About Hajj: Definition, Legal Aspects, Intentions, Pillars, Conditions, Procedures & Prohibitions

Hajj is a law revealed by Allah SWT to His servants. The Hajj pilgrimage is a pillar of Islam that is required of every Muslim who has the ability to carry it out either physically or materially.

Understanding Hajj

Hajj come from the Arabic word 'hajj' in Indonesian to visit or go to. However, many people also interpret in the word Hajj as annual pilgrimage. This pilgrimage is carried out in the city of Mecca, Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims.The word 'hajj' is the same as the Hebrew word which has the same sound and means 'holiday'.

From the roots of semiotics, it means 'to surround, go around'. Thus in Islam, people who perform the Hajj will circle the Kaaba. The Hajj pattern is now set by the Prophet Muhammad SAW. However, based on the Koran.

Elements of the Hajj began to be known during the time of the Prophet Abraham. According to Islamic tradition, Ibrahim was ordered by Allah SWT to leave his wife, Siti Hajar, and son Ismail in the desert.

At that time Siti Hajar was confused about looking for water, so she jogged between the two hills of Safa and Marwah but couldn't find it. Then Ismail scratched the ground and a fountain appeared under his feet. Prophet Ibrahim was ordered to build the Ka'bah, he did it with the help of Ismail.

The date for Hajj pilgrimage is determined by the Islamic calendar based on lunar year. Every year, the Hajj pilgrimage takes place from 1-10 Dzulhijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. Among the last ten days, the 9th of Dzulhijjah is known as the day of Arafah. Because the Islamic year is shorter than the Gregorian year, of course the Hajj calendar will change every year.

Hajj Laws

The law on carrying out the Hajj pilgrimage is mandatory for Muslims who are able. 

Hajj Intentions

Below is reading of the intention that you must say after entering ihram and taking the miqat.

Latin: Nawaitu hajja wa ahramtu bihi lillahi ta'ala labbaika Allahummaa hajjan.

Meaning: "I intend to carry out Hajj or Ihram for sake to Allah. I welcome Your call, O Allah, to perform Hajj.

Pillars of Hajj

The pillars of Hajj are all the things that must be done during the Hajj and cannot be replaced by paying fees. If one of the pillars is not carried out, then Hajj pilgrimage is invalid. The following are some of the pillars of the Hajj pilgrimage.

1. Ihram

Ihram is the intention to start carrying out all the Hajj pilgrimages and avoid the prohibitions by wearing all white and unstitched clothes.

2. Wuquf

Wukuf is staying in field of Arafah on 9th of Zulhijah, starting from midday prayer until dawn on 10th of Zulhijah. During wukuf, the worship carried out is praying and dhikr to Allah SWT.

3. Tawaf

Tawaf is circling the Kaaba 7 times counterclockwise. During tawaf, the Ka'bah is always on the left, starting and ending in the same direction as the Black Stone, with the condition being pure and unclean.

4. Sa'I

Sa'i is jogging or you can also walk seven times between Safa until Marwah hills.

5. Tahallul

Tahalul meaning shaving at least 3 strand of head hair. There are two types of tahallul in the Hajj pilgrimage. First, when someone has finished the pilgrimage to Aqabah, they are allowed to remove their ihram clothes. The second is tahallul tsani, namely after a person has completed the pilgrimage, shaved, and tawaf ifadah, then he can carry out all the prohibitions on the Hajj.

6. Orderly

The last pillar of Hajj is being orderly. This means that the entire series of worship must be carried out in sequence, nothing can be skipped or the order changed. If you are not orderly, the Hajj pilgrimage is considered invalid.

Requirements for Hajj

Hajj requirements are conditions that a person needs to fulfill to perform the Hajj pilgrimage. If someone does not fulfill the requirements for Hajj, then he is not obliged to perform Hajj. The following are the conditions for Hajj:

• Muslim

• Be sensible

• Physically and spiritually healthy.

• Puberty, reaching adulthood

• Free, not a slave

• Capable, both physically, mentally and materially.

Procedures for Performing Hajj

The Hajj pilgrimage consists of 3 ways of carrying it out, here are the explanations:

1. Haji Ifrad

Ifrad Hajj is performing the Hajj pilgrimage first, then after completing the Hajj then carrying out the Umrah pilgrimage.The way to carry out the Ifrad Hajj is by ihram from the miqat for Hajj and performing all the Hajj series in the month of Zulhijah. Next, ihram and miqat for Umrah and performing the entire series of Umrah.

2. Hajj Tamattu

Tamattu Hajj is carry out the Umrah pilgrimage first, then performing the Hajj pilgrimage.

3. Haji Qiran

Hajj qiran is performing Hajj and Umrah at the miqat.

Hajj Prohibitions

When carrying out the Hajj pilgrimage, there are restrictions for men and women that must be obeyed. Here are some of them:

Prohibitions for Men

• Wear clothes with stitches

• Wear headgear

Prohibition for Women

• Wear a face covering

• Use gloves

Prohibition for Men and Women

• Using perfume, except those used before the intention

• Shaving hair or body hair

• Marry

• Have sexual relations with either your wife or husband

• Hunt or kill land animals that are wild and legal to eat