🕋 Hajj Guide
How to Perform Hajj
Hajj runs over 8–13 Dhul-Hijjah: ihram at the miqat, tawaf and sa'i in Makkah, a night at Mina, the standing at Arafah on 9 Dhul-Hijjah — the essential pillar — overnight at Muzdalifah, then stoning, sacrifice and halq on the day of Eid, two or three more days stoning at Mina, and the farewell tawaf before leaving Makkah.
Last updated
The fifth pillar, step by step — every rite in order, plus booking from the UK, vaccines, and what to expect on the ground. Next Hajj season (1448 AH): Arafah expected 15 May 2027, subject to moon sighting.
"And Hajj to the House is a duty owed to Allah by people who are able to undertake it."
— Quran 3:97 (Aal-Imran)
When is Hajj this year?
Hajj can only be performed on fixed days: 8–13 Dhul-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic year. For the coming season (1448 AH):
- •Mina day (8th): expected 14 May 2027
- •Arafah (9th): expected 15 May 2027
- •Eid al-Adha (10th): expected 16 May 2027
- •Days of Tashriq: 17 May – 19 May 2027
Expected dates from the Umm al-Qura calendar — UK and Saudi observance are confirmed by moon sighting.
Who must perform Hajj?
Hajj is obligatory once in a lifetime on every Muslim who is:
- ✓Adult and of sound mind
- ✓Physically able for the journey and rites
- ✓Financially able — journey, provisions, and the family left behind provided for
- ✓Travelling a route that is safe
The Prophet ﷺ said an accepted Hajj (hajj mabrur) has no reward other than Paradise — and that it wipes away what came before it of sins.
How do you book Hajj from the UK?
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Nusuk Hajj platform
Saudi Arabia routes UK pilgrims through its official Nusuk Hajj platform, where licensed packages are listed and paid. Create an account well before registration windows open — places sell out within days.
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ATOL protection, always
Only book with an ATOL-protected provider, and verify the licence number on the CAA register before paying anything. UK police and trading standards warn about Hajj fraud every single year — pilgrims lose life savings to fake agents. If a price looks too good, it is.
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Vaccinations
A meningococcal ACWY certificate is required for the Hajj visa — get it at least 10 days before travel and carry the certificate. Flu and COVID vaccines are strongly recommended given the crowds.
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Get physically ready
You will walk enormous distances in heat — often 10–20 km a day, much of it on marble and tarmac. Start regular walking months ahead, break in your sandals, and pack unscented toiletries, a refillable bottle and a small umbrella for shade.
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What it costs
Packages typically run several thousand pounds per person — commonly £5,000–£12,000+ depending on hotel distance from the Haram, room sharing and duration. Shifting packages (moving to Aziziyah during the Hajj days) are cheaper than non-shifting.
Should you book Hajj this year?
Hajj is obligatory once you are physically and financially able and can leave your family provided for. It is not a race. Skip this season if any row below is true — going in debt or in poor health is not piety.
| Skip this year if | Why |
|---|---|
| You would have to borrow to pay | Ability includes paying without falling into debt. Save and go when the money is yours. |
| Dependants would be left unprovided | The journey is not obligatory if those you maintain would suffer in your absence. |
| You cannot walk 10–20 km a day in heat | The rites are walking. Fitness work starts months ahead; some years you should wait. |
| The agent cannot prove ATOL + Nusuk | UK pilgrims lose savings to fake packages every year. No licence, no payment. |
| A doctor has advised against travel | Physical ability is a condition. Hajj al-badal can be arranged later if you become permanently unable. |
UK Prayer Times does not sell packages, visas or insurance, and does not take commission from agents.
Which type of Hajj do UK pilgrims perform?
Tamattu
Most commonUmrah on arrival, exit ihram, re-enter ihram for Hajj on 8 Dhul-Hijjah. The most common for UK pilgrims — and the one most packages assume. A sacrifice (hadya) is required.
Qiran
Umrah and Hajj together in one continuous ihram from the miqat. More restrictive — you stay in ihram for weeks — and a sacrifice is required.
Ifrad
Hajj alone, without Umrah. No sacrifice required. Least common for international pilgrims.
Your group\u2019s scholar will confirm which type your package follows — this guide assumes tamattu, the route most UK pilgrims take. The Umrah stage follows exactly the steps in the Umrah guide.
What happens on each day of Hajj?
Every rite in order — tamattu route
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Arrival in Makkah
Umrah first
Enter ihram at the miqat and perform Umrah — tawaf, sa’i, then halq or taqsir. You exit ihram and live normally in Makkah until 8 Dhul-Hijjah. Use these days to pray in the Haram and rest before the rites begin.
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8 Dhul-Hijjah — Yawm at-Tarwiyah
To Mina
Re-enter ihram from where you are staying in Makkah, this time intending Hajj. Travel to Mina and pray Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha and the next Fajr there — each shortened but not combined. The night passes quietly; save your energy.
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9 Dhul-Hijjah — the Day of Arafah
The essential pillar
After sunrise, move to Arafah. Dhuhr and Asr are prayed combined and shortened. Then: stand and make dua until sunset — this standing (wuquf) IS Hajj; the Prophet ﷺ said "Hajj is Arafah", and missing it invalidates the pilgrimage. Ask for everything; this is the greatest day of the year for dua. After sunset, depart for Muzdalifah.
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Night of 10 Dhul-Hijjah
Muzdalifah
Pray Maghrib and Isha combined at Muzdalifah and sleep under the open sky. Collect pebbles here or later — 49–70 small stones (chickpea size) for the coming days. The weak and their carers may leave for Mina after midnight; the strong stay until Fajr.
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10 Dhul-Hijjah — Yawm an-Nahr (Eid)
Stoning, sacrifice, halq, tawaf al-ifadah
The busiest day. Stone Jamrat al-Aqabah (the large pillar) with seven pebbles saying "Allahu Akbar" with each. Then the sacrifice — most pilgrims pay their package’s voucher scheme rather than slaughtering personally. Men shave or trim; women cut a fingertip’s length. Most ihram restrictions now lift (first release). Finally, return to Makkah for tawaf al-ifadah and Hajj sa’i — after which everything is permitted (full release).
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11–12 (–13) Dhul-Hijjah — Days of Tashriq
Stoning all three jamarat
Stay in Mina. Each afternoon after zawal, stone the small, middle and large jamarat in order — seven pebbles each — making dua after the first two. You may leave Mina on the 12th before sunset, or stay for the 13th, which is the more complete practice.
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Departure
Farewell tawaf (tawaf al-wada’)
The last act before leaving Makkah: a farewell tawaf — no sa’i, no two rak’ahs at Maqam Ibrahim required. Make it a genuine goodbye; the Prophet ﷺ made it the final rite so that "the last thing people do is be with the House".
What mistakes do pilgrims regret?
- ✗Leaving Arafah before sunset — the one mistake that can invalidate Hajj. Stay within the boundary until Maghrib.
- ✗Fighting for the Black Stone — harming others for a Sunnah defeats its purpose. Point from afar; the reward is in the tawaf, not the touch.
- ✗Throwing shoes, buckets or abuse at the jamarat — seven small pebbles, said with takbir, is the entire rite. The pillar is a symbol, not the devil in person to assault.
- ✗Neglecting hydration and shade — heat exhaustion hospitalises pilgrims every year. Water constantly, umbrella up, rest between rites. May and June Hajj seasons are hot ones.
- ✗Arguing and raised voices — "no rafath, no fusuq, no jidal during Hajj" (2:197). The patience IS the pilgrimage.