Practices of Hajj in Mecca

The five obligatory rites in the holy city of Mecca, performed after the rites of Eid al-Adha, are as follows:

1. Ṭawāf of ḥajj (termed as ṭawāf al-zīyāra [visiting]);
2. Prayer of ṭawāf;
3. Saʿy between Safā and Marwa;
4. Ṭawāf al-nisāʾ; and
5. Prayer of this ṭawāf.

It is mustaḥabb to leave for the Holy city of Mecca from Minā, after fulfillment of the deeds of Eid day and perform the remaining rites of hajj: the two ṭawāfs, their prayers and saʿy. It is permissible to delay them until last day of tashrīq or even to the end of the month of Dhu l-Hijja.

Issue 424: The method of the ṭawāfs, associated prayers and saʿy are the same as ṭawāf, prayer and saʿy for ʿumrah; the only difference is that intention for hajj should be made. Issue 425: It is not permissible to perform the above mentioned rites before the wuqūf at ʿArafāt and Mashʿar and the practices of Minā. However, this is permitted for the following three groups: First: The women who fear that they may menstruate or face pureperium (nifās) lest they might not wait for purification after returning to the Holy city of Mecca to perform ṭawāf and its prayer. Second: The men and women who are unable to perform the ṭawāf after returning to Mecca due to crowd or unable to return to the holy city of Mecca at all. Third: The sick who are unable to perform the ṭawāf after returning to the holy city of Mecca due to crowd or feel fear of it. Issue 426: If the above mentioned groups perform two ṭawāfs, associated prayers and saʿy and then their excuse is removed, repetition of rites is not obligatory for them, although it is better that they perform these rites. Issue 427: Whoever performs deeds in the Holy city of Mecca in advance due to genuine reason, (such as the above mentioned groups), women and perfume would not be ḥalāl for him, but after ḥalq or taqsīr all the forbidden things will be ḥalāl for him. Issue 428: Ṭawāf of nisāʾ and its prayer are obligatory but are not considered among the fundamental elements of hajj. Therefore, if a person neglects them deliberately, his hajj would not be void. However, his wife will not be ḥalāl for him (he is not allowed to have intercourse with his wife). Issue 429: Ṭawāf of nisāʾ is not only for men, but it is also obligatory for women. So, those men who neglect it their wives are ḥarām for them and similarly, women who neglect it their husband are ḥarām for them. Issue 430: It is not permissible to perform saʿy before ṭawāf of hajj or its prayer by choice. It is also impermissible to perform ṭawāf of nisāʾ before the ṭawāf of hajj, its prayer and its saʿy. So if a person does not follow the right sequence of deeds, he/she should repeat these deeds. Issue 431: If a person inattentively/deliberately neglects ṭawāf of nisāʾ and returns back to his country if possible without any difficulty, he should perform it. Otherwise, he should hire a representative. For such a person, women would not become permissible unless ṭawāf and its prayer are performed by himself or by his presentative. Issue 432: All the things that become ḥarām during iḥrām for ʿumrah become ḥarām during iḥrām for hajj, too. They become ḥalāl again in the following steps: First: After ḥalq or taqsīr, everything becomes ḥalāl for the pilgrim except for women and using scent. Even hunting becomes ḥalāl in general, although it is ḥarām to do it inside the Ḥaram. Second: After sa'y, using scent becomes ḥalāl. Third: After ṭawāf of nisāʾ, women become ḥalāl for men, and vice –versa.