Day 1: 8th of Dhul Hijjah

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This first day of Hajj is known as Yawm al-Tarwiyah (the Day of Quenching Thirst). It was given this name because on this day, the early pilgrims were instructed to drink a lot of water and fill their containers in preparation for the long journey ahead. They would also make sure their animals were properly fed and had consumed enough water to allow them to travel to their destination.

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Hajj al-Tamattu

If you are performing Hajj al-Tamattu, you would have taken off your Ihram garments after having completed Umrah. It is Mustahabb (recommended) that you take a shower, cut your nails and trim your moustache prior to wearing the Ihram garments. Women are free to wear what they please although clothing should be normal modest Islamic dress with a head covering (scarf) of any colour. Hands and faces must be uncovered.

You will then perform two Rakats of Nafl Salah, pronounce a new Niyyah (intention) for Hajj, recite Talbiyah and enter into the state of Ihram before the morning of the 8th of Dhul Hijjah. It is Mustahabb to carry this out at Masjid al-Haram, although it’s also perfectly acceptable at your place of residence. Please note, you don’t have to travel to the nearest Miqat (Masjid Aisha) in order to enter into Ihram.

Hajj al-Qiran or Hajj al-Ifrad

If you are performing Hajj al-Qiran or Hajj al-Ifrad, you will already be in a state of Ihram as you did not leave Ihram after having performed Umrah. You may take a normal shower, ensuring you don’t violate the restrictions of Ihram i.e. use scented products etc.

Leaving for Mina

You will then proceed to Mina via coach before the time for Dhuhr has come in. It is a Sunnah to leave for Mina on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah after sunrise as was the practice of the Holy Prophet ﷺ. Recite Talbiyah frequently during this journey.

Please note, it is the usual practice of tour operators to take groups to Mina after Isha Salah the night before. If you can travel to Mina on the morning of the 8th of Dhul Hijjah by a coach organised by your tour operator or Mutawwif, you will have completed a Sunnah.

Walking

You may also walk from Makkah to Mina if you wish to do so. The walk begins from the pedestrian tunnels which are located between Safa and Marwa, taking you directly to the Jamarat in Mina. Once you’re in Mina, your camp may be at the far end, which will require further walking.

If you intend to walk to Mina, ensure:

You will be able to manage the walk (it is about 8 kilometres (5-6 miles) to the camps, taking approximately 2 hours to walk) and it will not affect your Hajj later on.
The person leading the walking group knows his way to the camp.
You take into consideration the welfare and safety of any women travelling with you if you are a Mahram.
You are accompanied by your husband / Mahram if you are a woman. It is imperative you don’t leave with a walking group without your husband / Mahram.
You stay close to your group, otherwise, the chance of getting separated is very high.

It is also advisable not to travel by taxi or private coach as it may prove difficult for the driver to get to the camps, especially since there are various checkpoints that need to be crossed.

Arrival

When you arrive in Mina, you will be struck by the fact that everything looks the same, so you must be careful not to get lost. Acquaint yourself with the area around your camp and identify some distinguishing landmarks so you know your way back to the camp.

In Mina

You will stay in Mina for the full day and part of the following day (9th of Dhul Hijjah). After you have settled down in your tent, you will perform Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha prayers in Qasr form i.e. you will shorten the prayers as if you were a traveller.

The shortening of the prayer is applicable to everyone, regardless of whether the individual is a resident of Makkah or not. During your stay in Mina, spend your time in prayer and supplication.

You will spend the night of the 8th of Dhul Hijjah in Mina. With this, your first day of Hajj has been completed.

Facilities

Mina is situated east of Makkah Mukarramah, with its boundary starting about 3 miles away from Makkah.
It is approximately 20 square kilometres in size.
The camps of Mina are approximately 8 kilometres (5-6 miles) away from Makkah.
During Hajj, there are more than 100,000 air-conditioned tents in Mina, which provide temporary accommodation for pilgrims.
Mina is known as the “Tent City” due to its vast amount of tents.

Accommodation

Pilgrims in Mina are divided into groups and their accommodation is pre-allocated according to the country they’re from. Streets and camps are numbered, so learn your camp number or note it down somewhere.

Before 2000, tents in Mina were small and basic. However, after a major fire broke out in Mina in 1997, taking the lives of over 200 pilgrims and injuring many more, they were replaced with fireproof tents which have air-conditioning, electricity, lights, electric plugs and are on the whole, comfortable.

However, the comfortability of your particular tent really depends on your Hajj package. We have seen some tents which are extremely busy and cramped, so it’s best to check with your agent if you’re unsure about anything.

Men and women normally stay in separate tents in Mina.

Tips:

If you have a choice, don’t choose a tent near the toilets or a cooking area.
Try to choose a tent near the middle or back of the camp because the entrances to camps are usually busy.
If you are in a larger tent, choose a sleeping area closer to the back of the tent. The front and middle areas of the tent are normally used for Salah, lectures and eating, so you will avoid having to constantly move your things around to accommodate for this, which can prove quite an inconvenience.
As soon as you enter your tent, claim your position within the tent by throwing down your mat in your selected area and sitting down and laying on it. Avoid any confrontations or arguments for spaces in the tent. However, ensure you don’t take too much space.
If you are performing Hajj with your spouse, you can choose the corner of the tent where you are both on either side of the partition. This allows for easier communication and sharing of food.
Don’t spend too much time discussing worldly affairs in your tent.
Don’t be too concerned about what is happening in other tents or which personalities are present in those tents.
Attend lectures in other tents, if you feel they may be of benefit to you.

Food

Hajj packages normally provide food for the days of Hajj, but you may have to pay a little extra if it wasn’t included in your original package.

You will need to check with your agent on the type of food that will be provided; meals can both be pre-packed and come in a box, or they may be cooked and served directly to you. The time at which these meals are served can also vary, so be prepared to eat at irregular times.

There are a number of shops to buy food from in Mina, although the price of everything doubles during the Hajj period so be prepared to pay extra.

It is generally a good idea to keep biscuits, dates, fruits and water with you. Ensure you drink plenty of water to keep hydrated as it can get very hot in Mina. It’s advisable to keep some sweets to provide you with some energy when you need it. You will also have access to tea and coffee areas.

Sleeping

Some tents are more comfortable than others

This is where you can make use of your inflatable air mattress or sleeping bag if you have purchased one. If you haven’t got an air mattress, a straw Hajji mat can be purchased and used to sleep on. Some of the tents in Mina are also carpeted.

You will notice many pilgrims sleeping in all sorts of places in Mina – on the streets, under bridges, in the tunnels and even on top of the mountains.

Boundaries

You must ensure you remain within the specified boundaries of Mina during the 10th, 11th, 12th and possibly 13th. The boundaries for Mina are indicated by large green signposts.

It is sometimes the case that camps are situated in Muzdalifah, outside the boundary of Mina. If your camp is located outside the boundary, it is important that you inform your tour operator, as you have paid for arranging your accommodation in the correct location. However, avoid getting into an unnecessary argument with your tour operator if this is the case.

Mosques

The main mosque in Mina is known as Masjid al-Khayf, located near the smallest Jamarah at the base of the mountain in the south of Mina. It is reported that the Prophet ﷺ, as well as 70 prophets that preceded him, performed Salah here.

If you want to go to this Masjid, make sure you know your way there or go with someone that does, otherwise you may end up getting lost.

Medical Facilities

In the south of Mina, there is a hospital just opposite Masjid al-Khayf. There is an additional hospital near the old slaughterhouse as well as various mobile clinics throughout Mina.

Toilet & Washing Facilities

All the camps in Mina have shower and toilet facilities. The toilets have been combined with shower facilities, which provide water 24 hours a day.

The majority of toilets in each row are squat toilets i.e. a “hole in the ground”, although there is at least one sitting toilet among each row.

The toilet areas can get very busy so be prepared to wait a while for your turn.

There are also Wudhu facilities available next to the toilet areas. Again, these facilities can get very crowded.

Tips:

Be early and avoid the crowds to take a shower or to perform Wudhu.
Wake up at least one hour prior to Fajr in order to avoid the rush to use the washing facilities in the morning.
Avoid the washing facilities about 20 minutes before Salah and immediately after having a meal.
Use the washing facilities when people are eating, sleeping, or listening to lectures.
Bring a suction hook to hang your Ihram when using the toilet / shower as there may not be any hooks in the cubicle.

Telephone

Public telephones are available in Mina, but again, they can become very crowded. These public telephones use phone cards, which can be purchased in a variety of denominations ranging from 10 to 100 Riyals and above. You can also purchase a mobile phone card, with a minimum charge of 100 Riyals.

Summary of Day 1

If you are performing Hajj al-Tamattu, you will do the following:

Purify yourself.
Wear the Ihram.
Perform two Rakats of Salah.
Make your Niyyah for Hajj and recite Talbiyah, preferably at Masjid al-Haram.
Proceed to Mina before Dhuhr.
Recite the Talbiyah frequently.
Perform your Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha at Mina.
Stay there overnight.

If you are performing Hajj al-Ifrad or Hajj al-Qiran, you will do the following:

Proceed to Mina before Dhuhr.
Recite the Talbiyah frequently.
Perform your Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha at Mina.
Stay there overnight.

2 comments

Shafik Ismail
22nd February 2018 at 12:45 am
AsalaamuAlaikum,
Jazakallah! This was very helpful for us and it gave us so many answers we were looking for. May Allah reward you for this information, In Sha Allah.
Shafik and Ferida Ismail (USA).
Reply
Faiqa Sabat
2nd July 2020 at 1:27 am
Jazakhallah sooooooooooooooooooo much for creating this website. I had to do a presentation on Hajj and I don’t think anyone would have to go to any other website to research if they knew about this one! Again Jazakhallah for sharing this much of knowledge to us.
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