How to Perform Hajj: A British Muslim's Complete UK Pilgrimage Guide (Sunnah Sequence 2026)
By Eaalim Institute on 4/27/2026
The Hajj (Arabic: الحج, "the pilgrimage") to Makkah is the fifth pillar of Islam, obligatory once in a lifetime for every Muslim with the physical and financial means. Each year, around 2-3 million Muslims from over 180 countries gather in Makkah for five intense days of worship that follow the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the original tradition of the prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him). For British Muslim families planning their Hajj, the basic structure can feel daunting at first — but the rituals follow a clear sequence. This UK overview presents how to perform the Hajj in summary, with links to the dedicated Hajj cluster guides for each station.
The Quranic obligation
"And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House — for whoever is able to find thereto a way." (Surah Aal-Imran 3:97)
The conditions: physical health, financial capacity (without taking on debt or harming dependents), safe travel route, mahram for women travelling. UK Muslims meeting these conditions are obligated to perform Hajj at least once.
The Hajj timeline (5 days)
| Day | Date | Station | Main act |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 8 Dhul-Hijjah (Day of Tarwiyah) | Mina | Enter Mina, pray Dhuhr to Fajr (4 prayers shortened) |
| Day 2 | 9 Dhul-Hijjah (Day of Arafah) | Arafah | Standing at Arafah, the heart of Hajj |
| Day 2 night | 9-10 Dhul-Hijjah | Muzdalifah | Sleep at Muzdalifah, collect pebbles |
| Day 3 | 10 Dhul-Hijjah (Eid) | Mina | Stoning of Jamarat al-Aqaba; Qurbani; tahallul; tawaf and saʿi if returning to Masjid al-Haram |
| Days 4-5 | 11-12 Dhul-Hijjah (Tashreeq) | Mina | Stoning of all three Jamarat each day |
| Day 6 (optional) | 13 Dhul-Hijjah | Mina | Stoning if staying for Tashreeq Day 3 |
The pre-Hajj rituals
Ihram (entering the sacred state)
At the miqat (boundaries around Makkah), pilgrims enter ihram — a state of ritual sanctification. Men wear two unsewn white cloths; women wear normal modest clothing. They make the niyyah for Hajj, recite the Talbiyah ("Labbayk Allahumma labbayk..."), and observe the prohibitions (no perfume, no cutting hair/nails, no marital relations, no hunting).
Tawaf al-Qudum (arrival circumambulation)
For pilgrims arriving in Makkah before Hajj, an optional tawaf al-qudum upon arrival.
The five days of Hajj rituals
Day 1 — 8 Dhul-Hijjah (Day of Tarwiyah)
Pilgrims travel from Makkah (or from their hotels) to Mina after Fajr. They pray Dhuhr, ʿAsr, Maghrib, and ʿIsha there (each shortened to 2 raka'at except Maghrib). They sleep at Mina that night.
Day 2 — 9 Dhul-Hijjah (Day of Arafah, the heart of Hajj)
After Fajr, pilgrims travel to the plain of Arafah. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Hajj is Arafah" (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 889) — meaning the standing at Arafah is the essential pillar without which Hajj is not valid. Pilgrims spend from Dhuhr until sunset standing in worship: du'a, dhikr, Quran, repentance.
This is also the day non-pilgrims fast worldwide (Sawm Yawm Arafah) for the merit it carries: forgiveness for the previous year and the year to come (Sahih Muslim 1162).
Day 2 night — Muzdalifah
After Maghrib, pilgrims travel to Muzdalifah. They pray Maghrib and ʿIsha together (shortened), sleep on the open ground, and collect pebbles for the next day's stoning.
Day 3 — 10 Dhul-Hijjah (Eid ul-Adha)
Multiple acts in one day:
- Stoning of Jamarat al-Aqaba (the largest pillar) with 7 pebbles.
- Qurbani (sacrifice of an animal).
- Tahallul (release from ihram): men shave or trim hair; women trim a finger-length.
- Return to Makkah for Tawaf al-Ifadah and Saʿi (between Safa and Marwah).
After Tawaf al-Ifadah and Saʿi, the pilgrim has fully exited ihram and most prohibitions are lifted.
Days 4-5 — 11-12 Dhul-Hijjah (Tashreeq Days 1 and 2)
Pilgrims return to Mina for the next two days. Each day, they stone all three Jamarat (small, middle, large) with 7 pebbles each — 21 stones per day. Pilgrims may leave Mina before Maghrib on the 12th to return to Makkah, or stay one more day.
Day 6 (optional) — 13 Dhul-Hijjah (Tashreeq Day 3)
If staying, repeat the stoning of all three Jamarat.
Tawaf al-Wada (Farewell tawaf)
Before leaving Makkah, pilgrims perform a final tawaf around the Ka'bah as farewell.
UK practical considerations
Hajj packages from the UK
UK travel agencies (Al Hidaayah Travel, Wahda Travel, Hajj International, others) offer Hajj packages typically £5,000-£12,000+ depending on accommodation tier. UK Saudi visa quota is set annually; many UK Muslims are on multi-year waiting lists. Book years in advance.
UK Muslim Hajj resources
- Council of British Hajjis (CBH) — UK-specific Hajj guidance, lobbying, advocacy.
- UK National Hajj Conferences — pre-Hajj training programmes for first-time pilgrims.
- UK Hajj books — Mufti Hussein Kamani's UK Hajj guide, the Mufti Menk Hajj reflections series.
NHS pre-Hajj health requirements
UK pilgrims must obtain a meningitis ACWY vaccination before Saudi visa is granted. Other recommended vaccinations: tetanus, hepatitis. UK GPs handle this; specialist travel clinics also available.
What Hajj does to a person
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever performs Hajj for the sake of Allah and does not utter any obscenity or commit any evil, will return as the day his mother bore him" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1521). UK Muslim families returning from Hajj describe lasting changes: clarity of intention, deepened family bonds, reduced material attachment, increased patience with daily life.
How Eaalim prepares British Muslim families for Hajj
Eaalim's online lessons teach the Quranic verses on Hajj (Surah Aal-Imran 3:96-97, Surah Al-Hajj 22:27-37) and the specific surahs commonly recited during Hajj. Lessons are 30 minutes (15-20 for under-7s), GMT/BST, in pounds, free real trial. Start here.
Frequently asked questions
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ShareFrequently Asked Questions
Hajj rituals span the 8th to 12th of Dhul-Hijjah (with optional 13th). Day 1 (8 Dhul-Hijjah, Tarwiyah): travel to Mina, pray 4 prayers there. Day 2 (9 Dhul-Hijjah, Arafah): standing at Arafah, the essential pillar. Day 2 night (9-10): sleep at Muzdalifah, collect pebbles. Day 3 (10 Dhul-Hijjah, Eid ul-Adha): stoning Jamarat al-Aqaba, qurbani, tahallul, Tawaf al-Ifadah and Saʿi. Days 4-5 (11-12, Tashreeq): stoning all three Jamarat. Day 6 (optional, 13 Dhul-Hijjah): repeat stoning if staying.
The 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, the Day of Arafah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Hajj is Arafah' (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 889) — meaning the standing at Arafah from Dhuhr to sunset is the essential pillar without which Hajj is not valid. Pilgrims who miss Arafah have not completed Hajj. Non-pilgrims worldwide fast on this day (Sawm Yawm Arafah) for the merit: forgiveness for the previous year and the year to come (Sahih Muslim 1162).
Ihram is the sacred state pilgrims enter at the miqat (boundaries around Makkah). Men wear two unsewn white cloths; women wear normal modest clothing. They make the niyyah for Hajj or Umrah, recite the Talbiyah ('Labbayk Allahumma labbayk...'), and observe specific prohibitions: no perfume; no cutting hair, beard, or nails; no marital relations; no hunting; no covered head for men; no face veil for women (though they can cover face with cloth that doesn't touch the skin).
UK Hajj packages typically cost £5,000-£12,000+ per person depending on accommodation tier (4-star, 5-star), proximity to the Haram, and inclusion of pre/post-Hajj Madinah stays. The Saudi visa quota for UK pilgrims is set annually and many travel agencies have multi-year waiting lists. UK Hajj must be booked years in advance through licensed UK travel agencies. Self-organised Hajj from the UK is largely impossible due to Saudi visa structure — a registered Hajj agency is required.
Most UK Hajj packages are 18-25 days total including travel: 3-4 days pre-Hajj in Makkah for Umrah and acclimatisation; 5 days of Hajj rituals (8-12 Dhul-Hijjah); 5-7 days post-Hajj in Madinah; plus travel time. Some economy packages are shorter (2 weeks); some premium packages with extended Madinah stay are longer (4 weeks). Plan for at least 2-3 weeks of work leave. Some UK employers offer paid leave for Hajj as a one-time religious accommodation; speak to HR.
The Saudi government requires meningitis ACWY vaccination for UK pilgrims before granting a Hajj visa. The vaccination must be administered at least 10 days before travel and the certificate is checked. UK GPs administer this; specialist travel clinics (MASTA, Nomad Travel) also provide it. Other recommended vaccinations include up-to-date tetanus, hepatitis A and B, and influenza (if travelling in flu season). Pre-Hajj health check with your UK GP is recommended for older pilgrims or those with chronic conditions.
Classical Sunni scholarship has differed on this. The traditional position (Hanafi, Hanbali) requires a mahram for women travelling for Hajj. The Maliki and some Shafi'i positions allow women to travel for Hajj in a 'safe group' even without a mahram. As of recent years, Saudi Arabia has changed policy to allow women over 45 to perform Hajj without a mahram if travelling in an organised group; this aligns with the Maliki position. UK Muslim women should consult their preferred madhhab and check current Saudi visa rules.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever performs Hajj for the sake of Allah and does not utter any obscenity or commit any evil, will return as the day his mother bore him' (Sahih al-Bukhari 1521) — referring to forgiveness of past sins. UK Muslim families returning from Hajj consistently describe lasting changes: deeper clarity of life purpose, reduced material attachment, strengthened family bonds, increased patience with daily UK life. The transformation requires sustained intention afterwards — don't 'unwind' the Hajj effect by returning to old patterns.
Tawaf al-Ifadah is the obligatory tawaf performed on or after the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah (Eid ul-Adha) — after the stoning at Jamarat al-Aqaba and qurbani. Pilgrims travel from Mina back to Makkah for this tawaf around the Ka'bah, plus the Saʿi between Safa and Marwah. Some pilgrims defer the Saʿi until later in the Tashreeq days. The Tawaf al-Ifadah is one of the obligatory pillars of Hajj — without it, the Hajj is not complete.
Three things. First, learn the rituals before you go — read a UK-specific Hajj guide (Mufti Hussein Kamani's, Mufti Menk's, or the Council of British Hajjis manual) thoroughly. Second, make a list of duʿaʾs you want to make at Arafah and during the Hajj — the most powerful du'a moments of your life. Third, settle disputes and pay debts before going — the Sunnah is to begin Hajj with a clean slate. Eaalim's lessons cover the Quranic verses on Hajj for spiritual preparation: https://eaalim.com/free-trial
