Pilgrimages Hajj Umrah Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, the heart of Islam, welcomes millions of Muslims from around the world each year for the sacred pilgrimages of hajj and umrah. Deeply rooted in Islamic tradition, these ritual journeys offer believers the opportunity to deepen their spirituality and draw closer to Allah. We will tell you more about both hadj and umrah, their significance and the essential steps pilgrims take during these sacred journeys.

The Hajj - Pillars and rituals

The hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is considered a duty for every Muslim who is physically and financially able to make this journey. In 2024, 1.8 million Muslims participated in the Hajj, of which just over 500 were from the Netherlands. The hadj takes place during the month of Dhoe al-hijjah (pronounced Dhoe al-Hidzjah) of the Islamic calendar and involves a series of rituals dating back to the time of Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him). Dhoe al-hijjah is the twelfth and last month of the Islamic calendar. Literally, Dhoe al-hijjah means the month of pilgrimage.

It is the month where on the tenth day the Feast of Sacrifice (eid al-adha) is celebrated and on the ninth day the day of arafah, this day it is recommended for Muslims to fast if they do not perform hadj on that day.

Hajj - The journey

Men wear Ihram clothes and women wear their normal clothes
The one who intends to perform the Hajj begins his pilgrimage at the Miqaat. The Miqaat are places designated by the Prophet to assume the state of Ihram. These places are different for travelers from different parts of the world
Upon passing Miqaat, they go through rituals and recite the Talbiyah, saying, "Labbayka Allahumma labbayk, Labbayka laa shareeka laka labbayk, Innal hamda wan-ni'amata laka wal mulk, laa shareeka laka." The pilgrims continue reciting the Talbiyah until they reach the Holy Places
When the pilgrim adopts Ihram, he/she should avoid all the prohibitions of Ihram

Hajj - The rituals

Hadj al-Tamattu: The pilgrim accepts Ihram for Umrah only and says, "Allahumma labbayka Umrah" (with this statement the rituals of Umrah begin). Then the pilgrim completes Umrah and comes out of the state of Ihram
When the time for Hajj arrives, he/she takes Ihram from Makkah and is required to make a Hady (animal sacrifice). This is a simple ritual
Hajj al-Ifrad: The pilgrim accepts Ihram for just Hajj and says, "Allahumma labbayka Hajj" (with this statement the rituals of Hajj begin), without animal sacrifice
Hadj al-Qiran: The pilgrim will enter Ihram for both Hajj and Umrah and says, "Allahumma labbayka Hajj and Umrah." The Qiran pilgrim performs only Hajj rituals, which are the same as the rituals of Hadj al-Ifrad, but in which an animal sacrifice is required

On arrival in Makkah - Tawaf

Tawaf Al-Qudoum consists of seven rounds (counterclockwise) for the pilgrim performing Ifrad and Qiran. Seven rounds is equivalent to the seven rounds of the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him). Then he/she performs the prayer of two rak'ahs, if possible behind Maqām Ibrāhīm. Maqām Ibrāhīm is a sacred stone with two hollows at the top in a rough shape of footprints located in the Holy Mosque in Makkah. He/she can then perform the Sa'y of Hajj, and thus he/she does not need to perform additional Sa'y. Pilgrims do not cut their hair, but remain in the state of Ihram until it is time to go to the Mashaer (Holy Places).

Pilgrims who perform Tamattu' shave or cut their hair and this will make them leave their state of Ihram. When it is time to go to the Mashaer on the night of the eighth day, they re-enter the Ihram to perform Hajj from Makkah.

Mina - The Day of Tarwiyah

Pilgrims go to Mina from the Fajr (morning prayer) on the eighth day of Dhoe al-hijjah and stay there until the Fajr on the ninth day.

Spending the night in Mina on the Day of Tarwiyah is Sunnah and not an obligation; the pilgrim can go directly to Arafah on the ninth day.

Arafah (Day of Greater Pilgrimage) - Etiquette

The pilgrim goes on the ninth day from Dhoe al-hijjah to Arafah
He/she combines and shortens the Zuhr and Asr prayers in community
He/she stays in Arafah until sunset
The pilgrim should dedicate himself/herself to Allah on this day until sunset. He/she should pray a lot for himself/herself, his/her family and all Muslims, for the good of this world and the Hereafter. He/she should recite the comprehensive prophetic supplications. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, "The best supplication is the one on the Day of Arafah, and the best of what I and the Prophets before me have said is, 'There is no god but Allah, alone, without any partner, to Him belongs all that exists, and to Him belongs the praise, and He is mighty over all things.'

Spend the night in Muzdalifah

Pilgrims go peacefully to Muzdalifah after sunset
Upon arrival, they must combine the Maghrib and Ishaa prayers
Pilgrims gather seven Jamarat (pebbles) to cast the Jamrat Al-Aqabah
The Prophet spent the night in Muzdalifah until the Fajr
The pebbles should be small, about the size of a fingertip
It is prescribed for the pilgrim to collect pebbles in Muzdalifah, but if he/she collects them from another place, that is also permitted

Mina - Jamrat Al-Aqabah

Pilgrims go to Mina on the day of Eid, the 10th of Dhoe al-hijjah, and throw seven pebbles on the Jamrat Al-Aqabah, which fall into a basin located at the site of the Jamrah
When the pilgrims throw the stones, they stop reciting the Talbiyah and say Takbeer (Allaahu Akbar).
After throwing the stones, it is prescribed for men to shave and for women to cut their hair. Then they come out of the state of Ihram and all the prohibitions of Ihram are permitted except Jimaa' (sexual intercourse)
After throwing the stones and shaving, it is Sunnah to perform ghoesl (ritual ablution), cleanse oneself, perfume and put on clothes, as the Prophet did

Sacrifice

The sacrifice is the animal that the pilgrim sacrifices to get closer to Allah. It is prescribed to revive the Sunnah of Ibrahim - may peace be upon him - and it takes place on one of the best days for Allah. It is considered the best way for a servant to get closer to Him. Often a sheep is sacrificed but another animal such as a cow is also possible.

Tawaf Al-Ifadhah

Pilgrims head to the Holy Mosque in Makkah to perform Tawaf Al-Ifadhah
They perform the two rak'ahs (units of prayer) of Tawaf
They perform Sa'y if they have not already done so. If they have performed Sa'y first with Tawaf Al-Qudoum, they do not need to repeat it

Spend the night in Mina

The pilgrims return to Mina to spend the nights of Tashreeq and cast the Jamarat. Spending the nights of Tashreeq in Mina begins from the evening of the 10th day (11th night) to the evening of the 12th day (13th night) of Dhoe al-hijjah. The Sunnah on the days of Tashreeq is to recite many Takbeer, especially after the prayers.

The 11th day of Dhoe al-hijjah in Mina - Throwing the Jamarat

The throwing of the three Jamarat begins after noon and lasts until sunset on the 13th day of Dhoe al-hijjah. The pilgrim throws seven pebbles to the Lesser Jamrah, then stops, raises his/her hands in supplication and prays for a long time, as the Prophet did. Then he/she throws seven pebbles to the Middle (Second) Jamrah, stops again and prays for a long time, as the Prophet did. Finally, he/she throws seven pebbles to the great Jamrah (Jamrat Al-Aqabah) and leaves.

On the 12th day of Dhoe al-hijjah (the first Nafr day) in Mina

The three Jamarat are stoned after the sun reaches its highest point. Those who wish to leave quickly must leave Mina before sunset. If the sun sets and he/she does not leave Mina, he/she must spend the night there.

The 13th day of Dhoe al-hijjah in Mina

The three Jamarat are pelted after the sun reaches its highest point and ends at sunset.

Tawaf Al-Wadaa' (farewell tawaf).

It is the final stage of the hadj journey
The pilgrim performs Tawaf Al-Wadaa' and immediately leaves
Performing Tawaf Al-Wadaa' is obligatory, and those who do not perform it must make an offering
If a woman menstruates, she does not have to perform Tawaf Al-Wadaa'

The Umrah: A Voluntary Pilgrimage

"Labbayka Allahumma Umrah" translates to English as "Here I am, O Allah, for the Umrah." A phrase that all Muslims from all over the world have always wished to say. The Prophet, may peace and prayers be with him, performed the Umrah four times in his life and the Hajj once. Umrah means visiting the Kaaba, performing Tawaf and performing Sa'y between Mount Safa and Mount Marwah.

Unlike the Hajj, the Umrah is a voluntary pilgrimage that can be performed at any time of the year. It involves similar rituals as the Hajj, but is less elaborate. Many Muslims choose to complete the Umrah because of the spiritual rewards that come with it.

Tawaf and Sa'y: Symbolic rituals

During the Umrah, pilgrims perform the Tawaf in which they perform seven circumambulations around the Kaaba. Each circumambulation begins and ends in front of the Black Stone. The guest of Rahman holds the Kaaba to his left during the Tawaf.

Sa'y consists of seven runs between Safa and Marwa. The pilgrim starts at Safa and goes to Marwa. He/she completes one round when he/she reaches Marwa. The second round is completed when the pilgrim returns to Safa, and so on, until the seventh round ends at Marwa. It is Sunnah for men, rather than women, to walk quickly between the two green pillars, and neither cleansing nor continuity is required for the Sa'y. If the pilgrim has performed Sa'y with Tawaf Al-Qudoum (arrival circumambulation), he/she does not need to repeat it.

Halq or Taqsir: Shaving or shortening hair

After completing the rituals, it is customary for men to shave their heads bald (Halq) and for women to shorten their hair (Taqsir) as a sign of renewal and humility.

The meaning and impact

Both the Hajj and the Umrah have profound meanings for Muslims. Pilgrimages strengthen the sense of unity among the Muslim community and recall the spiritual legacy of Prophet Ibrahim (may peace be upon him) and his family. In addition, pilgrimages have significant positive effects on individual spiritual well-being, with pilgrims experiencing a sense of purification, forgiveness and renewal.

Interested in an Umrah trip? See here for more information on umrah, umrah plus and umrah custom trips.

Are you going on Umrah to Saudi Arabia?

Click here to apply for your visa to Saudi Arabia.

Important! A tourist visa is sufficient for performing Umrah. If you reside in a country by means of a Residence Permit for an indefinite period of time and thus have a different passport from the country where you reside, please contact us to apply for a visa. Example: you have a Moroccan passport and a permanent residence permit for your stay in the Netherlands.

Conclusion

The Hajj and Umrah are not just ritual pilgrimages, but profound spiritual experiences that play a central role in the lives of millions of Muslims around the world. These pilgrimages are a source of unity, humility and devotion to Allah, and help strengthen ties within the Islamic community. The meaningful rituals and symbolism behind the Hajj and Umrah make these pilgrimages an indispensable aspect of the Islamic faith.