A step-by-step guide on how Muslims perform the rituals of the Haj pilgrimage to Makkah

Hajj road map. (AN graphic)
Updated 09 August 2019
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A step-by-step guide on how Muslims perform the rituals of the Haj pilgrimage to Makkah

  • The rites and rituals of the Hajj pilgrimage offer a unique opportunity for worship and spiritual renewal

MAKKAH: All Muslims dream of making Hajj at least once in their life. Saudi authorities are getting ready to host nearly 2 million pilgrims who have received their Hajj permits and are about to make their dreams come true. Each year the Saudi government provides facilities and services to enable pilgrims to perform their rituals with ease and tranquility.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman, recently inaugurated the Guests of God Service Program, which features more than 130 initiatives, including management of Saudi archaeological and cultural sites to enrich pilgrims’ experience. Over 100,00 security personnel are expected to oversee this year’s Hajj to ensure pilgrims safe access to the holy sites.

More than 32,000 health specialists will provide health care services to this year’s Guests of God. Pilgrims will receive necessary vaccines at entry checkpoints to ensure their well-being. The Health Ministry delivered more than 360,000 polio vaccine doses and 480,000 influenza and meningitis vaccine doses to domestic pilgrims and residents of Makkah and Madinah last Hajj season. The ministry has made 180 hospital and medical centers ready to serve pilgrims.

 

1. MIQAT

Hajj begins with Ihram (state of ritual purity) for all pilgrims. Pilgrims start their Hajj at a Miqat. There are five Mawaqeet (plural of Miqat) before they can reach Makkah. There they wash, wear their white clothes (Ihram), pray and make the intention to make their Hajj (niyyah), before getting to Makkah. They start making Talbiah (saying: ‘Labbaika Allahuma Labbaik’) .

Allah made Makkah a sacred and hallowed city that hosts His house, so it shouldn’t be entered except in a specific manner which implies glorifying God and surrendering to Him. Therefore, the Almighty ruled that anyone wanting to visit His glorified House for Hajj or Umrah must enter the state of Ihram from specific places that he is not permitted to pass without Ihram.

The Mawaqeet surround the boundaries of Makkah from north, south, east and west, and are on the path of pilgrims who come from all over the world.

 

 

2. GRAND MOSQUE

When pilgrims reach Makkah, they head to the Holy Mosque and circle Kaaba seven times (Tawaf), starting with the Black Stone. They walk counter-clockwise so that the Kaaba stays on their left. This is the Tawaf of Umrah for those performing the Tamattu Hajj (rites of Hajj and Umrah), and the tawaf of the arrival for those performing the Ifraad type (only performing the rites of Hajj) or Qiran type (performing the rites of Hajj and Umrah, also known as minor Hajj; this type doesn’t require animal sacrifice). Pilgrims are then required to pray next to the Ibrahim site when they complete seven circles.

Afterwards, they undertake Sa’e, which means “seeking” or “ritual walking.” This rite consists of walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah, which are to the south and north of the Kaaba, respectively. Originally, this was done outdoors, but today the path is enclosed in a gallery. Pilgrims recite prayers, including:
“O Allah! I intend to perform seven rounds of Sa’e between Safa and Marwah to please You. Make it easy for me and accept it from me.” All rituals performed in the Grand Mosque are done barefoot.

After completing Sa’e, those performing the Tamattu type of Hajj shave their heads twice — once after the previous rites and again after the animal-sacrifice ritual. Men have their hair either completely shaved or trimmed, though shaving is preferred. However, a man may not want to have his head shaved completely during the Umrah if he plans to complete the Hajj rites in the next few days, which also include shaving. Women do not have their heads shaved, but instead cut a lock of hair or have their hair trimmed. After hair-cutting, Umrah is complete and the restrictions of Ihram are lifted. 

Pilgrims can return to their normal activities. However, if a pilgrim is performing the second and third type of Hajj; Ifraad or Qiran, then the hair-cutting ritual is delayed after the animal-sacrifice part.

 

3. MINA

On the first day of Hajj (eighth day of Dhu’l-Hijjah), pilgrims head to Mina, near Makkah, where they spend the rest of the day, which is known as the Day of Tarawiyyah. Here, the Saudi government provides amenities, including thousands of air-conditioned tents offering temporary housing for pilgrims. On the first night, no major rituals take place, so pilgrims spend their time praying and reflecting with other pilgrims. In Mina, men and women stay in separate tents, which are located adjacent to each other.

 

4. ARAFAT

On the second day of Hajj (ninth day of Dul Hijjah), pilgrims travel to nearby Mount Arafat. Pilgrims complete Dhuhr (noon prayer) and Asr (afternoon prayer), and stay there supplicating the Almighty and asking Him for forgiveness and mercy until the sun sets.

 It was narrated that the Prophet said: “Hajj is Arafa.” It is the day of Dua’a (supplication) and Dhikr (remembrance of Allah), on which Allah prides His Angels on His pilgrims and forgive them.

The Prophet is reported to have said: “When the day of Arafa comes, Allah descends to the heavens and prides the angels on His servants. He says: ‘Look at my servants; they came to Me from every valley, unwashed and uncombed. Be witness that I have forgiven them.”

 

5. MUZDALIFAH

After sundown, pilgrims head quietly to Muzdalifah, between Mina and Arafat. There, they offer an evening prayer to God (Maghrib and Isha) and spend the night sleeping on the ground beneath the open sky. In the morning, pilgrims gather pebbles, which they will use in the stoning ritual later in the day. They spend the night in Muzdalifah as the Prophet — peace be upon
him — did until dawn. However, it is permissible to leave Muzdalifah after midnight.

 

6. MINA AGAIN

Before the sun rises, pilgrims head back to Mina to take part in a ceremony meant to symbolize stoning the devil. Pilgrims throw seven consecutive pebbles at a special stone monument called the Jamrat Al-Aqabah. This ceremony can be crowded, tense and emotional. The elderly, children, sick and injured are discouraged from taking part. Instead, they may perform this later in the evening, or have a friend or confidant perform the ritual on their behalf. After stoning, men shave their heads while woman cut some of their hair. This is called the minor (Tahallul), which removes all the limitations of Ihram, except sexual intercourse.

After the stoning ritual, it is necessary to offer an animal sacrifice to God. In the past, each pilgrim did this individually; however, today, it is much more common for pilgrims to simply purchase a sacrifice voucher. After selling vouchers, qualified personnel will sacrifice a lamb for each pilgrim (or a camel for every seven pilgrims), butcher the animals, package the meat, and ship it to Muslim communities worldwide to feed the poor.

Animal sacrifice can be done at any point on the 10th, 11th, or 12th day of Dhul-Hijjah. This ritual commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s readiness to sacrifice his son, before he was replaced by a lamb, and symbolizes the believers’ submission to God. The meat is shared out, especially among the needy.

 

7. GRAND MOSQUE

Pilgrims then go to the Haram to make Ifadah Tawaf, followed by Sa'e if they have not made the Sa’e after the Arrival Tawaf.

Worshippers return to Mina to spend the three nights of Tashreeq and throw the pebbles. It is recorded that the Prophet slept all three nights in Mina and did not rush into leaving. However, if someone wishes to leave early, he should throw the pebbles on the 12th day and leave Mina before sunset. If the sun sets before he leaves, he must sleep the third night in Mina. But if he proceeds to leave Mina and the sun sets on his way out, but he has not left Mina yet, he does not have to stay the night.

Just as in the Umrah, the Hajj requires pilgrims to perform the Tawaf and Sa’e rituals at the Kaaba and the nearby hills. The rituals are performed essentially identically to the way they are performed during the Umrah, but it is strongly recommended that these ceremonies be done only after the stoning, sacrifice, and hair-cutting rituals. After completing the Tawaf and Sa’e, pilgrims are released from their state of Ihram and may resume the activities that were previously prohibited. At the end of their third day, pilgrims return to Mina and spend the night there in prayer.

 


How Saudi Arabia is using innovation, research, and regulation to turn waste into a circular economy success

Updated 05 July 2025
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How Saudi Arabia is using innovation, research, and regulation to turn waste into a circular economy success

  • Engineering, AI and cross-sector partnerships are driving sustainable solutions to manage 110 million tons of waste annually
  • New laws, financial incentives and rising investor interest are reshaping the Kingdom’s waste management and recycling landscape

RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia accelerates toward a circular economy under Vision 2030, experts say universities, research institutions, and business leaders are playing a crucial role in developing innovative waste management solutions that align with national sustainability goals.

In early 2024, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture announced a waste management plan aiming to recycle up to 95 percent of waste and add SR120 billion ($31.99 billion) to the Kingdom’s gross domestic product.

Saudi Arabia generates more than 110 million tons of waste each year, much of it originating from cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. Its waste management market is projected to grow from $5.97 billion in 2025 to $8.72 billion by 2030, according to Mordor Intelligence.

To meet this challenge, academic partnerships, regulatory reforms and emerging technologies are coming together to reshape the sector, Sultan Al-Muaythir, chairman of the civil engineering department at Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, told Arab News.

Forming knowledge-sharing agreements with leading countries in waste management, he said, is a strategic step toward building a sustainable, locally adapted system that draws on global best practices and aligns with Saudi Arabia’s circular economy ambitions.

To drive innovation in the sector, Al-Muaythir emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary support. Fields like civil engineering, landfill and waste management, geotechnical engineering, and soil sciences all contribute to the design and development of critical infrastructure.

Sultan Al-Muaythir, chairman of the civil engineering department at Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University. (Supplied)

Mechanical engineering plays a key role in advancing collection and treatment equipment, while chemical, agricultural and biotechnology engineering disciplines help analyze waste composition and develop transformation processes.

Electrical engineering, he added, is essential for operating smart systems and managing energy generated through treatment.

Al-Muaythir also pointed to the Kingdom’s updated regulatory landscape, particularly the introduction of the Waste Management Law and its executive regulations, as a strong foundation for encouraging innovation and investment in sustainable practices.

He explained that the next phase calls for faster plan implementation, broader international research collaboration and direct incentives for advanced processing technologies — steps that would speed up the Kingdom’s progress toward its environmental and development goals.

While government action is essential, Al-Muaythir said innovation in waste management is not a luxury, but a necessity for building a clean environment and a functioning circular economy.

He added that individual responsibility plays an equally important role. “Adopting conscious behaviors towards waste and committing to sorting and reuse/recycling constitute the first building blocks in creating a more sustainable future,” he said.

Expanding on this vision, Abdullah Alakel, chairman of the Saudi Scientific Research and Innovation Association, said waste management innovation is a cornerstone of Vision 2030’s broader goal to build a circular and sustainable economy.

Abdullah Alakel, chairman of the Saudi Scientific Research and Innovation Association. (Supplied)

He told Arab News that scientific research is a key driver in tackling environmental challenges — from recycling and waste-to-energy technologies to the use of artificial intelligence to improve sorting and collection processes — ultimately boosting operational efficiency and reducing environmental harm.

To support this ecosystem, the association provides business incubators and innovation accelerators, offering technical and financial assistance. It also facilitates connections between researchers, donors and investors to help turn ideas into market-ready solutions.

Alakel noted that several joint initiatives with academic and industrial partners are already underway, including efforts to convert organic waste into economic products such as fertilizers and biofuels.

DID YOU KNOW?

 

• Saudi Arabia aims to recycle up to 95 percent of its waste by 2040. Waste management sector is projected to contribute $32bn to GDP by 2040.

• Half of the Kingdom’s waste comes from Riyadh (21 percent), Jeddah (14 percent) and Dammam (8 percent).

(Sources: Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the National Center for Waste Management)

Other projects aim to develop scalable recycling technologies and improve overall waste management efficiency.

Beyond research, the association works to foster a culture of sustainability across society. Alakel said it organizes public awareness campaigns, educational workshops in schools and universities, and national competitions that encourage creative, environmentally responsible solutions.

He added that the association plays a critical role in bridging academia and implementation by hosting scientific conferences, building strategic partnerships and supporting national innovation deployment in alignment with Vision 2030’s environmental goals.

Farah Al-Gharib, CEO of Precision & Choice Environmental Solutions, echoed those views, underscoring the opportunity to enhance coordination between stakeholders as Saudi Arabia moves toward a circular economy.

Farah Al-Gharib, CEO of Precision & Choice Environmental Solutions. (Supplied)

She told Arab News that aligning regulations, expanding infrastructure for sorting and collection, and stimulating private investment remain key challenges. Raising public awareness and promoting innovation are also essential to achieving sector-wide transformation.

To accelerate progress, Al-Gharib called for a more integrated and flexible system that encourages public-private partnerships. Activating source-level sorting and offering financial incentives to investors, she said, would help drive growth in the sector.

Clear metrics, such as waste reduction, cost savings and job creation, should be used to measure success.

KAUST's waste collection fleet is equipped with technology that supports efficient operations, from online vehicle tracking to waste bin management. (Photo courtesy of KAUST)

Looking ahead, she expects more companies to invest in smart technologies and expand their collection and treatment networks. Seamless integration across the entire waste value chain — from source to processing and redistribution — is essential, she said, to avoid bottlenecks and uphold the core principles of the circular economy.

“Based on our experience in the sector, we believe that unifying and updating regulations under a single, clear, and transparent regulatory framework would directly contribute to attracting investors, reducing the complexity of procedures and the classification of recyclable products, thereby accelerating regulatory processes and stimulating production,” said Al-Gharib.

She concluded that clear legislation and coordinated responsibilities across authorities are key to scaling up circular economy initiatives effectively and sustainably.
 

 


Hayy Cinema hosting classic movie program for children in Jeddah

Hayy Cinema, which is an Art Jameel initiative, provides a unique approach to film presentation. (@hayyjameel)
Updated 04 July 2025
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Hayy Cinema hosting classic movie program for children in Jeddah

  • The program includes twice daily screenings of classic Arab cartoons that have left a lasting impression on viewers and a complementary range of artistic activities inspired by the films

JEDDAH: Hayy Cinema in Jeddah is running an entertainment program that provides an interactive experience to evoke childhood memories and strengthen cultural bonds between generations.

The program includes twice daily screenings of classic Arab cartoons that have left a lasting impression on viewers and a complementary range of artistic activities inspired by the films.

Hayy Cinema, which is an Art Jameel initiative, provides a unique approach to film presentation. Its facilities include a 168-seat theater, private screening room, multimedia library and an educational exhibition, all designed with architectural inspiration drawn from the history of Gulf cinema.

The children’s program runs until Sunday.

 


Falcon breeders auction to be launched in August

Updated 04 July 2025
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Falcon breeders auction to be launched in August

  • The season will start with the International Falcon Breeders Auction, running from Aug. 5-25, showcasing top local and international falcon farms

RIYADH: The Saudi Falcons Club has announced its schedule for the current year, featuring six major events spanning a total of 122 days in Malham, north of Riyadh, and other venues across the Kingdom.

The event is designed to engage a broad audience interested in falconry, hunting and related cultural traditions.

The season will start with the International Falcon Breeders Auction, running from Aug. 5-25, showcasing top local and international falcon farms.

The Saudi Falcons Club Auction will run from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30, serving as a key platform for presenting top local falcons and providing a reliable economic avenue for falconers.

The International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition, the largest of its kind in the region, will take place from Oct. 2-11. It will feature exhibitors from both within and outside the Kingdom, showcasing the latest equipment and supplies for falconry, hunting, travel, weapons and outdoor adventures.

 


Saudi transport officials conduct more than 317,000 inspections in June

Updated 04 July 2025
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Saudi transport officials conduct more than 317,000 inspections in June

  • Makkah region reported the highest number of offenses at 21,000, followed by Riyadh at 13,000, Eastern Region at 4,508, and Madinah at 3,557

RIYADH: The Saudi Transport General Authority carried out more than 317,000 inspections covering land, sea, and rail transport activities across the Kingdom in June, identifying 51,143 offenses.

Of these, 27,756 were detected through field inspections and 23,387 through automated monitoring, while all efforts involved collaboration with relevant authorities, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Compliance rates were robust, with land transport achieving 94 percent compliance and maritime transport recording an impressive 99 percent. These figures highlight licensees’ strong adherence to the rules and regulations.

Makkah region reported the highest number of offenses at 21,000, followed by Riyadh at 13,000, Eastern Region at 4,508, and Madinah at 3,557. Qassim recorded 1,914 violations, Tabuk 1,316, and Aseer 1,073, while the remaining violations were from other parts of the Kingdom.

 


Japan’s crown prince visits Saudi pavilion at Osaka Expo

Updated 04 July 2025
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Japan’s crown prince visits Saudi pavilion at Osaka Expo

  • Visited in the company of Saudi Ambassador to Japan Ghazi Faisal Binzagr.

TOKYO: Japan’s Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Akishino visited Saudi Arabia’s pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo on Thursday, in the company of Saudi Ambassador to Japan Ghazi Faisal Binzagr.

“We were deeply honored by the visit of their Imperial Highnesses,” Binzagr told Arab News Japan. “It was a beautiful visit.”

He noted how much the pair had enjoyed the music of the oud, which was being played as the imperial guests entered the courtyard of the pavilion and which echoed throughout the building owing to the design of the walls and corridors to amplify the sound.

“The imperial couple also enjoyed Saudi coffee and (a selection of various) dates,” Binzagr said, adding that the variety and color of Saudi dates is influenced by the minerals in the soil of each region where they are grown in the Kingdom.

Binzagr said they had discussed the similarities in the cultures of Saudi Arabia and Japan, adding that despite appearing different, they shared a deep pride in their heritage and history, and both countries' ability to link the East and West.

He added that Japan is authentic with what it has but is also able to blend it with foriegn best practices with its great openness. Binzagr said that he believes this makes for something very special that Saudi Arabia also shares with Japan.

“We both value our roots and connectivity, and we both seek to celebrate balance in everything we do,” he said.

At the pavilion, the imperial couple viewed the plan for Riyadh Expo 2030 and indicated they were keen to visit at that time or even before, Binzagr said.

“We are keenly looking forward to more visits between members of Japan’s Imperial Family and members of our Royal Family of Saudi Arabia,” Binzagr added.

”Such visits add a special dimension to an already special relationship.”