Important Tips on Preparation For Hajj- Part II
This post is in continuation to the earlier post about the tips related to preparation for Hajj. The earlier post discussed some general and some critical tips that can help the pilgrims in performing the rituals of Hajj without any hassle.
This post is a bit specific when it comes to tips for Hajj preparations. The tips in this post are related to Jamarat and the necessary elements that a Muslim should take on the trip.
Jamarat Tips:
Once the pilgrims have spent a night at Muzdalifah, the next destination they head towards is Jamarat. It is the place where pilgrims cast stone to the pillars of Satan. Although there is no or little crowd on the first day however the second and third day are overcrowded, therefore, proper preparatory measures are necessary to avoid any unfavorable situation on the remaining the two days.
1. Remember The Timings Of Casting Stones:
Casting stones is imperative for the fulfillment of Hajj, therefore, you need to remember the time of casting stones within which they casting stands valid. The first day at Jamarat the stones could be cast after the Fajr prayer, however, for the rest of the two days the stone casting time starts after the Adhan of Duhr prayer. Therefore, you must remember the right time for the casting to be valid.
2. Be Mindful of Recommendation of Agents:
If you have planned the trip with the help of an agent, then on the two days of Jamarat you need to beware of what your agent tells you. Agents are always in a hurry, thus they might tell you that some ABC scholar has said that stones can be cast at any time so you must also cast the stones and move on. This would be plainly wrong and the latter two days the timings for casting stones start from Duhr Adhan. Therefore, instead of hurrying things be patient and spend time in Quran reading and recitation and offering Nawafil prayer while you are there.
3. Be Patient:
Every pilgrim is aware that on the second and third day the time of casting stones starts after the Adhan of Duhr. Pertaining to this they all try to hurry in casting stones and come to the pillars right after the Adhan, which makes the place, overcrowded. This is the peak time when the pilgrims get stampeded. Therefore, to avoid any hassle you need to be patient and wait for the crowd to get small and then go for casting stones, however, the thing to remember is that you must never wait for the crowd to be gone as it never finishes throughout the three days.
4. Be Careful Of What You Wear:
After the first day of Jamarat it is no more an obligation on the pilgrims to wear Ihram, therefore, you can break it if you wish to and get into the clothes of your comfort. You can wear whatever clothes you like, however, the precaution you need to take is regarding the footwear. You must loose the flipflops and wear long tennis shoes as they are comfortable in walking. Moreover, compared to shoes with hard soles, the tennis shoes have a very less probability of hurting another pilgrim incase you might step on someone else’s foot.
5. Man Can Through Stone For Women:
Although the preferred action is a woman throwing stones for herself, however, if a woman is afraid of the crowd or is not physically able to do so, then a man can throw the stones on the behalf of the woman. Therefore, don’t be too strict if you cant do it yourself.
6. Opt For The Lower Entrance:
When entering Jamarat most of the people opt for the upper entrance which is a single passage. The huge influx of people makes it overcrowded making it hard to enter. This situation can be avoided by choosing the alternate lower entrance, which is wide as a garage that facilitates easy locomotion.
Things To Take To The Trip:
Your trip of Hajj can long from days to multiple weeks, therefore, it is necessary that you have all the things with you that you might need for the stay. The lines below list some items that you may take with you along with their possible use.
1. Vaseline:
Vaseline or scent free ointment should be available to you as there is a probability that you might face rash problems during the walk from Arafat to Muzdalifah. Vaseline in this situation can help give relief from itchiness and prevent any irritation in performing rest of the rituals.
2. Alum:
Alum is a crystal like substance that you can use in replacement of deodorant if you have excessive sweat and odor problem.
3. Flip-flops:
Another necessary element to take along with you on Hajj is flip-flops. They are required for the daily walking and also because you cannot wear closed shoes during Hajj. Scholars permit wearing sandals but they should not be stitched from the heels.
4. Waist Bag:
Carry a waist bag with you as well in which you can keep all the currency and your travel documents such as maps, passport and tickets.
5. Smartphone App:
There are many Islamic smartphone apps that contain instructions related to Hajj and other necessary information. In this regard the Complete Hajj Guide is the best option which you can consider installing in your phone as it contains all the tips, images and the emergency numbers that can come in handy while in Saudi Arabia for Hajj.
Conclusion:
Although Hajj requires sincere intentions and the spirit for visiting the House of Allah and fulfilling an obligation, however, one cannot deny the importance of preparation. If one is well prepared, then he or she can perform Hajj in a better manner as the factors that cause diversion in attention are cleared because of prior preparation.
