Common Mistakes in Umra and Hajj
In Aqeedah (the Muslim’s Belief)
- Many Pilgrims when they travel to Madinnah they pray to the graves. They make
Dua’ to Rasul Allah (Sal Allahu alayhi wa Sallam). This could not only ruin
their Hajj, it could nullify their Islam.
- Do not rub graves for Barakah.
- Do not make Du’a to anyone except Allahh ta’aala.
- When going to Madinah, your initial inttention should be to visit Masjid An-Nabawee,
the Prophet’s Masjid.
In Ihraam
* Do not pass the Meeqat without being in the state of Ihraam. If you are
landing in Jeddah and going to Makkah to perform Umrah directly, you must be in
a state of Ihraam before you land, as the plane shall enter the Meeqat. Jeddah
is inside the Meeqat.
* If you are landing in Jeddah, you need your Ihraam towels with you on the
airplane in your carry-on bag.
* Women may wear anything Islamically permissible for Ihraam.
* Do not take pictures of yourself in Ihraam. You came to worship Allah and
taking pictures for showing others later may contradict your sincerity of doing
this for the sake of Allah.
* Women in their menses must be in a state of Ihraam when they pass the Meeqat.
They should shower and do talbiyah like everyone else.
* Do not uncover your right shoulder until you reach the Ka’bah and begin Tawaf.
This is the time that the Messenger uncovered his shoulder and it is an act of
Hajj, so we must follow when the Prophet did it.
* You may change your Ihraam towels if they get dirty
* You do not enter into Ihraam by just wearing the towels. You must make the
intention to begin.
* Do not shave your beard, whether before, during or after Ihraam.
* You should wear sandals, but if you do not have sandals, you do not have to
walk barefoot. Wear what you have until you find a place to get sandals.
* When beginning your Ihraam for Hajj, do it from where you are: in your hotel,
on the street, etc. You do not have to go to the Ka’bah to start your Ihraam for
Hajj.
* Do pay attention to what you are saying when you are making the Talbiyah:
Labayk Allahumma Labbayk…
* When you hear that you are not allowed to wear stitches in Ihraam, know that
what is meant is that you cannot wear pieces of cloth that are sewn together to
wrap your body, such as a T-Shirt or underwear.
* Both men and women may shower with unscented soap. Yes, for women and men, you
may comb your hair, as the Prophet’s wives used to do when they were in Ihraam.
In Tawaf:
- You do not have to say your intention oout loud to begin Tawaf. Saying
intentions out loud is something the Prophet (Sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) never
did except after Ihraam when he said, “Labbayk Allahuma Umrah wa Hajj.”
- You do not have to touch the black stonne for your Tawaf to be accepted. If it
is crowded you may face your hand toward the stone and say Allahu Akbar.
- Do not kiss the Yemeni corner. You may only touch it.
- Do not worship the black stone. You aree glorifying Allah by coming to this
house and worshiping Him, following the Sunnah of Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alayhi
wa sallam).
- Do not follow those Dua books that makee up dua for each time you go around the
Ka’bah. Read Quran and make Dua from your heart and glorify Allah.
- Make Dua by yourself, do not do it in aa shouting group around the ka’bah.
- Do not wipe the walls of the ka’bah durring Tawaf. Rasul Allah did not touch
anything other than the black stone and the Yemeni corner.
- Do not hurt anyone to kiss the black sttone.
- Do not face your hand to the Yemeni corrner and say Allahu Akbar. This is only
for the black stone.
- Do not push or hurt anyone during Tawaff
- The Ka’bah should be to your left. Do nnot do Tawaf with your back to the
ka’bah.
- Do not stand at the black stone line foor a long time. Move on.
- Do not lengthen your 2 Rakas of Tawaf <
- There is nothing in the sunnah about: DDua Maqam Ibraheem. After you pray the 2
Rakas of Tawaf move on.
In Sa’I (going between Safa and Marwah)
-Although perferable, you do not have to have Wudu during Sa’i.
-You do not have to climb to the top of SSafa or Marwa.
-You can take breaks in Sa’I to drink watter or rest.
-You can take a break after Tawaf, beforee Sai’.
-You do not have to jog the whole way, frrom Safa to Marwa. Only within the green
lights, the valley of Safa and Marwa.
-Women do not have to run between the greeen lights.
-There is no specific du’a to say betweenn Safa and Marwa.
-Do not miss the Du’a that Rasul Allah saaid when he stood on Safa. Then raise
your hands and pray as he did, Sal Allahu alayhi wa Sallam.
-Do not say your intention out loud beforre making Sa’i.
When Shaving or Trimming:
-Shave your complete head, do not leave pparts unshaved.
-If you shall trim, take from all sides oof your head.
-Do not take off your Ihraam until you haave shaved or trimmed. You are still in
Ihraam until you do so.
-Do not shave your beard.
In Mina, Arafah, and Muzdalifah:
-Many people do not confirm if where theyy are located is inside or outside the
borders of the holy sites. Confirm.
-Do not reserve a place that is more thann your need. Many people are looking for
places to sit down and sleep.
-Only in Arafah and Muzdalifah do you shoorten and combine prayers. In Mina only
shorten your prayers, but pray them at the correct time.
-Do not waste your Hajj time in vain chattting.
-Spending the 8th day in Mina is the Sunnnah of Rasul Allah. Many people skip
this and go to Arafah.
-Do not push anyone when you are in a croowd.
-You do not have to go to the Mt. Of Merccy in Arafah. Many people hurt
themselves and others to be there even though it is not a Wajib thing to do.
-Mt. Rahmah is not a holy mountain. Do noot wipe its sand and rocks for barakah.
-You do not have to pray Dhuhr and Asr onn Arafah day in the Masjid of Arafah (Masjid
Namirah). You may pray in your tent with your group.
-Do not leave Arafah before Maghrib time..
-Women should avoid getting into a crushiing crowd, like in Masjid Namirah.
-Do not face Mt.Rahmah on Arafah day whenn you make Du’a. You should face the
Qiblah.
-You should not treat your time in Arafahh like any other day. You should realize
the significance and pray to Allah in humility.
-At Maghrib time in Arafah, do not pray MMaghrib and Isha’ until you reach
Muzdalifah, even it you reach there at 11:00 at night. However, if you see half
the night approaching, pray where you are on the road.
-Make sure you are in Muzdalifah before yyou stop and rest. Many people think
they are in Muzdalifah but they are not. Look for the border signs. If you have
not seen one, chances are you are still not in Muzdalifah even if you see others
sleeping on the road.
-After praying Maghrib and Isha in Muzdallifah, go to sleep immediately, this is
what Rasul Allah did.
-Through all of this, continue doing yourr Talbiyah.
In stoning the Jamarat:
-The Jamarat are not Devils, and Shaytaann is not tied up for the stoning of
himself. Hajjis that hold this misconception end up cursing, swearing, throwing
sandals, etc. It is a commandment from Allah to glorify Allah by saying ‘Allahu
Akbar’ with each pebble.
-You do not have to wash your stones.
-Do not hurt/shove when at the Jamarat. <
-Say Allahu Akbar with each pebble. Do noot say Bismillaah.
-Throw the pebbles separately.
-Make Dua’ after the first and second Jammarat.
-Do not throw the Jamarat before it is tiime.
-Throw the Jamarat from small to medium tto large. Not the other way.
-If someone is throwing on your behalf, yyou must be unable to throw yourself.
-If someone is throwing on your behalf, yyou do not have to collect the stones
yourself and hand the stones to that thrower.
-Throw seven pebbles, not more or less. <
In Tawaf Al-Wadaa’ (Farewell Tawaf):
-You cannot do your final Jamarat after TTawaf Al-Wada’, as some people attempt.
-Do not walk in massive groups during Tawwaf. This hurts many people.
-You MUST spend the night in Mina on the 10th night and 11th night. The two days
of Hajj, the days of Mina, are the 11th and 12th, not the 10th and 11th.
-After Tawaf Al-Wadaa’ you must leave Makkkah, or else another Tawaf should be
made.
-After Tawaf Al-Wadaa’ you may have lunchh or wait at a bus, etc., as long as you
are on your way out of Makkah.
In Madinah:
-Visiting Madinah has nothing to do with your Hajj. It is something different
and separate.
-Do not wipe or kiss any walls for barakaah. It is only rock and marble.
-Do not raise your voice near the Prophett’s grave.
-Do not do Tawaf around the Prophet’s graave.
-You do not need Ihraam to enter Madinah..
-Do not make Du’a to the Prophet. Du’a iss to be made to Allah and Allah alone.
-If you want to pray for the Prophet to iintercede for you on the day of
Judgement (Shifaa’ah), pray to Allah for that. “O Allah, allow Your Prophet to
intercede for me..”
-Do not raise your voice in Du’a near thee grave. Face Qiblah and leave the grave
area when you want to make Du’a.
Miscellaneous:
* Do not add the term Hajji to your name after returning home.
* Hadith such as: “whoever visits my grave, I shall intercede for them.” Hadith
to this effect are lies against Rasul Allah.
A final note:
The Muslims in these mistakes are three:
1. One group is sincerely ignorant of these things and they have little clue
that what they are doing is Haram or incorrect. For these people - in sha’ Allah
- there is nothing upon them.
2. A second group is ignorant, but they have the ability to learn and find out.
All that stops them from doing so is their laxness in studying and asking. For
these people, it is feared that they may be sinful for their laziness in
learning.
3. A third group is aware of these mistakes. They perform it however to either
follow their culture or to misguide people. This person is sinful and they shall
assume the sin of those that they misguide.
“Our Lord, do not take us to account if we forget or make a mistake” - AlBaqarah/286