In this step by step article, we will explain all the steps that are followed for performing hajj locally as resident or citizen living in Saudi Arabia. All information for local hajj in this article is based on personal experience.

Step By Step Guide for Performing Hajj Locally in Saudi Arabia

Below are the steps that will be covered in this article:

• Applying for Hajj Permit (Tasreeh)
• Travelling from your city to Makkah.
• Performing welcome tawaf or Umrah
• Travelling towards Mina Camps.
• 9th Dhul Hijjah, travelling towards Arafat.
• Spending Night in Muzdalifah (10th Dhul Hijjah Night).
• Stoning Satans on 10th Dhul Hijjah.
• Performing Tawaf Ziyarah.
• Performing Tawaf Ul Widah

If you prefer to watch all information in video format, you can watch the below video on ExpatsKSA YouTube Channel:

Get Hajj Permit /Tasreeh For Performing Hajj Locally

• Visit official website of Hajj & Umrah ministry and apply for a Hajj Permit (usually on 1st of Dhul Qadah).
• Choose your package wisely from various available options.
• Take into consideration various options like camp category, distance, food and accommodation standards and any personal preferences that you have.
• It is advised to seek recommendations from people who previously performed hajj locally.
• REMEMBER: Performing Hajj without Permit is a crime and subject to severe consequences.

Select Type of Hajj to Perform as You can opt for Hajj Tamattu, Hajj Qiran or Hajj Ifrad.

Refer to the article below for details about these hajj types:

3 Types of Hajj Explained with Details.

Necessary Items to Carry When Going for Hajj

Following items are advised to be carried while going for hajj locally:

• Your identity (Iqama) and some cash or card for any financial needs.
• A spare Ihram to wear while staying in Mina.
• At least two to three pieces of dress of your choice.
• Basic items like Pain killers, Face Masks, Vaseline, Soup, Tooth Paste & brush, Towel etc.
• Mobile Charger.
• Prayer Mat

NOTE: Vaccination is also required and you should get yourself vaccinated and carry vaccine card with you.

Things to Do Before Travelling for Hajj

• Prepare a bag with all necessary items.
• If you have to pass through Miqat on the way, you will wear Ihram from there but if you live in Jeddah or nearby, you will wear Ihram from home.
• Before wearing Ihram, perform Bath and then after wearing Ihram, perform 2 Rakat Nafal with Intention (Niyyah).
• Plan properly to ensure that you reach at designated gathering point well in time.

Travelling towards Makkah on 7th or 8th Dhul Hijjah

• Depending on your preferences in the package (Mutajil or Mutakhir), you will be notified by your Hajj company about your travel plans.
• For me, I was asked to reach gathering point in Jeddah on the evening of 7th Dhul Hijjah.
• A big hall with all facilities and guidance was arranged for gathering.
• Upon arrival, they assigned us Guides and divided us in groups.
• Stickers were put on our luggage and all of us were asked to ensure that we have printed copies of Tasreeh with us.
• Buses were ready to take us to Makkah. Those who wanted to go to Mina directly (Performing Hajj Tamattu) were separated and those planning to go to Haram for performing Umrah or Welcome Tawaf were seated in separate buses.
• Dry snacks and juices served in the bus.
• Hajj Permits were checked by police at the checkpoint.

After Reaching Makkah

• After reaching Makkah, if you have to perform Umrah/Tawaf, you will be dropped by the bus at Bus Station (e.g. Kudai).
• Your lugguage will remain in the bus and they are responsible to take it to your camp in Mina.
• You will need to travel at your own from Kudai to Haram (usually there are special buses for this purpose).
• Upone reaching Haram, perform Tawaf and if you are performing Haj Qiran, perform complete Umrah.
  • Even if you are on Ifrad hajj, you can opt for Sai as well or you can perform Sai later with Tawaf Ziyarah.

Travelling to Mina Camps

• After completing Welcome Tawaf or Umrah, reach back to Kudai and find your company’s camp. Gather there and then get seated on their buses to go to Mina.
• They will take you to your designated camp.
• In camp you will have all facilities as per your chosen package.
• Spend night there and Offer prayers as per your convenience.
• Whether you came on the evening of 7th or 8th Dhul Hijjah, you will stay there in Mina and next travel will be on 9th Dhul Hijjah for Arafat ground.

Travelling to Arafat on 9th Dhul Hijjah

• On 9th Dhul Hijjah, you will be travelling for Wuqoof e Arafat to spend whole day in Arafat Ground.
• Depending on your package, you will go to Arafat from Mina through Train or Bus.
• Upon reaching Arafat, you will stay there whole day and listen to Khutba e Hajj at Dhuhr time.
• Pray to Almighty Allah as much as you can while staying in Arafat ground.
• Most hajj companies have proper camps in Arafat but many people also opt for going out in open ground or towards Masjid Nimra to listen for Khutba over there.

Travelling to Muzdalifah on Evening of 9th Dhul Hijjah

• After spending all day in Arafat, you will have to travel to Muzdalifah after sunset.
• You will spend night in Muzdalifah in open ground.
• Carpeting and basic camping is done by Hajj companies in Muzdalifah to serve the guests of Allah better.
• For us, dry snacks and juices were offered as Food in Muzdalifah.
• You are advised to collect pebbles from Muzdalifah for stoning Jamraat.
  • 7 for the 10thof Dhul Hijjah.
  • 21 for the 11thof Dhul Hijjah.
  • 21 for the 12thof Dhul Hijjah.
• You will perform Maghrab and Asr together as Qasr in Muzdalifah.
• Leave for Mina after performing Fajr Prayer in Muzdalifah.

Stoning Satan: Jamrat on 10th of Dhul Hijjah

• On Youm Al Nahr (the sacrifice day) you will reach Mina from Muzdalifah and throw 7 stone on Jamarah Al Aqaba (Big Satan Pillar).
• After this, Hadi (Sacrifice) will be performed by those performing Tamattu or Qiran Hajj.
  • Normally, you pay the money for Hadi along with your package fees and you receive a confirmation SMS once sacrifice on your behalf is perfomed.
• After this, you can now opt for shaving your head (Halq) and you are free from the restrictions of Ihram.

NOTE: Stoning on 10th of Dhul Hijjah should be done any time after Fajr and Sunnah is to perform this after sunrise to mid-day but you should follow guidelines to avoid crowding.

Performing Tawaf Ziyarah/ Tawaf Ifadah

• You can go for Tawaf Ziyarah only after you are done with throwing Stones on 10th of Dhul Hijjah and sacrifice is also done (for Qiran or Tamattu cases).
• It is not mandatory to go for Tawaf Ziyarah on 10th. You can do it anytime between 10th Dhul Hijjah and before sunset of 12th Dhul Hijjah.
• If you are doing Hajj Ifrad or Qiran and you didn’t do Sai on Welcome Tawaf, you can opt for Sai after Tawaf Ziyarah. For Tamattu, Sai is mandatory for Tawaf Ziyarah.
• Please note that you will have to go at your own for Tawaf Ziyarah as no transport is provided by hajj companies for this.
  • Be Prepared for long walk even to find a taxi or any transport on this day !

Spending 11th & 12th Dhul Hijjah in Mina

• To perform rituals of stoning Jamrat on 11th & 12th of Dhul Hijjah, you will remain in your camp in Mina for these days.
• On 11th & 12th, you will be throwing pebbles on all three Jamraat (7 each).
• It is not allowed to throw stones before Zawal time and it is Sunnah to throw pebbles after Zawal until Sunset.
  • Plan according to the ministry guidelines to avoid over-crowding.
• If you want to leave Makkah after Rami on 12th, you should leave before sunset. Else, you will be obliged to do the stoning on 13th as well.

Performing Tawaf Ul Wida and Leaving Makkah

• It is mandatory to perform Tawal Ul Wida before departing from Makkah as it is Wajib.
• Tawaf Ul Wida can be performed anytime after performing Tawaf Ziyarah but it is advised to do it before you depart from Makkah.
• Tawaf Ul Wida is performed as usual by having 7 rounds around Kaba and then performing 2 Rakat of Nafl at Maqam e Ibrahim. No Sai is performed after this Tawaf.
• Drink Zamzam after the Tawaf.

Leaving Makkah After Completing Hajj

• After completing all the rituals, you will be required to reach to the bus station as designated by your hajj company.
• They will take you to the bus as per your destination city and you will be dropped by them at the designated spot there.

I Hope this Information will be helpful for you. Don’t forget to Remember me in your prayers.