Hajj and Umrah are very special acts of worship, because they have great significance and virtue that make so many people want to do the worship. Moreover, the reward for hajj mabrur is heaven. Both Hajj and Umrah involve the body and soul, so you don’t only need to be physically ready, but also have to prepare sufficient provisions and be mentally strong.
Given the difficulty of the Hajj and Umrah, these acts of worship are obligated only once in a lifetime as a form of Allah’s mercy. On the other hand, it provides opportunities for other people who haven’t had the chance to do it yet. Therefore, people who have had the opportunity to become Allah’s guests should carry out this worship to the fullest so that they become hajj mabrur.
Although the pilgrims have been trained with manasik (rituals) long before the time of pilgrimage arrives, maybe not all of them pay close attention to it. Sometimes mistakes occurred when carrying out the Hajj and Umrah. This could be intentional or not, due to lack of knowledge, or due to negligence.
In fact, there are lots of mistakes often made, starting from the preparations before leaving for Hajj, when performing Hajj –such as the pillars and obligations of Hajj–, or other matters related to returning from Hajj. However, in this article, we will only discuss the types of mistakes related to obligatory matters when performing Hajj.
The type of mistakes are as follows:
Common Mistakes During Ihram
1. Passing the miqat without entering the state of ihram.
If someone misses it on purpose, that person is sinful and must return to the miqat for niyyah (the intention) of entering the state of ihram. They are not subjected to dam (penalty). However, if someone forget and accidentally crosses it without ihram, then they must return to the miqat. They are not sinful and not subjected to dam. As for those who do it deliberately and not return to the miqat, they not only get a sin but are obliged to pay the dam.
Rasulullah SAW has determined the miqat:
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَقَّتَ لِأَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ ذَا الْحُلَ,يْفَةِ، وَلِأَهْلِ الشَّامِ الْجُحْفَةَ، وَلِأَهْلِ نَجْدٍ قَرْنًا، وَلِأَهْلِ الْيَمَنِ يَلَمْلَمَ، وَقَالَ: هُنَّ لَهن وَلِمَنْ أَتَى عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ غَيْرِهِنَّ مِمَّنْ أَرَادَ الحَجَّ وَالعُمْرَةَ، وَمَنْ كَانَ دُونَ ذَلِكَ، فَمِنْ حَيْثُ أَنْشَأَ حَتَّى أَهْلُ مَكَّةَ مِنْ مَكَّة
“Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) made Dhul-Huiaifa as the Miqat for the people of Medina; Al-Juhfa for the people of Sham; Qarn-al-Manazil for the people of Najd; and Yalamlam for the people of Yemen; and these Mawaqit are for the people at those very places, and besides them for those who come thorough those places with the intention of performing Hajj and `Umra; and whoever is living within these boundaries can assume lhram from the place he starts, and the people of Mecca can assume Ihram from Mecca. (Narrated by Bukhari, no.1524)”
2. Believing that praying two rakat for those in ihram is an obligation, in fact it is only a sunnah.
3. It is wrong to think that a woman who is menstruating or in nifas condition can leave her ihram because she thinks they have to be pure to be in the state of ihram. Menstruating or postpartum woman may enter into ihram and perform other Hajj rituals, besides tawaf. After they return to purity, she can performs tawaf without having to go out to the Tan’im or miqat to start ihram because she was already in ihram from the beginning.
4. Believing that there is a special clothing colour for ihram in women, in fact there are no mandatory rules for that.
5. Women wear a niqab/veil/mask and gloves during ihram, even though this is prohibited.
Mistakes in Tawaf
- Starting tawaf not on a parallel line to the Black Stone (Hajar Aswad), the right thing to do is starting tawaf from a line parallel to the Black Stone. If someone starts it not from a parallel line, then that round does not count as one round of tawaf. As in prayer, if the makmum does not follow the imam doing ruku then it is not considered/not counted as one rakat of salah.
- Being impure when tawaf. You have to be pure from hadas from beginning to the end of tawaf. If in the middle of doing tawaf you are being impure, for example farting and others, then you have to perform ablution (wudu) again. The pilgrims will just have to start again from the parallel lines of the Black Stone to continue counting the perfect tawaf beforehand. There is no need to repeat it from the first round again.
- Doing the tawaf only around the Kaaba. The tawaf should surround the Baitullah as a whole, including the Kaaba and Hijr Ismail.
- Performing tawaf inside Hijir Ismail. Tawaf should be done outside the Kaaba, while Hijir Ismail is inside the Kaaba.
- Standing in front of the Hajar Aswad and saying takbir three times while stopping. The correct thing to do is saying the takbir once while walking, so you don’t make other worshipers wait in the long lines.
- Kissing the pillars of Yemeni at the Kaaba, the sunnah is only to wipe it with the right hand if possible. If not, even a sign motion is enough.
- Reading aloud a special prayer differently in each round of tawaf with a group of worshipers led by a guide. There is no special prayer, the sunnah is doing zikr and reading the Qur’an or praying for the virtue of himself and the Muslims. This can be done alone in a low voice so you will not disturb others.
- Doing raml (speeding up one’s pace with small steps) in all rounds of tawaf. Raml only needs to be done in the first three rounds and only exists in tawaf qudum and tawaf umrah. In the next four rounds, you can walk normally.
- Hurting other people by pushing and jostling each other when kissing the Black Stone. Kissing the Black Stone is sunnah (not an obligation), this is not a requirement for tawaf.
- Kissing every corner or pillar of the Kaaba, even wiping the walls and taking pieces of the kiswah covering the Kaaba. The sunnah is only to kiss or touch the Black Stone and the Yemeni Pillars if possible.
- Huddling to pray behind Ibrahim’s grave after tawaf. If it is too crowded, it is permissible to pray in any place in the Grand Mosque, both inside and outside. Moreover, this prayer is only a sunnah.
- Jostling to pray right in front of the multazam. It is indeed a sunnah, but if it is not possible it can be done in a place that is parallel or in the same direction as the multazam.
Mistakes During Sa’i
- Reading the verse below in every round of Sa’i. You only need to read it at the beginning of the Sa’i when approaching the hill of Safa.
۞إِنَّ ٱلصَّفَا وَٱلۡمَرۡوَةَ مِن شَعَآئِرِ ٱللَّهِۖ فَمَنۡ حَجَّ ٱلۡبَيۡتَ أَوِ ٱعۡتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَاۚ وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيۡرٗا فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ ( سورة البقرة : 158 )
Indeed, ˹the hills of˺ Ṣafa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever performs the pilgrimage or minor pilgrimage, let them walk between ˹the two hills˺. And whoever does good willingly, Allah is truly Appreciative, All-Knowing. (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:158)
2. Believing that sa’i is not perfect until you climb to the top of Safa or Marwah. Whereas you are allowed to just go up the hill.
3. Doing sa’i 14 times, because they think that one round is counted back and forth Safa Marwah. The road from Safa to Marwah is counted as one round and the road from Marwah to Safa will be the second round. Sa’i starts from Safa and will end in Marwah.
4. Raising both hands while saying takbir as is done during prayer when going up to the hills of Safa and Marwah. The sunnah is only reciting du’a by praising Allah and saying takbir while facing the Qibla.
5. All worshipers jog in every round, even though the sunnah is only for men and between two green pillars. Meanwhile, walking fast is enough for women.
6. Thinking that you have to be in purity when sa’i, even though it is not obligatory. However, it is better to perform ablution first when starting the sa’i. Although it can be invalidated in the middle of the trip, it is legitimate to continue the sa’i.
7. Keep continuing the sa’i when the prayer time comes. You should perform the prayer first.
8. Thinking that sa’i must be done immediately after tawaf, even though there may be break and resting time.
Wukuf’s Mistakes in Arafah
- Did not pay attention to the border of the Arafah area so the pilgrims remained outside Arafah. Wukuf must be done in Arafah, moreover staying in Arafah is the most important pillar of Hajj, as the Prophet SAW said الحجّ عرفة.
- Getting out of Arafah before sunset. You have to stay in Arafah from noon until the sun sets when doing wukuf. This is mandatory. If you go out before sunset, you are obliged to pay the dam for not doing what is obligatory by slaughtering qurban animals and distributing it to the poor in the holy land. However, if the pilgrims return to Arafah at night, the dam will be cancelled.
- Jostling to climb the Jabal Rahmah –the hill at Arafah and thinking of doing wukuf there is more important. This is wrong, let alone performing a prayer on the hill. There is nothing like this in Islamic teachings.
- Facing Jabal Rahmah when praying. According to the sunnah, you have to face the Qibla.
- Doing useless activities until you have to perform zuhr and asr prayers together and shortened (qasr) due to laziness. You should be able to take the advantage of wukuf time with acts of worship, such as prayer, zikr, reading the Qur’an, and so on.
- Trying to make piles of stones or sand in Arafah in certain places. This is a bid’ah practice that was never taught by Rasulullah.
- Wukuf cannot be represented by other people even when someone is sick.
- Huddling and pushing each other when leaving Arafah.
Mistakes of Tahallul
Some people consider that men are obliged to shave off their hair/head for tahallul. It is only sunnah for men, not obligatory. Men can at least cut three strands of hair; the right, middle and left; and they don’t need to cut the beard.
For women, it is preferable to gather their hair together then cut the end part, or cut at least three strands of hair.
Mistake in Staying at Muzdalifah
1. Gather all the stones to throw the Jumrah when you arrive at Muzdalifah before carrying out the Maghrib and Isha’ prayers. It is enough to take seven stones for the jumrah aqabah, and the rest can be taken at Mina. In fact, you can collect these stones anywhere in the land of the Haram. However, it is also permissible to take all the stones at the muzdalifah if possible.
2. Leaving Muzdalifah before midnight, this cannot be called a mabit (staying overnight). People who are given permission to leave Muzdalifah are the vulnerable group (such as women, the elderly, children, and so on), and they are only allowed to leave after midnight. Whoever leaves Muzdalifah before midnight without any excuse, then they have left the obligation.
Mistakes when Throwing Jumrah
- Jostling each other when throwing the stone of jumrah. Currently, throwing the jumrah can be easier to do because we can throw it from the second or third floor so there is no need to jostle.
- Jumrah does not fall into the pool/hole. You have to repeat it if this happens.
- Throwing the jumrah at once with seven stones. The correct way is throwing the jumrah seven times, while reciting the takbir ‘Allahu Akbar’ in each throw.
- Some people argue that it is better to throw the Jumrah during the day, but this brings a lot of harm, so you may choose the time of ikhtiyar –from noon to sunset, and you may choose the time of jawaz –after midnight on the 10th of Zulhijjah until dawn on the 14th of Zulhijjah.
- Believing that they are throwing a real devil when throwing jumrah, to the extent that some throw large stones at the jumrah and even sandals while getting angry also uttering swears and insults. While in fact, the purpose of throwing the jumrah is to uphold the remembrance of Allah solemnly.
- Making others throw the jumrah for you because you are worried and burdened to be overcrowded. Throwing the jumrah cannot be represented, except when you are incapable, for example due to illness.
- Throwing the jumrah at midnight on tashriq days, even combining it for two days at once (11th and 12th days).
- Does not throw the jumrah aqabah again on the tashriq days (11, 12, 14th of Zulhijjah) because the pilgrims think they already throw it on the 10th. If that is the case, the pilgrims are obliged to pay the dam because on the day of tashreeq , all three jumrah should be thrown.
- Starting to throw the jumrah aqabah first in tashriq days, then continued with jumrah wustho and ula. You should start it from ula, wustho, and aqabah at last.
Mistakes in Mina
- Pilgrims do not stay (mabit) in Mina on all tashriq days, if so, they must pay a one goat as a dam (penalty). But if they don’t stay just for one or two nights, they just have to make up one day’s fine of one mudd (3/4 kg of rice). You have to at least stay in Mina exceeding the part of the night, for example from 20.00 to 03.00.
- Instead of doing worship, they mostly sleep and chat or even visit other people’s places. It is sunnah to make zikr and the most important thing is to read the Qur’an.
- Thinks that what is meant in surah Al-Baqarah verse 203 is that whoever is in a hurry, then they only have to take two days to stone the Jumrah, namely the 10th and 11th days. That’s wrong though. The truth is, what is meant by two days is the 11th and 12th days. So whoever rushes home on the 12th day, then throws three jumrah after the sun has set and before the sun sets, then there is no sin on him.
- Leaving Mina, then performing tawaf wada’ first and completing jumrah (throwing stone), then leaving Mecca. Tawaf wada’ should be the last practice of Hajj rituals.
Mistakes During Tawaf Wada’
- Stay in Mecca for a long time after performing the tawaf of wada’. You shouldn’t take a long time because tawaf wada’ is the end of all the Hajj series, unless there is an excuse or a need.
- Walk backwards while facing the Kaaba when finishing the tawaf wada’, the pilgrim is allowed to leave by walking as usual.
Hopefully we can pay attention to the things above so our Hajj can be accepted by Allah SWT, and be rewarded to heaven in return. Amen.
والله أعلم بالصّواب
Written by Ustadzah Eka Budhi Setiani
Ustadzah Eka Budhi Setiani, Lc is one of the sharia advisors at Muslim Pro. A servant of Allah who studied the science of Usuluddin at Al-Azhar University – Cairo, Egypt. Currently she is devoting her knowledge by teaching at an Islamic school managed by the Education Department in a province. In addition, together with her husband, she also manages her own Islamic boarding school in a small town in Banten Province called Ponpes Balonk Faidhul Barokaat.
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