لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ
"And proclaim to the people the Hajj; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel." — Qur'an 22:27
Bathe, dress in the two white garments, make the niyyah and say: لَبَّيْكَ عُمْرَةً — "Labbayk 'umratan". The talbiyah begins.
Circle the Ka'bah seven times, starting and ending at the Black Stone, remembering Allah and making du'a — the House is your sky and you are in orbit.
Walk seven times between Safa and Marwah like Hajar — searching, striving, trusting that Allah never wastes the search.
Men shave or shorten the hair, women trim a fingertip's length. The Umrah is complete — and the reward, Allah alone counts it.
Ihram for Hajj. To Mina — a city of white tents and softened hearts. Pray and spend the night remembering.
The heart of Hajj: "Hajj is Arafah." Stand from noon till sunset in du'a — the day sins fall like leaves.
Under open sky, gather pebbles and rest — Maghrib and Isha joined, hearts joined to the sky.
Stoning Jamarat al-Aqabah, sacrifice, shaving, then Tawaf al-Ifadah and Sa'i. Takbir fills the earth.
Days of eating, drinking and remembering Allah. Stone the three jamarat after midday. Hasten or delay — both are mercy.
One last seven circles before leaving — the soul leaves the House but the House never leaves the soul.
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
"Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Indeed all praise and favour are Yours, and all sovereignty — You have no partner." (The Talbiyah)
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
The most repeated du'a of the Prophet ﷺ between the two corners — good in this world, good in the next, safety from the Fire.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ
The takbir of the days of Hajj and Eid — the mountains echo with it.
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ حَجًّا مَبْرُورًا
"O Allah, make it an accepted Hajj" — for yourself and for every traveller you love. An accepted Hajj has no reward except Paradise.