Doing hajj probably becomes one of the biggest dreams for Muslim all over the world, for we can visit a holy city of Mecca as the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H). What an exciting experience to see and learn directly the trace of Prophet Muhammad’s journey in spreading the values of Islam.
Besides, there are also other benefits of doing hajj Muslims should know. Hajj is the fifth pillar in Islam that we should do at least once in a lifetime, with the condition that we are capable physically, mentally, and financially.
This observance more or less lasts for 5 days, 8 till 12 Dhulhijjah, which is the last month of Islamic calendar. We as Muslim is recommended to learn how to perform hajj step by step as the preparation if one day Allah gives us the opportunity.
Like other kinds of worship in Islam which have rules, so does the hajj. There are some things you should not do during hajj. It is necessary for us to have much attention on this case for it will determine the validity of our hajj.
- Wearing Any Stitched Items (for Male Pilgrims) and Fully-Covering Shoes (for Male and Female Pilgrims)
During hajj, men are only allowed to wear the clothing of ihram. It is a designated white cloth with one piece wrapped around their shoulders and one around their waists. There are no shirt, trousers, socks, etc. on their bodies. While for both male and female pilgrims, they are not allowed to fully cover their foot.
They must let the ankle and back of their foot exposed. In order to cover their aurat, women are allowed to wear socks and other stitched clothings. But, the footwear must in the form of sandals. It is the reflection of how people will be on the Day of Resurrection, as they will be resurrected barefoot and naked, then they will be clothed.
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قَامَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَاذَا تَأْمُرُنَا أَنْ نَلْبَسَ مِنَ الثِّيَابِ فِي الإِحْرَامِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ لاَ تَلْبَسُوا الْقَمِيصَ وَلاَ السَّرَاوِيلاَتِ وَلاَ الْعَمَائِمَ، وَلاَ الْبَرَانِسَ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ أَحَدٌ لَيْسَتْ لَهُ نَعْلاَنِ، فَلْيَلْبَسِ الْخُفَّيْنِ، وَلْيَقْطَعْ أَسْفَلَ مِنَ الْكَعْبَيْنِ، وَلاَ تَلْبَسُوا شَيْئًا مَسَّهُ زَعْفَرَانٌ، وَلاَ الْوَرْسُ، وَلاَ تَنْتَقِبِ الْمَرْأَةُ الْمُحْرِمَةُ وَلاَ تَلْبَسِ الْقُفَّازَيْنِ ”
“Ibn ‘Umar radiyallahu ‘anhu narrated that A person stood up and asked, “O Allah’s: Apostle! What clothes may be worn in the state of Ihram?’ The Prophet Muhammad replied, ‘Do not wear a shirt or trousers, or any headgear (e.g. a turban), or a hooded cloak; but if somebody has no shoes he can wear leather stockings provided they are cut short off the ankles, and also, do not wear anything perfumed with Wars or saffron, and the Muhrima (a woman in the state of Ihram) should not cover her face, or wear gloves.‘” (Bukhari)
- Covering Head with Anything That Touches It (for Male Pilgrims)
Male pilgrims are prohibited to cover their heads directly using cap, hat, or anything that touches the head. It means that if they use umbrella, for example, there is no matter with it, since it does not touch their heads physically. This is due to the saying of the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) when a companion (radiyallahu ‘anhu) died in Ihram.
دَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ كُنَّا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي سَفَرٍ فَرَأَى رَجُلاً قَدْ سَقَطَ عَنْ بَعِيرِهِ فَوُقِصَ فَمَاتَ وَهُوَ مُحْرِمٌ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ اغْسِلُوهُ بِمَاءٍ وَسِدْرٍ وَكَفِّنُوهُ فِي ثَوْبَيْهِ وَلاَ تُخَمِّرُوا رَأْسَهُ فَإِنَّهُ يُبْعَثُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يُهِلُّ أَوْ يُلَبِّي ”
“Ibn Abbas narrated: We were with the Messenger of Allah on a journey when he saw a man fall from his camel, his neck was broken and he died, and he was a Muhrim. So the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Wash him with water and Sidr, and shroud him in his garments, and do not cover his head. For indeed he will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment saying the Talbiyah.'” (at-Tirmidhi)
- Covering Face and Hands (for Female Pilgrims)
During hajj, female pilgrims indeed must wear clothing that cover their intimate parts, because it is obligatory. They must apply proper way how to dress up for Muslim woman. However, face coverings (burqa, niqab) and gloves are not permitted. They must have their faces and hands uncovered.
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْمَدِينِيُّ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ الْمُحْرِمَةُ لاَ تَنْتَقِبُ وَلاَ تَلْبَسُ الْقُفَّازَيْنِ ” .
“Ibn ‘Umar reported that the Prophet Muhammad as saying, ‘A woman in the sacred state (wearing ihram) must not be veiled or wear gloves.‘” (Abi Dawud)
- Using Any Scents on Body or Robes in the State of Ihram (Male and Female Pilgrims)
Pilgrims are allowed to put on perfumes before having intention or reciting Talbiyah. But after they recite Talbiyah, they may not put on perfumes anymore. They are also forbidden to use scented soap. If their robes are touched intentionally by scented liquids, they must wear a new ihram clothing.
وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: { كُنْتُ أُطَيِّبُ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -لِإِحْرَامِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُحْرِمَ, وَلِحِلِّهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَطُوفَ بِالْبَيْتِ
“A’ishah radiyallahu ‘anha narrated, ‘I used to apply perfume to the Prophet Muhammad when he intended to enter the state of Ihram, before he put on his Ihram (garments). And again when he ended his state of Ihram, but before he had made Tawaf around the Ka’bah.'” (Muttafaq ‘Alaih)
- Cutting Nails and Shaving Hair (Male and Female Pilgrims)
Nails here included the nails of hands and foot. If the nail must be cut because it causes irritation or something like that, it is fine. But if it is cut without legal excuse, the pilgrims must pay fidyah. The same rule applies to shaving one’s hair.
فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ بِهِۦٓ أَذًى مِّن رَّأْسِهِۦ فَفِدْيَةٌ مِّن صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍ
“Yet you shall not (ritually) shave your heads until the charitable-offering reaches its destination (for sacrifice). As to whoever among you becomes sick, or has an ailment of the head (that requires shaving), then the due redemption is fasting, or (giving) charity, or a (charitable-offering of) sacrifice.” (Al-Baqarah: 196)
- Killing or Hunting Anything
When pilgrims are in the state of ihram, they are forbidden to kill or hunt anything, specifically land animals which are usually hunted. If they break it, the recompense is like of what they have killed.
يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَا تَقۡتُلُوا الصَّيۡدَ وَاَنۡـتُمۡ حُرُمٌ
“O you who believe! Do not kill any game while you are in (the state of) pilgrim sanctity.” (Al-Maa’idah: 95)
- Marriage, Proposals, and Marital Relations
Persons who are in the state of ihram are not allowed to marry, propose, or have sexual intercourse. Marital relation is forbidden even though it is done by husband and wife.
اَلۡحَجُّ اَشۡهُرٌ مَّعۡلُوۡمٰتٌ ۚ فَمَنۡ فَرَضَ فِيۡهِنَّ الۡحَجَّ فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوۡقَۙ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِى الۡحَجِّ ؕ وَمَا تَفۡعَلُوۡا مِنۡ خَيۡرٍ يَّعۡلَمۡهُ اللّٰهُ ؕ وَتَزَوَّدُوۡا فَاِنَّ خَيۡرَ الزَّادِ التَّقۡوٰى وَاتَّقُوۡنِ يٰٓاُولِى الۡاَلۡبَابِ
“The (time-frame) of the) Hajj-Pilgrimage falls within the well-known months (at the end of the lunar year). So whoever determines to undertake the Hajj-Pilgrimage therein, then there shall be no sexual relations (rafath), nor ungodliness, nor disputation, during the Hajj-Pilgrimage.” (Al-Baqarah: 197)
وَعَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَفَّانَ - رضى الله عنه - أَنَّ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -قَالَ: { لَا يَنْكِحُ اَلْمُحْرِمُ, وَلَا يُنْكِحُ, وَلَا يَخْطُبُ } رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ
“Uthman bin ‘Affan radiyallahu ‘anhu narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, ‘A muhrim (one in the state of ihram) must neither marry himself, nor arrange the marriage of another one, nor should he make the proposal of marriage.’” (Muslim)
Clearly those are the things you should not do during hajj. Each of those prohibition comes with consequences if pilgrims break them. It can be slaughtering camel, fasting for certain amount of days, pay fidyah, and many more. Allah has given the perfect and complete rule. It teaches us that we must be careful and watch out our attitude when doing this sacred worship in Islam. Check to find out whether muslim can perform hajj every year or not.