Bismillah hir-Rahman nir-Raheem.
Millions of hearts yearn every year. They take off from home, family, and comfort, donning humble white robes, their faces radiating hope. They respond to Allah’s ageless summons: “Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik!”
This pilgrimage — Hajj — is not only a journey in the physical sense; it’s a spiritual birth.
If you’re planning to perform Hajj, you’re immensely blessed. May Allah grant your efforts and facilitate your way!
In this simple, heart-to-heart manual, we will guide you through the Manasik e Hajj step by step, like friends on a journey of love and submission.
Let’s start.
What Are Manasik e Hajj?
Before we jump into the steps, let’s learn what Manasik e Hajj is.
“Manasik” (مناسک) is an Arabic term meaning the rituals and acts of worship done during Hajj.
Manasik e Hajj encompasses all the acts — from donning Ihram to sacrifice and Tawaf.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ demonstrated these practices for us through his own behavior, and now millions of believers tread the same blessed pathway.
Irrespective of whether you are looking for manasik e hajj step by step images, a manasik e hajj list, or a manasik hajj in English that is easy to comprehend, this manual will, Insha’Allah, prove to be complete for you.
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Preparation for Hajj — The Inner Journey Starts
Your heart has to prepare before you set foot in Makkah.
Renew your intention (niyyah). You are traveling only because of Allah, not for recognition, pictures, or sightseeing.
Pay off your debts as much as you can.
Forgive people whom you have hurt.
Toughen your patience — because Hajj tries the body, but it also tries the heart.
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Ihram — Adorning the Raiment of Equality and Cleanliness
Ihram indicates the official onset of Hajj.
When to wear Ihram:
For Hajj: Wear it before going over the Miqat (designated limit points surrounding Makkah).
How to Put on Ihram:
For males: two plain white pieces of cloth.
For females: respectable attire that fully covers the body (no specified color needed, but avoid finery).
What to Do Following the Wearing of Ihram:
Perform the Niyyah (intention):
“O Allah, I wish to go for Hajj. Facilitate it for me and accept it from me.”
Start Talbiyah, the heart-warming recitation:
“Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik, Labbaik La Sharika Laka Labbaik. Innal Hamda, Wan-Ni’mata, Laka Wal Mulk, La Sharika Lak.”
This lovely chant means: “Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner. Here I am. Surely all praise, blessings, and dominion are Yours. You have no partner.”
Prohibitions While Ihram:
- No trimming hair or nails.
- No perfumery.
- No sexual intercourse.
- No killing or hunting animals.
- No quarreling or fighting.
3. Entering Makkah — The City of Light
When you finally get to Makkah, your heart will be filled with a sense of despair. You will see the Kaaba — the House of Allah — and your worries will just melt away. Tears will flow, hands will lift up, and every dua will seem as close as ever before.
First Task:
- Do Tawaf al-Qudoom (the Tawaf of Arrival).
- Go around the Kaaba 7 times in the anti-clockwise direction, beginning from the Black Stone (Hajr-e-Aswad).
- After performing Tawaf, offer two rak’ahs behind Maqam-e-Ibrahim if possible.
Then:
- Do Sa’i between Safa and Marwah hills (7 times), similar to Hajar (AS) , ran looking for water for her infant Ismail (AS).
- Drink lots of Zamzam water. It is blessed and healing.
4. 8th Dhul-Hijjah — Day of Tarwiyah
Now the major Hajj Manasik starts.
On 8th Dhul-Hijjah:
- Put on your Ihram again if necessary (especially for those performing Tamattu).
- Perform Niyyah for Hajj.
- Go to Mina, a valley on the outskirts of Makkah.
In Mina:
Perform five prayers (Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha, and Fajr next morning) in abridged form (two rak’ahs each, but not mixed).
Remain calm, practice dhikr (remembrance of Allah), and rest.
5. 9th Dhul-Hijjah — The Day of Arafah (The Heart of Hajj)
This is Hajj’s most important day.
After Fajr in Mina:
- Go to Arafah.
- Upon reaching Arafah, settle in your tent or open ground.
At Arafah:
- Perform Dhuhr and Asr prayers combined and shortened (two rak’ahs each).
- Spend your time making duas, crying, repenting, begging for forgiveness.
- It is the day when Allah descends to the lowest heaven and boasts to the angels about His forgiven slaves.
Important Dua Time:
- From noon till sunset.
- Stand with your hands raised, face towards Qibla, and pour your heart out.
Remember:
“Hajj is Arafah.” (Hadith) — If you miss Arafah, you miss Hajj.
6. After Sunset — Departure to Muzdalifah
After Maghrib:
- Leave for Muzdalifah without offering Maghrib prayer.
- Offer Maghrib and Isha together at Muzdalifah.
- Sleep under the open sky — this night of stars is never to be forgotten.
At Muzdalifah:
- Take 49 or 70 small pebbles for Rami (stoning the devil ceremony).
7. 10th Dhul-Hijjah — Eid Day (The Day of Sacrifice)
This day is full of various significant Hajj rituals in succession:
At Muzdalifah:
- Pray Fajr early.
- Make dua.
- Then return to Mina.
At Mina:
Rami: Pelt the biggest pillar (Jamrat al-Aqabah) with 7 pebbles, uttering “Allahu Akbar” each time.
Sacrifice: Perform the animal sacrifice (or make arrangements in advance).
Shaving/Cutting Hair:
Men must shave heads (better) or cut hair very close to the head.
Women must cut a length of hair from the tip of one finger.
After that:
Take off Ihram clothes and dress in regular clothing.
Now, you are partially released from Ihram (this is referred to as First Tahallul).
8. Tawaf al-Ifadah — Hajj Tawaf
After stoning and sacrificing, go to Makkah for Tawaf al-Ifadah:
- Make another 7 rounds around the Kaaba.
- Offer two rak’ahs after Tawaf.
- Perform Sa’i if you did not already perform it before.
- This Tawaf is an integral component of Hajj. You have to do it.
11th, 12th, and 13th Dhul-Hijjah — Tashreeq Days
In Mina:
Every day, after Dhuhr prayer, stone all three Jamarat (small, medium, and large pillars) with 7 pebbles each (total 21 pebbles per day).
Remain in Mina:
- Keep remembering Allah, pray, make dhikr, and bask in the spiritual environment.
- You can depart after stoning on the 12th if you want (early departure), or remain till 13th for additional reward.
10. Farewell Tawaf — The Final Goodbye
When it is time to depart Makkah, perform the Tawaf al-Widaa (Farewell Tawaf):
- 7 laps around the Kaaba.
- No Sa’i required.
- No prayer required afterwards (unless you want).
- With sorrowful hearts, pilgrims bid their last farewell to the Kaaba, praying to come again and again.
A Quick List of Manasik e Hajj for Easy Memory:
- Wear Ihram and Niyyah
- Talbiyah (ongoing till stoning)
- Arrival Tawaf + Sa’i
- Mina stay (8th Dhul-Hijjah)
- Arafah stay (9th Dhul-Hijjah)
- Muzdalifah overnight (9th–10th Dhul-Hijjah)
- Rami (stoning) on Eid day
- Sacrifice
- Shaving/cutting hair
- Tawaf al-Ifadah + Sa’i
- Rami on Tashreeq days
- Farewell Tawaf
Manasik Hajj in English, Urdu, and Arabic
Manasik Hajj in English:
You just read it — simple, emotional, and deep. Alhamdulillah!
Manasik Hajj in Urdu:
There are many books like “Manasik-e-Hajj o Umrah” by Maulana Muhammad Idrees Kandhlawi. And also, there are many guides distributed free of cost at airports in Urdu for Pakistani pilgrims.
Manasik Hajj in Arabic:
Arab pilgrims use guides such as “دليل الحاج” and the Hajj Ministry guidebooks. Arabic lectures by scholars such as Sheikh Sudais and Sheikh Shuraim are very useful as well.
Final Words: The Essence of Hajj
Dear pilgrim to the House of Allah,
Hajj is not a perfect performance. It’s a broken heart that cries out to its Creator.
Your weary feet, your tearful supplications, your sleepless nights — all are seen by Allah.
When you stone the pillars, you are stoning your own sins.
When you offer animal sacrifice, you are offering your ego.
When you go between Safa and Marwah, you are going between hope and fear.
May your Hajj be Mabroor (accepted).
May you come back like a newborn soul, as clean as the day you were born.
And may Allah invite you again and again to His house. Ameen.
Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik!