Haj, the fifth pillar of Islam, is required of Muslims once in their lives. Certain conditions have to be met before any Muslim performs Haj. These include: maturity, sanity, physical fitness, and the financial ability to meet the cost of the pilgrimage and maintain his family back at home. Women pilgrims should have mahrams (close male relatives to escort them). Haj can be performed in three different ways: Ifrad (doing Haj alone without Umrah), Qiran (doing Haj and Umrah together) and Tamatu (doing Umrah first and then Haj).

There are eight meeqat locations where pilgrims should put on ihram and state their intention prior to entering Makkah to perform Haj. People coming by air can do this when they are over the meeqat or close to it. The eight meeqats are:

1. Dhul Hulaifa: This is for the people of Madinah and whoever comes across it by land or air. It is 450 km from Makkah and, therefore, the farthest meeqat from Makkah.

2. Al-Juhfah: This is for the pilgrims coming from Palestine, Egypt, Syria and the rest of the West and also for the pilgrims from Madinah, if they are taking this route. It is 183 km from Makkah. (Some people don the ihram at Rabigh instead.)

3. Yalumlum: This is for pilgrims coming from Yemen and whoever passes by it. It is 92 km from Makkah.

4. Qarn Al-Manaazil: This is for pilgrims coming from Najd. This place is also called Qarn-uth-Tha’aalib. It is 75 km from Makkah.

5. Dhatu Irq: This is meeqat point for pilgrims coming from Iraq and whoever passes by it, by land or by air. It is 94 km from Makkah.

6. Juarana: This is for residents of Makkah. It is about 35 km northeast of Makkah.

7. Al-Taneem: It is one of the districts of Makkah on the road to Madinah but outside the radius of the Haram.

8. Wadi Muharam: It is to the west of Taif and is the meeqat point for all pilgrims coming from the east.

Pilgrims who do not have a specified meeqat can announce their intention to perform Haj and put on their ihram at the point nearest to it. Residents of Jeddah and Makkah can put on their ihram at home. Men are recommended to wear a white ihram made of two pieces which are not stitched. Women can wear whatever they want as long as they do not reveal their bodies. While on ihram, women should not cover their faces nor should they wear gloves.

The ihram clothes market in the Kingdom is estimated to be worth some SR900 million annually. Of this amount, foreigners spend about SR600 million while Saudis spend the rest. There are also ihrams made in China, Pakistan, India and other countries.

The intention to do Haj is made silently in the heart and chants of “Labbaik Allahuma Labbaik” should be made.

On arrival in Makkah, pilgrims should begin their seven-round Tawaf (circumambulation) starting at the Black Stone. If they are unable to kiss the stone, they should raise their hand when they are parallel to it. After finishing Tawaf, pilgrims should do Saie between Safa and Marwa. On completing Haj or Umrah rituals in Makkah, the pilgrims go to Mina to spend the night of the eighth of Dhul Hijjah and proceed the next morning to Arafat where they stand until sunset before they descend to Muzdalifah for the night.

After dawn, the pilgrims come again to Mina to throw pebbles at Jamrat Al-Aqaba, trim or shave their hair, slaughter their sacrificial animal and then go again to Makkah to do Tawaf Al-Ifada after which they are free to resume their normal lives — wear their usual clothes, use perfumes, etc. This is the day Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid Al-Adha.

The pilgrims should remain in Mina for two or three days during which time they throw stones at Jamrat. On the 12th of Dhul Hijjah they must leave Mina before sunset; otherwise they must remain for the night and throw stones the next day. Before leaving Makkah, the pilgrims must perform the farewell Tawaf, thus making the Holy Haram the last thing they see before departing.