How to prepare for Hajj
During the month of Dhu’l-Hijjah, millions of Muslims from around the world travel to Saudi Arabia to visit the Holy Kabah in Makkah and perform Hajj. This sacred pilgrimage requires preparation and planning, from arranging your finances to finding the right package and travel agent. In order to know how to prepare for Hajj, you need to consider how the pilgrimage requires you to be physically, mentally, spiritually, and financially ready.
Seek Guidance from Allah
You should start your journey with the intention to ask Allah for the means and resources to do so. Make Dua to Allah to help make your journey to perform Hajj in the coming year a success. Concerning important decisions, believers can perform Salat Al-Istikharah, to ask Allah for guidance in making the right choice. If the decision you are about to take is in your favour, you will begin to feel more positive about it, and paths will open to make your task easier.
Start Saving for Your Trip to Makkah
Hajj comes with various costs such as purchasing a ticket, visa, finding a place to stay, and more. In other words, Hajj is an investment. You also need to keep in mind that the money you use for Hajj should be halal, and you should be able to provide for any dependents at home while you’re away. Moreover, some rituals such as sadaqah, the Eid al-Adha ritual, and the obligatory animal sacrifice need to be accounted for as well.
Whether you have saved money for Hajj, for your child’s tuition, or to buy a house or car, note that all savings are Zakatable.
Make Sure to Choose A Hajj or Umrah Package That Works for Your Needs
The Umrah or Hajj package you choose can make your trip easy and smooth or tiresome and stressful. It is recommended to look for a travel agent that can get you the best deal. Your package should cover the necessary costs associated with Hajj so that you don’t have to worry about going over budget. Making sure you have all the details of your Hajj package will help you be more prepared. Moreover, some packages cover your spiritual needs in addition to the logistics of your trip.
Make Sure You Are Ready Physically and Mentally
The pilgrimage requires long hours of walking in the heat, and sometimes, fasting. It is best to make sure you are physically prepared for the trip. Eating healthy and taking part in physical activity before you leave will help you keep your energy levels high for the journey. In many cases, elderly people might need a physician’s approval to go for Hajj.
Apart from being physically ready, being mentally and spiritually ready is just as essential. Hajj requires people to repent for their sins, make amends, and reconcile with strained relationships. In order to strengthen your relationship with Allah, you will need to practice patience, tolerance, and self-control. Lastly, you will need to learn your prayers by heart and teach yourself about the various Hajj rituals and their significance.
Preparing for Hajj in A Dream – What Does This Mean?
Dreaming about preparing for Hajj in a dream can give you a feeling of excitement, spiritual closeness to Allah and might give you the motivation to strengthen your faith. A dream like this foreshadows growth, your advancement to a status of honour, and good fortune. It might encourage you to pursue acts of worship that increase your faith.
Make Sure All Your Legal Documents Are in Place
Hajj, like any form of travel, requires the appropriate legal documents. Firstly, you will need a visa to travel to Makkah. The process can be lengthy and requires you to have a valid passport. If you want to learn more about which documents or papers you will need, you should contact your travel agent or your local Saudi Arabian embassy for inquiries. Many Hajj packages help arrange immigration matters and documentation as well.
“The processing time for a Hajj visa can vary depending on several factors, including the country of application and the time of year. Generally, obtaining a Hajj visa can take several weeks to a couple of months, based on the requirements set by the ministry.”
Who Is Allowed to Go on The Hajj?
All Muslims are obligated to go for Hajj once in their lives if their health and financial situation permit it. Women must be with a Mahram, i.e., an allowable male companion, to go for Hajj.
Start Educating Yourself About Hajj Today
Hajj is one of the most important journeys in a Muslim’s life. For most believers, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Holy Kabah. That is why you should make sure you know all about the rituals, their significance, and the events that took place in Islamic history.
“Hajj is [during] well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of Ihram], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj. And whatever good you do – Allah knows it. And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah. And fear Me, O you of understanding.” Surah al-Baqarah [197]
Speak to Those Who Have Already Been to Hajj
Talking to someone who has already performed Hajj is an excellent way to learn more about the entire process, from how to wear your Ihram to where to stay in Makkah. As you hear about their spiritual experience, you’ll feel more prepared to go for Hajj.
What Is the Significance of Arafat And Ascending the Mountain of Mercy?
The Plain of Arafat is where Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) gave his “Farewell Pilgrimage” speech. Believers come there to pray for mercy and forgiveness. Pilgrims must spend the whole day at the Mountain of Mercy in order to complete their pilgrimage requirements. Islam offers alternatives for people who are unable to perform certain practices of Hajj, such as sacrificing an animal. These are meant to provide convenience for the believers, as stated in the following verse:
“And complete the Hajj and Umrah for Allah. But if you are prevented, then [offer] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter. And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice. And when you are secure, then whoever performs Umrah [during the Hajj months] followed by Hajj [offers] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And whoever cannot find [or afford such an animal] – then a fast of three days during Hajj and of seven when you have returned [home]. Those are ten complete [days]. This is for those whose family is not in the area of al-Masjid al-Haram. And fear Allah and know that Allah is severe in penalty.” Surah al-Baqarah[196]
Similarly, the Holy Quran states that Hajj is mandatory only on those who have the physical, mental, financial means to do so.
Nominate Someone to Umrah
We have a programme called Umrah Fund where we help Muslims go on Umrah. Believers who have gone through hardships usually cannot afford the costs of Umrah or Hajj. If you would like to nominate someone to go for Umrah, click here.
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