The Eaalim al-Hajj book series book three discusses what pilgrims do at al-Masjid al-Haram at the beginning of al–Hajj. First of all, pilgrimage teaches Muslims a lot of lessons. For example, equality and discipline is a big lesson in pilgrimage. Furthermore, pilgrimage is a well organized Ibada. Pilgrims follow certain steps during their pilgrimage. A pilgrim makes their intention to do a pilgrimage. After that, male pilgrims wear Ihram at the Miqaat. Female pilgrims assume the state of Ihram in their ordinary clothes. Scholars call pilgrim a Muhrim when they assume the state of Ihram. After having a bath and wearing the Ihram cloth, a pilgrim offers two rakat and pronounces their intention to perform pilgrimage. The pilgrim says his intention to perform pilgrimage.
The three kinds of pilgrimage:
Basically, there are three kinds of pilgrimage. Pilgrimage is either solo, accompanied with an Umrah, Muqrin, or pilgrimage of enjoyment; by which a pilgrim intends to do Umrah, returns back to the usual state of dress by wearing their ordinary clothes for a while and then wears al-Ihram again. After wearing Ihram the first time, pilgrims start repeating the Talbiyah. Male pilgrims repeat Talbiyah aloud and frequently all the way to Makkah. The pilgrims go on with the Talbiyah till they arrive at the Masjid al-Haram. Pilgrim women repeat Talbia in whispers without raising their voices. Pilgrims keep saying: “Labaik Allahumma Labaik. Labaik la Shareeka Laka Labaik Inna Al-Hamda Laka Waa al-Mulk. la Shareeka Laka Labaik.
What a pilgrim does inside al-Masjid al-Haram:
After arriving in al-Masjid al-Haram, pilgrims circulate the Kaaba seven times as a way of greeting the Holy Mosque. Scholars call this tawaf al-Qudoom. Scholars call circulating al-kaaba Tawaf (circumambulation). There are three kinds of Tawaf. The first kind is Tawaf al-Qudoon, arrival. The second kind of Tawaf is Tawaf al-Ifada, or concluding the acts of pilgrimage.the third kind of tawaf is Tawaf al-Wadaa’ or departing the Holy Mosque. Pilgrims are keen on touching or kissing the Black Stone During al-Tawaf. otherwise, They can only wave or point to the black stone, saying Allah Akbar.
The completing the acts of al-Umrah:
Having circulated al-Kaaba seven times, pilgrims go to al-Safa and al-Marwa area. They are two little rocky mountains inside al-Masjid al-Haram. The distance between al-Safa and al-Marwa is 394.5 meters. The total distance of the seven times walking between them is 2761.5 meters. Pilgrims walk or jog between the two hillocks. Walking and jogging between al-Safa and al-Marwa is al-Saee. The path itself is al-Masaa. Alsaee reminds the pilgrims of Ismail and his mother, Hajar. After Ibrahim had left Hajar and her son alone with her new born baby, Ismail, Hajar looked for water everywhere for her baby.
Pilgrims commemorate the story of Hajar:
Hajar walked and jogged seven times between al-Safa and al-Marwa. Eventually, water sprung at the feet of baby Ismail. pilgrims are keen on doing the same as Hajar did. Therefore, after walking and jogging seven times between al-Safa and al-Marwa, pilgrims go to the well of Zamzam to have a drink of water there like Hajar did before. Zamzam is the well of water which sprung at the feet of baby Ismail as a miracle of Allah. To end and conclude their acts of Umrah, male pilgrims have their hair cut with scissors or razors. Female pilgrims just trim the ends of their hair without cutting it. This way pilgrims can temporarily end their state of Ihram.
