.
2. The visit to Madinah aI-Munawarah (the City of the Prophet): Among the most important recommendations for the pilgrim, before or after performing Hajj (pilgrimage), is to go to Madinah al-Munawarah to visit the holy shrine of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) and also the holy shrines of his household (Ahlul-Bait) i.e. his daughter, Fatimah with her three sons, Imam Hassan, Imam Muhammad al-Baqir, and Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (upon them be peace) at the Baqi cemetery.
A SUPPLICATION SAID BY IMAM ZAIN AL-ABDEEN ON THE DAY OF ARAFAT
The followings are some quotations from the famous supplication made by Imam Zain Al-Abdeen (a.s.) on the day of Arafat:
"Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds,
Praise be to You. 0 Creator of the heavens wad the earth,
Possessor of Glory and Honor.
Lord that is worshipped of lords, the Creator of every creature wad the heir to everything,
There is nothing like Him. The knowledge of nothing is hidden from Him. He surrounds everything and keeps watch over all things,
You are Allah, there is no god but You, the One, the Single, the Unique.
You are Allah, there as no god but You, the Gracious, the Bountiful the Glorious, the Honorable, the Great, the Embed.
You are Allah, there is no god but You, the High, the Exalted, the Master of mighty punishment.
You are Allah, there is no god but You, All-Compassionate, All-Merciful, All-Knowing, All-Wise.
You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Hearing, the Seeing, the Eternal, All-Cognizant.
You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Respected, the Most Honorab4, the Everlasting, the Most Eternal.
You are Allah, there is no god but You, the First before every unit and the Last after every number.
You are Allah, there is no god but You, Sublime in His Nearness and the High us His Sublimity,
You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Possessor of oil Goodness, Glory and Majesty wad worthy of all praise.
You are Allah, there is no god but You Who did create things without origin, did shape whatever You did shape without any model and did invent the things invented without following any example.
It is You Who did measure everything by proper measure, did make everything easy as it deserved and did manage everything, beside Yourself; as it required to be managed,
It is You Whom no participant helped in creating nor any assistant assisted in Your affairs and neither was there any resemblance with You nor peer.
It is You Who did resolve wad whatever You did resolve was firm. You did decree and whatever You did decree was just. You did command, and whatever You did command was equitable,
It is You Whom space does not contain. No sovereign ever rose to dispute Your Sovereignty, neither did way argument or explanation ever defeat You,
It is You Who have exhaustively counted all things, have fixed a duration for everything and have measured everything with a proper measure,
It is You Whose Divine Essence imagination fails to reach. Reason fails to judge Your quality wad eyes never perceived Your whereabouts,
It .s You Who can not be defined for then You would have been finite, You were never comparable for then You would have been perceptible. You never did beget for then, You would have been (a dung) begotten.
It is You Who have no opposite that may contend with You. You have no equal that may prevail over You and no peer that may vie with You,
It is You Who did originate, invent, create, bring into being and did make handsomely whatever You did make.
Holiness is Yours. How sublime is Your dignity. How High among places is Your place. What a manifestation of truth is Your Discernment.
Holiness is Yours, 0 Gracious One, how Gracious You are. 0 Kind One, how Kind You are. 0 Wise One, how Knowing You are.
Holiness is Yours, 0 Monarch how Powerful You are. 0 Bountiful, how Liberal You are, 0 Glorious, how Embed You are - the possessor of all Beauty, Greatness, Majesty and Praise.
Holiness is Yours. You have stretched forth Your Hand for benevolence. Guidance is obtained from You. Therefore whoever besought You for any mailer sacred or secular obtained Your Hearing.
Holiness is Yours. Whoever existed in Your Knowledge, bowed himself to You. Whatever was beneath Your Throne humbled itself before Your Glory. All Your creatures submitted themselves to Your obedience.
Holiness is Yours, You are not received, nor searched, nor touched, nor brought near, nor removed, nor distanced, nor disputed with, nor oppressed, nor fought with, nor imposed upon, nor deceived,
Holiness be to You. Your path is straight wad Your Command is righteous. You are Living wad Wantless,
Holiness as Yours Your Word is Wisdom. Your Decree is inevitable and Your Resolution decisive,
Holiness be to You. There is none to reject Your Will, none to alter Your Words,
Holiness be to You. 0 Possessor of manifest signs, Creator of the heavens and life.
Praise be to You, a praise as lasting as Your existence,
Praise be to You, a praise as enduring as Your Blessings,
Praise be to You, a praise to match Your Workmanship,
Praise be to You, a praise that would increase Your Satisfaction,
Praise be to You, a praise that would compete with the praise of every praiser, a gratitude that would surpass the gratitude of every thanks giver,
A praise that would become none but You, wherewith none is approached but You,
A praise which may secure the continuance of former (blessings) and whereby permanence of the future (rewards) may be requested.
A praise that would go on multiplying with the continuation of time and would go on increasing by successive additions.
A praise which the keepers of accounts would fail to count wad which would exceed the record kept by the writers in Your Book
A praise that would suit Your Supreme Throne, and would become Your exalted Footstool,
A praise whose reward from You would be perfect and whose recompense would submerge every other recompense.
A praise whose outward form would accord with its inward spirit wad whose inward substance would harmonize with the sincerity of the motive underlying it.
A praise with the life of which no creature ever praised You wad whose excellence is known to none other besides You.
Such a praise that he who endeavors to count it would be helped and he who tries his best to reckon it exhaustively would be assisted.
A praise that would comprise whatever You have created of praise and would string together what You will create afterwards,
A praise nearer to Your Word than any other praise, and no praiser greater than him who praises You with it,
A praise the abundance of which would entitle the praiser to further reward from Your Bounty and to which You would add incrementally from Your Liberality.
A praise that would become the Honor of Your Countenance and suit the Glory of Your Majesty.
O Lord bless Muhammad wad the descendants of Muhammad, the elect, the chosen, the honored who enjoy Your Nearness, with the most excellent of Your Blessings. Confer on him the most perfect of Your Favors. Favor him with the most auspicious of Your Mercies,
On this day, allot me a portion by which I may achieve a share of Your Approbation.
Do not turn me away without that bounty which such of Your servants as worship You return (laden),
Verily, though I have not sent beforehand the good deeds sent in advance by them, nevertheless, I have advanced Your Unity wad denied opponents, equals and anything as similar to You, I have come to You through the gates through which You did command to come. (I) have approached You with that without which none can approach You,
Moreover, I have reinforced dais with repentance to You, abasement and humility in Your Presence, and with a good opinion of You and reliance on what is nigh You. I have coupled this with hope from You which whoever entertained was hardly ever disappointed.
I pray to You like one contemptible, disgraceful, poor, needy, timid and seeking refuge. Moreover, (I pray) fearfully, humbly, craving protection wad imploring shelter, neither inflated with the pride of the haughty, nor elated, with the conceit of the obedient, nor arrogant on account of the mediation of intercessors.
After all, I am the smallest of the small the most insignificant of the despicable and like an atom or even inferior to it.
Therefore, 0 You Who do not hasten the workers of evil to punishment, nor do withhold Your Blessings from those brought up in comfort,
0 You Who favor the erring with pardon, indulge the guilty by allowing them time (to mend).
I am an evil-doer, I admit, and (also) a sinner and a strayer, I am he who tried to go against You presumptuously,
I am he who disobeyed You deliberately,
I am the one who concealed (my faults) from Your creatures and committed them in Your Sight,
I am he who feared Your creatures and felt secure from You, I am he who did not fear Your Power and did not dread Your Wrath,
I am the transgressor against my own soul I am the one pledged to my penalties,
I am the possessor of little modesty.
And enduring distress.
For the sake of him whom You have chosen from Your creation, for him whom You have elected for Yourself,
For the sake of him whom You have selected from among Your creature and whom You have taken by preference for Your mission,
For the sake of him whose obedience You have linked to Your own: (for the sake of) him, disobedience to whom You count as disobedience to You.
For the sake of him whose love You have placed nigh to Your own; (for) him whose enmity, You have fastened to Your own,
Protect me in this day of my life, as You do protect him who cries to You expressing abhorrence of his sins and who seeks shelter by asking Your Pardon repentantly.
Deal with me as You deal with those who obey You, those nigh to You and those of rank at Your Sight,
Make me intuitively return to Your Pardon, the sweetness of Your Mercy, Your Comfort, Your Consolation and the garden of Your Blessings,
With Your boundless wealth, let me relish that taste of freedom from care (that I may employ myself) in what You love wad exert myself in that which would bring me closer wad nearer to You,
Grant me one of Your presents,
Let my commerce be profitable and my return be without loss,
Make me fear Your position wad be eager to meet You,
Let my repentance be sincere and acceptable, by which You may leave no sin (unforgiven), neither small nor great wad by which You may remove every blemish, evident or hidden,
Remove from my breast the grudge against true believers,
Make my heart tender to the meek;
Be to me as You are to the righteous,
Adorn me with the ornament of the god-fearing,
Do not let me be a supporter of tyrants, nor their helper and an accessory in nullifying Your Book;
Encompass me in a manner I may not know, with an enclosure wherein to protect me,
Open for me the gates of Your repentance wad Your Mercy and Your Grace and Your ample Sustenance. Surely I am one of those who beg of You,
Accomplish for me Your Reward, surely, You are the best giver of reward,
Make the rest of my Life (to be spent) in performing the Hajj (pilgrimage) and the umrah to achieve Your Approbation, 0 Lord of the worlds,
May Allah bless Muhammad and his holy infallible descendents wad peace be on him and them forever and ever.
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.
ENDNOTES
1. Ummah is an Arabic term with a variety of shades to meaning. For
example it can be community, nation, a people or a group. In this term
ummah refers to the entire Muslim world community, irrespective of the
differences of language, race and nation states.
2. AI-Hur al-Amili, Wasa'il al-Shi'a, vol. 5, The Book of Hajj, p. 14/ 4th edition- 1398 A.H.
3. lmam Ali, Nahjul-Balagha.
4. Shaikh Muhammad al-Na'ini, Rawai Mukhtara min al-Hajj (Excellent
Chosen Texts from al-Hajj, p.33, Quoted from al-Bihar, Chapter of al-Hajj, p.38.
5. Al-Hur al-Amili.
6. Ibid, p. 17.
7. Ibid, p.16.
8. Shaikh Muhammad Hassan al-Na'ini, p.40.
9. Al-Hur al-Amili, ibid, p.9.
10. Holy Qur'an (9:122)
11. AL-Hur al-Amili, ibid, p.7.