HAJJ GLOSSARY

A Nafl (supererogatory) act is an act of worship done because it has been suggested to us by the Prophet (pbuh) and practiced by him on at least one or two occasions. It earns a reward for the person performing it and its omission does not incur any punishment.

Intention. When a person is performing pilgrimage, he/she has to set the intention.

The English word for Hajj. One of the 5 pillars of Islam.

The type of Hajj where a pilgrim makes Umrah in the same state of Ihraam. This is applicable only to persons who are resident within a radius of 16 Farsakh or 48 miles Sharii of Makkah.

A position in the prayer where the Muslim leans forward and puts his/her hands on the knees.

The hill on which a pilgrim begins his/her sayee (walking). It is about 200 m Southeast of the Kaa'bah.

The act of walking between the two hills - Safa and Marwah.

Each complete round (circuit) around the Kaa'bah constitutes a Shawt. Plural of Shawt is Ashwat. The pilgrim performs 7 Ashwat in a Tawaf.

The type of Hajj where a pilgrim starts with Umrah then makes Hajj later on but in the same year.

Circumambulating the Kaa'bah. There are many types of Tawaf, such as Tawaf al-Qudum (upon arriving to Makkah), Tawaf al-Ifadah (when coming to Makkah from Mina after the day of Arafah), Tawafun-Nisa (The Tawaf of Women) and Tawaf al-Wada (Farewell Tawaf) before departing from Makkah.

The twelfth month of the Islamic lunar year.

It is the animal sacrifice that a Muslim offers to God.

An Islamic ritual that is performed at Makkah anytime of the year except between the 9th and the 13th of Thul-Hijjah (these days are only reserved for the full pilgrimage or Hajj). It includes Tawaf 7 times, Sayee between the hills of Safa and Marwah. It also requires some obligations from the pilgrim until the state of Ihraam is ended. Entering into the state of Ihraam and removal of Ihraam is carried out in the same manner as for the full pilgrimage.

Tawaf al-Wadah is the last (farewell) circuit around the Kaa'bah.

Literally means Day. There are many meaningful days in the Hajj proceedings such as Yawm-e-Tarwiyah (first day of Hajj/8th day of Thul-Hijjah), Yawm-e-Arafa (second day of Hajj /9th day of Thul-Hijjah), Yawm-e-Nahr (third day of Hajj/Qurbani in Mina/10th day of Thul-Hijjah), etc.

The name of a well of water that sprang up beneath Prophet Ishmael's (pbuh) feet's, when he was an infant. It is about 150 m Southeast of the Kaa'bah.

Noon. The Zuhur prayer is the prescribed prayer to be performed between mid-day and afternoon.