106 Tips for a Productive Hajj

BEFORE YOU TRAVEL

1. Photocopy of all your ofcial documet!. "a#e e$tra copie! of pa!!port! ad
photo!.
%. &eep 'oth your atioal currecy a! (ell a! )audi Riyal! i your (allet.
*. +a,e your a-et chec# i for all the 'oo#i-!. hotel!. food!. a-reemet!
'eforehad.
/. E!ure to pay all your due!. Al!o. pre0pay your mothly 'ill! !o you do1t fall
'ehid !imply 'ecau!e you1ll 'e out of the coutry.
E2U3ATE YOUR)ELF A42 RE"A54 65T+ T+E LEAR4E2
7. +a,e the ri-ht metality. other(i!e you (ould 8d it ,ery difcult to cope. Ta#e
oe thi- at a time. ha,e the itetio to plea!e your Lord i the 'e!t (ay
po!!i'le. ad -o (ith a ope mid.
9. :ai complete ad authetic #o(led-e a'out each ad e,ery a!pect of +a;;.
<. Re0lear the 'a!ic! of 5!lam= Tho!e -oi- for +a;; !hould ma#e !ure that they
are performi- 6udhu ad )alah ad perfectly.
>. Familiari?e your!elf (ith the +a;; pla@ do1t deped o the 5mam to -uide you
o e,ery little dua to recite or prayer to pray.
A. )tudy the )eerah of Prophet "uhammad B)A6C ad Prophet 5'rahim Da!E 'efore
you -o.
10. Read the 'oo# FGetting the Best Out Of HajjG 'y A'u "ueer 5!mail 2a,id!. +e
-uide! ,ery (ell alo- e,ery !tep H 'oth 'efore ad duri- +a;;.
11. Be careful ot to 'e i,ol,ed (ith !hir# or icorrect practice!.
1%. Remai (ith Iulama B!cholar!C (ho ca e$plai the ritual! correctly. Fid a
-roup that or-ai?e! daily moti,atioal remider! J -uidelie! o ho( to
practically perform the ,ariou! ritual!.
1*. 5 !pite of the pre,iou! tip. #o( your do1! ad dot1!= The cro(d! are
ma!!i,e ad time i! ti-ht. !o e,e thou-h you are (ith a -roup. you !ometime!
eed to do thi-! o your o( or ta#e your o( iitiati,e. The -roup! try their
'e!t to !treamlie thi-! for the people 'ut certai thi-! are 'eyod their
cotrol. At !uch time!. oe1! o( !tudy ad #o(led-e come! i hady ad
i!tead of -oi- (ith the -roup@ oe ca do a fe( thi-! idepedetly.
1/. Lear commo Ara'ic ,oca'ulary ad phra!e! eeded duri- +a;; !o that
it ea!e! commuicatio. The !i-0'oard! there are al!o i Ara'ic ad it
'ecome! difcult to uder!tad them.
T5P) FOR PRO2U3T5VE +AKK :EAR
What to Wear:
19. 6ear comforta'le. dura'le !adal! or !hoe!.
1<. &eep i mid that you (ill put your !lipper! i a 'a- (he you -o to
"a!;id al0+aram. The Loor of the haram i! -raite ad may 'e hard o
!e!iti,e feet. Ta#e a pair of home !lipper! or aythi- that ha! !ome paddi-
to ea!e the harde!! of the Loor ad pai o the feet.
1>. &eep a !pare 5hram (hile i "ia i ca!e it -et! dirty.
1A. Place a damp had to(el uder your cap@ it (ill #eep you fre!h ad
eer-i?ed. i!haAllahM
What to Carry:
%N. )tay li-ht. &eep your 'a--a-e to the e!!etial!.
%1. Ta#e empty pla!tic 'ottle! (ith you (he -oi- to "a!;id al0+aram !o you
ca 8ll up Oam?am to ta#e 'ac# to the hotel.
%%. &eep a li-ht 'ac#pac# for e!!etial 'elo-i-! you eed to carry aroud=
ca!h for the day. pa!!port. !mall dua 'oo#. !mall Pur1a. pac#et of ti!!ue
paper. etc.
%*. &eep a li-ht(ei-ht prayer mat (ith you. 5t ca 'e placed o your head to
protect you from the heat ad al!o !hared (ith other! (hee,er you ha,e to
pray i a area (ithout ru-!. B4ote= For tho!e (ith (ea# ;oit! or 'oe!. carry a
padded prayer mat.C
%/. 3arry a li-ht(ei-ht um'rella to !helter from the !u.
%7. Ta#e a hadheld fa.
%9. Ta#e !u-la!!e!.
%<. Pac# !ome medical face ma!#!.
%>. Ta#e Va!elie to !top your le-! from ru''i- a! there1ll 'e a lot of
(al#i-.
%A. +a,e !ome 'a!ic medicie! o had for cut! ad 'rui!e! B(hich you may
de,elop due to much (al#i-.C
*N. 6et (ipe! are the life !a,iorM
*1. 6ome. plea!e 'ri- a pair of !ci!!or! !o that it i! ea!y to cut your hair
at the ed of +a;;.
*%. :et your!elf a mii Pur1a Byou ca al!o carry a Ama?o &idle for ea!y
acce!! to a Pur1aC. a poc#et0!i?e +a;; -uide. ad a mii !upplicatio! 'oo#.
+a,e your mp* (ell !orted (ith PuraQdua!Qlecture!@ the ;ourey! are lo-M
**. &eep phoe! (hich ha,e lo-er 'attery life@ you may ot 8d place to
char-e your !mart phoe i Arafah ad "u?dalifah.
Washroom-Related Gear:
*/. There are maily oly !RuatQLoor toilet! at the +a;; !ite!. Rather tha
cau!i- your!elf udue hard!hi p. (a!ti- time. ad ri!# edi- up (ith
uclea clothi- for prayer. it i! 'e!t for (ome to (ear li-ht cotto lo-
dre!!e! Bor ;ela'iyya! are perfectC udereath their outer -armet!. The!e ca
'e ea!ily lifted for 'athroom ,i!it! ad (ill 'e far more comforta'le.
*7. &eep ela!tic 'ad! for holdi- your pat! ad !lee,e! up (he ma#i-
6udhu to pre,et them from -etti- (et.
*9. &eep a emer-ecy #it of pla!tic 'a-!. !mall 'ottle Bprefera'ly !Ruee?y.
li#e a pla!tic #etchup 'ottleC of (ater for (a!hi- oe!elf ad 6udhu. toilet
paper. ad e,e a !mall 'uc#et or cotaier if eeded. Thi! ca 'e u!ed for
emer-ecy 'athroom eed! ad ma#i- 6udhu rather tha !tadi- for
hour!. Re-ardle!! of the um'er of toilet !tatio! a,aila'le. there are lo-
Rueue! at all of them ad !ometime! it i! hour! 'et(ee lea,i- Arafah ad
arri,i- at "u?dalifah.
*<. Ta#e Bperfume0freeC liRuid !oap rather tha a 'ar (hich 'ecome! difcult
to re0pac#a-e oce (et.
T5P) FOR )P5R5TUAL PRO2U3T5V5TY
uas:
*>. Lear rele,at dua! to 'e recited (he doi- +a;;.
*A. 2o ot ;u!t read from 'oo#! 'ut do dua from heart.
/N. +a,e a dua diary= #eep a ote'oo# or a diary (ith all the ame! of the
people ad their dua! (hich they (ould li#e you to ma#e for them. 5t i! al!o a
-reat idea to pe do( oe1! o( dua! i the ote'oo#. )tart 'efore you lea,e
ad (rite do( your dua li!t for Arafat.
/1. Pla ahead the co,er!atio you (ill 'e ha,i- (ith your LordM You (ill 'e
prepared to co,er!e ad !pill out (hat i! i your heart to your Lord ad (eep
to your heart1! cotet.
/%. Pray for the people that are (or#i- duri- +a;; for your !afety= police.
doctor!. cleaer! ad -uide!. "a#e dua for the oppre!!ed. icludi- "u!lim! i
)yria. Pale!tie. ad Burma.
!ocus:
/*. )tay uplu--edM Oly #eep a cell for emer-ecy u!e. 'ut !tay A) FAR
A6AY from your life 'ac# home a! you ca@ o email. o phoe. 5mmer!e
your!elf i the e$periece !o that you ca focu! !olely o your purpo!e= to do
thi! act for the !a#e of Allah aloe. You are amo- the !elect fe( (hom Allah
cho!e to ,i!it +i! ma!;id.
//. 2o ot -et too di!tracted (ith all the !hoppi- there a! it i! ea!y to do !o
ad cocetrate o the real rea!o you are there.
/7. 2ear +a;;i. do1t (orry a'out your moey. childre. !pou!e. paret!.
'rother! J !i!ter! 'ecau!e you (ill 'e a(ay. Ku!t for-et e,erythi- ad do your
+a;; faithfully ad !icerely ad Allah !urely (ill #eep them all !afe. Feel your
+a;; a! it1! the 8r!t ad la!t +a;; you (ill 'e a'le to do i your life 'ecau!e.
-eerally. it1! ot too ea!y to -o to +a;; a-ai.
/9. )imply !u'mit your!elf to Allah a! the ;ourey 'e-i!. That !(itch mu!t
'e Lipped i!tatlyM That i! the oly (ay the phy!ical challe-e! 'ecome
uimportat ad oe ca accept e,ery challe-e a! food for the !oul.
Other(i!e the etire ;ourey i! li#ely to 'e !pet i fretti- o,er meai-le!!
daily ha!!le! that ca !poil !uch a -reat opportuityM
/<. Ta#e +a;; a! a ;ourey. )o tra,el li-ht Bope0mided ad clea heartC ad
!tay focu!ed o your de!tiatio.
/>. "a#e tal'iyah Breciti- la''ai#C throu-hout ad #eep i mid your
purpo!e here= you are (or#i- for the A#hirah.
/A. Refrai from all ad e,ery #id of I'ad tal#1 Ba-er. hurtful (ord!.
!lader. lie!. etc.C from the momet that you ha,e the itet to -o o +a;;.
from the day! leadi- up to it till the day you lea,e. ad e,ery !i-le day
thereafter duri- +a;;.
7N. Becau!e of the lo- period! of time (ithout 'athroom acce!! ad o
'u!e!. eat le!!. 4othi- i! more di!tracti- to Ii'aadah ad prayer tha
ur-ecy to -o to the 'athroom. )o miimi?e your eati-@ it1! the )uahM
51. )ay bismillah (hee,er you 'e-i to do !omethi- ad al(ay! ma#e dua.
Time:
71. U!e the time i the mo!Rue to complete the recitatio ad the meai-
of the Pur1a.
7%. 3arry a mp* playerQ5!lamic 'oo#!Q&idle (ith you. You -et lot! of time to
!pare duri- the three "ia i-ht!. 2o1t (a!te time i idle tal#!. You may 'e
too tired to read or do other Ii'aadah@ 'e!t optio i! to li!te to !omethi- that
(ill help your Ema.
7*. E!ure you ma$imi?e your time producti,ely a! much a! you ca i
Arafat. 5f po!!i'le. try to -et a !pace o a hill ad #eep to your!elf i prayer! a!
much a! you ca.
7/. 2o1t (a!te time collecti- pe''le! i Arafah 'ecau!e it1! the mo!t
importat day of the +a;;. Pe''le! ca 'e collected after reachi- "u?dalifah.
77. Ta#e cereal 'ar! ad 'rea#fa!t 'i!cuit!. 2o1t 'other (ith the fa!t food
outlet! i the mall!. You (ill (a!te your time Rueui- ad lo!e preciou! time
you could u!e for Ii'aadah.
79. 2o1t !leep 'et(ee 5!hraR ad Oa(aal. "a#e u!e of the time to pray
)alat0ud02uha.
Patie"ce:
7<. Ta#e oe 'a- of pro,i!io! ad 1N 'a-! of PAT5E43EM
7>. +a;; i! a te!t= ot !o much a phy!ical oe. 'ut a te!t of patiece. TaR(a.
ad Emaa. From the time you ma#e the itetio to perform it. diSeret
a!pect! of the te!t (ill ari!e. Lear ad u!e the!e t(o phra!e! (he aythi-
te!ti- come! up= FAl hamdul15llah Iala #ully haalG Ball prai!e! to Allah i e,ery
!ituatioC ad FPadr Allahi (a maa !haa fa1alG Bit i! Allah1! Padr ad +e doe!
a! +e (ill!C.
7A. Remid your!elf thi! i! a oce i a lifetime opportuity !o try to ma#e the
mo!t of it. For e$ample. you may 'e !tuc# i ufore!ee !ituatio! li#e (aiti-
for a 'u! for three hour!. !o try to do dua ad dhi#r rather tha 'ecomi-
irrita'le ad fru!trated. &eep your emotio! i chec# ad heart! clea. ot oly
for your!elf 'ut for tho!e aroud you for a !mooth ad memora'le ;ourey.
i!haAllah.
9N. A!# Allah to -i,e you !tre-th. !a'r. ad ea!e throu-hout the etire
;ourey. ot ;u!t the 8,e day! of +a;;M
91. +a,e ta(a##ul i Allaah. Ay time you face a hard!hip duri- you tra,el!
or throu-hout the ;ourey Bli#e if you -et lo!t. or left 'ehid. or (ea# ad !ic#C.
do1t paicM Breath. ree( your itetio ad #o( that Allah (ill -et you
throu-hM
9%. "a#e !ure to lea,e your e-o or temper at home 'efore you tra,el to +a;;.
)ice there are al(ay! thou!ad! of people (here,er you -o. there (ill 'e
may icidet! that may pro,o#e you. 2o ot let ay of tho!e thi-! -et to you
or el!e your +a;; (ill tur from !pirituality ad producti,ity ito !imply (atchi-
(ho or (hat e$t i! -oi- to pro,o#e you ad your ri!i- temper (ill 'lid you
from e;oyi- ad li,i- +a;;.
Puri#catio" $ Re%ectio":
9*. Prepare your heart 'efore you lea,e for +a;;. There i! othi- (or!e tha
a hard heartM
9/. E$erci!e humility. Ku!t 'ecau!e you are o a V5P pac#a-e doe!1t ma#e
you V5P. +a;; mea! (e are all the !ame H eRual. Treat e,eryoe (ith re!pect@
(e are all 'rother! ad !i!ter!.
97. "a#e i!ti-hfaar ad reLect o ho( (ea# you are. ho( i!i-i8cat you
are. ad ho( !upreme Allah1! mercy i!.
99. 5f you ha,e othi- -ood to !ay. the do1t !ay it. +ere1! (hat really
helped me= Ku!t do1t !ay aythi- that i! ot reRuired.
9<. Ta#e a ;oural alo- ad #eep a record of your +a;; trip. e$periece!. e(
fried!. dua!. re!olutio!. etc.
Goals:
9>. )et your o( !piritual tar-et!. i.e.. daily Pur1a recitatio. Taf!eer.
Piyam. etc.
9A. Pla ahead@ e$cept for the 8,e daily prayer!. (hat (ill 'e the other e$tra
Ii'aadat you ca do i +a;;T
<N. 6hile at +a;;. de8e your purpo!e i life. )et -oal! ad a directio. You
(ill ha,e eou-h time to thi#.
T5P) FOR P+Y)53AL PRO2U3T5V5TY
!it"ess:
<1. Be a! 8t a! po!!i'le 'efore you -o. You (ill ofte 8d your!el,e! (ithout
tra!port for lo- !tretche! at a time. ad it1! u!eful to -et i a ha'it of (al#i-
a fe( moth! 'efore you lea,e. You1ll 8d your!elf le!! tired that (ay ad ha,e
more eer-y for Ii'aadah.
&utritio":
<%. 2ri# lot! of (ater.
<*. &eep !ome healthy !ac#! 'ecau!e oe ca ed up (aiti- !e,eral hour!
at the airport.
</. Eat food that i! ouri!hi- ad re,itali?i-. Ta#e eer-y08lled -raola
'ar! (ith you o your trip. Al(ay! #eep date! (ith you@ 'e!t !ource of eer-y
ad utritio.
<7. 2o ot (a!te food. Eat (hat (ill #eep your 'ac# !trai-ht ad do ot o,er0
idul-e.
<9. 3arry medicie! ad multi0,itami! i ca!e !omeoe fall! ill.
'leep:
<<. :et -ood !leep ri-ht from the 'e-ii- to #eep your eer-y le,el up till
the ed.
<>. :et u!ed to !leepi- early ad (a#i- up early for i-ht prayer! a fe(
moth! 'efore +a;;.
T5P) FOR )O35AL PRO2U3T5V5TY
<A. )ympathi?e (ith fello( +a;;i!. 4e,er !ay o to BhelpC a fello( +a;;i. ad
e,er critici?e them for thi-! they do.
>N. Put the e$t per!o a'o,e your!elf. Put their ri-ht! 'efore your!. Your
3reator (o1t a!# (hat the e$t per!o did to you. 'ut +e (ill a!# you (hat
you did for the e$t per!o.
>1. 2ecide to do at lea!t four e( -ood deed! daily that you did1t u!ed to
do. e.-.. help the eedy. 'uy !omeoe a meal. di!tri'ute -la!!e!Q'ottle! of
Oam?am to other!. !upport a elder (he doi- Ta(af. !mile. for-i,e the oe
that hurt!Qa-er! you. etc.
>%. &eep !mall cha-e ear'y !o that you ca -i,e to the poor ad -et
re(ard from Allah.
>*. Bri- !mall ie$pe!i,e -ift! from your hometo( to 'e -i,e to e(
fried! you meet i the mo!Rue. or the eedy. For e$ample. 'ri- e$tra
medicie li#e medicated oil i !mall pac#a-e!. !mall du1a 'oo#!. or little pouch
'a-! ad -i,e to the per!o e$t to you i )alah. That1! a -reat ice 'rea#er ad
)adaRah too.
>/. 2i!tri'ute little 'oo#! of adh#ar or audio 32! of 5!lamic tal#!. You mi-ht
8d people from Africa (here it1! hard for them to -et acce!! !uch iformatio.
>7. Arra-e a 'a- of cadie! for #id! you may meet. Ta#e !ome moey to -ift
it to #id! at Eid time.
>9. 5f you are -i,e moey 'y relati,e! ad fried! a! a to#e prior to the
+a;; trip. doate the moey i "eccaQ"adiah to the eedy i!tead of 'uyi-
-ift! for them. Thi! (ay. 'oth you ad your relati,e! (ill -et the re(ard of
)adaRah.
><. Try to -reet "u!lim 'rother!Q!i!ter! from other coutrie! a! much a! you
ca. +a;; i! the lar-e!t meeti- for the Ummah.
>>. 6he it i! time to collect !toe! at "u?dalifah. try to collect e$tra. There
are may you1d come acro!! (ho (ould eed them. Al!o !ome of the elder!
eed help (ith collecti- !toe! a! (ell.
BE OR:A45OE2
(" )asjid al-Haram:
>A. 5f you !ee a lot of people ma#i- ro(! for prayer out!ide the ma!;id. do
-o further ad try to -et i!ide a! there (ould ormally !till 'e !pace i!ide.
)ome +a;;i! li#e to pray out!ide.
AN. 6he -oi- for )alah. ma#e !ure to -o a miimum of 1.7 hour 'efore
)alah time i order to !ecure your !pot for prayer.
A1. :et to Kumuah prayer early H aroud > H A a.m.
A%. There are Oam?am re!er,e! e,ery(here@ o eed to 8-ht for the
Oam?am !trai-ht after Ta(af. Loo# aroud for other!.
A*. The )a1ee ha! !e,eral Loor!@ it may 'e 'e!t to perform it i the 'a!emet
(here it1! u!ually empty ad cool.
(" )i"a* +rafah* a"d )u,dalifah:
A/. A,oid the ru!h ad !a,e your time 'y !cheduli- 'athroom trip! i
"a##ah. "ia. Arafah. ad "u?dalifah 'et(ee 1.7 to % hour! 'efore the
prayer. The!e are the Ruiete!t time! ad you (ill 'e i ad out i o time.
A7. 6he you reach "ia ad !ettle do(. ;u!t ta#e a fe( fried! (ith you
out of the tet ad -et familiari?ed (ith the hi-h ri!eQpopular ladmar#!
aroud ad try to reach your tet from tho!e poit!.
A9. Lea,e early mori- to(ard! Arafah o the day of Arafah@ 'etter (al#
tha ta#e a 'u!.
A<. 2o1t lea,e Arafah 'efore "a-hri' atha. After the atha. lea,e Arafah
ad oSer )alah of "a-hri' ad 5!ha i "u?dalifah.
A>. 2o1t ru!h for collecti- Ipelti- !toe!1 i Arafah@ there are may i
"u?dalifah.
AA. Kamarah Bpelti- !toe!C after 2huhr i! optimum a! it1! ot cro(ded.
1NN. 2o ot -o aloe@ al(ay! 'e i pair! or a !mall -roup.
1N1. A,oid the -roud Loor i Kamarah@ it1! ,ery cro(ded ad !tampede! ca
occur.
1N%. 3hoo!e (ho you are -oi- to do your +a;; !acri8ce (ith ad the ;u!t 'e
doe (ith it.
(" Group 'ituatio"s:
1N*. )tic# to-ether a! a -roup. "a#e !ure you ha,e a 8$ed meeti- place
(hich e,eryoe #o(! i ca!e !omeoe -et! lo!t.
1N/. 2o ot (ait for the -roup for all your acti,itie!. There i! a ,ery 8e
'alace 'et(ee 'ei- a team player ad #eepi- the !pirit of the F;ama1ahG.
ad 'et(ee (a!ti- your time (aiti- for people to do thi-! !o you ca ta#e
actio. Oe i! ofte cau-ht i a !ituatio (here !ome people (at to -o left
ad other! (at to -o ri-ht. ad 'oth directio! are ri-ht. You mu!t proacti,ely
ha,e a !et pla ad mechai!m of ho( to decide rather tha putti- your!elf i
ri!# of uplaed choice uder pre!!ure.
1N7. "a#e a li!t of acti,itie! (hich mu!t 'e !hared (ith the -roup Be.-..
mo,i- i plae!. car!. J 'u!e!C ad a li!t of acti,itie! (hich mu!t 'e doe
aloe Be.-.. i-ht prayer!. readi- Pur1a. etc.C. ad al(ay! 'e ready to ta#e a
corer oce you feel the -roup i! (a!ti- your ,ery preciou! time of aloe
acti,itie!.
1N9. Be clea. tidy. do1t litter. ad reLect the true ima-e of 5!lam. Thi! i!
crucial -i,e the i!!ue of litteri- ad terri'le hy-iee i! faced e,ery !i-le
year.