The Pilgrimage

It is one of the pillars of Islam. Whoever does not perform the obligatory pilgrimage or appoint someone to make the pilgrimage on his/her behalf, one dies in the state of what is mentioned in the reports. Whoever delays it without an excuse incurs a sin.

Capability refers to health, safety, and sufficient means which is comfortable enough from what has been put aside as well as the supplies for traveling and other needs there and back. This includes the pay of the maidservant, the guide for the blind, and a Muslim guardian (mahram) for the young woman. This should be considered in all her trips for a distance of a barīd or more.

Its essentials are ten. It is religiously obligatory for all who intend to the Pilgrimage to learn them and ask the people of knowledge. However, one is not to imitate the general public or rely on the general public of Mecca.

They are as follows:

• Assuming the pilgrim garb (al-ihrām). It is done with the intention that is connected with following through or imitating a knowledgeable person. For those who live in Yemen, they must assume it in Yalamlam and can perform it in Shawwāl, Dhul-Qa’da, and the ten days.
• The greeting circumambulation (tawāf);
• Brief walking between Šafa and Marwa;
• Stopping at Arafat;
• Residing overnight in Muzdalifa;
• Gathering at the Sanctified Site (al-Mash’ar al-Harām);
• Stoning the Jamrat.
• Residing overnight in Mina;
• The visitation circumambulation;
• The farewell circumambulation.

All of the circumambulations must be done in the state of ritual purity.

The rituals of the Minor Pilgrimage (al-‘Umra) include: the pilgrim garb, circumambulation, brief walking [between Šafa and Marwa], and shaving or shortening [the hair].

The types of Pilgrimages include: Qirān, Ifrād, and Tamattu.’ According to the Madhhab, the best one is the Ifrād when performed with the Minor Pilgrimage after the Days of Sacrifice.

Whomever has to perform the Pilgrimage has to bequest someone [i.e. before his/her death] to perform it for him/her. That can be done from 1/3rd of the person’s estate, and it must be bequeathed to a just Muslim who the Pilgrimage will not burden.    

Prohibitions for One in the State of Pilgrim Sanctity:

[The following are prohibited:] obscene behaviour, openly disobedient acts, arguing, using eyeliner (al-kohl) or other than that, wearing ornamental clothing, and contracting a marriage. All of the aforementioned are considered sins if one does them. Only sincere repentance is due upon the one who does such.

Also prohibited are: sexual intercourse and its precedents, a man wearing stitched clothing, covering one’s head, a woman covering her face, contact with perfume, eating game, dying all of one’s fingers or some of them, removing the tooth or hair of oneself and from another pilgrim, and killing lice or a wild animal. In all of these things is a compensation due which is well known to the people of knowledge. Killing and hunting is prohibited in the Sanctuary of Mecca and Medina, as well as cutting harmless, green trees.