Refresher & Advanced · Worship Refresher

Essential Hajj and 'Umrah Practices

Test knowledge of key rituals and rulings for Hajj and 'Umrah.

8 questions · Hard · about 4 minutes

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8 questions, about 4 minutes.

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Show questions and answers Spoilers: every answer and explanation for all 8 questions.

1. What should a Muslim do when climbing as-Safa during ‘umrah?

  • Face the qiblah, proclaim Allah’s oneness, magnify Him, and make du‘a. (correct answer)
  • Recite a special invented du‘a for each circuit of sa‘i.
  • Drink Zamzam before every climb.
  • Stay silent because du‘a is not prescribed during sa‘i.

Why

When the Prophet ﷺ reached as-Safa, he recited the verse about as-Safa and al-Marwah, began with what Allah began with, climbed as-Safa until he could see the House, faced the qiblah, proclaimed Allah’s oneness, magnified Him, and made du‘a. At al-Marwah, he did the same as he did at as-Safa, without reciting the verse before climbing. During tawaf and sa‘i, it is prescribed to remember Allah and make du‘a, but there is no basis for assigning a special du‘a to every circuit.

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2. What must someone already inside Makkah or the Haram do when performing ‘umrah on its own?

  • Go outside the Haram and enter ihram from there. (correct answer)
  • Enter ihram from inside Makkah for ‘umrah on its own.
  • Travel back to Dhu’l-Hulayfah.
  • Enter ihram only from one of the distant miqats.

Why

The source reconciles the reports by explaining that the people of Makkah may enter ihram from Makkah for Hajj alone or for qiraan, but not for ‘umrah on its own. If someone is already in Makkah or within the boundaries of the Haram and wants to perform ‘umrah alone, he must go outside the Haram, such as to at-Tan‘eem or another place outside the sanctuary, and enter ihram from there. This was the view of the majority of scholars.

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3. What should a pilgrim do if he is prevented from reaching Makkah and did not stipulate an exit condition when entering ihram?

  • Slaughter a sheep where he was prevented, give it to the poor, then shave or cut his hair and exit ihram. (correct answer)
  • Exit ihram immediately without doing anything.
  • Fast ten days in all cases.
  • Remain in ihram forever until he can return.

Why

If someone entered ihram and stipulated that he would exit ihram where he was prevented, then if he is prevented, he exits ihram and owes nothing. But if he did not stipulate and is then prevented from completing Hajj or ‘umrah, he should offer a hadiy, such as a sheep, where he was prevented or send it to the poor of the sanctuary, then shave or cut his hair and exit ihram. If he cannot offer a sacrifice, the cited ruling says he should shave or cut his hair and exit ihram.

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4. If someone travels to Jeddah without a firm intention to perform ‘umrah, then later decides to do ‘umrah, where should he enter ihram?

  • From the place where he made the firm decision, such as Jeddah. (correct answer)
  • He must always return to the original miqat.
  • From Makkah without leaving the Haram.
  • From any miqat he prefers, even if farther away.

Why

If a person passes the miqat with a firm intention to perform Hajj or ‘umrah, he must not pass it without entering ihram. If he does pass it intentionally without ihram, he must return to the miqat; if he does not return, he owes a sacrifice for each time. But if he passed the miqat without intending Hajj or ‘umrah, or was genuinely unsure and had not made up his mind, then later decided to perform ‘umrah, he enters ihram from the place where he made that decision. If he is already in Makkah, he must go outside the Haram for ‘umrah.

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5. What is the ruling if someone intended ifraad, then did tawaf al-qudoom and sa‘i before exiting ihram?

  • His Hajj is valid, and he remains doing ifraad if he did not exit ihram. (correct answer)
  • His Hajj is invalid.
  • He must repeat Hajj.
  • He automatically becomes qiraan and must offer a hadiy in all cases.

Why

The pilgrim doing ifraad intends Hajj on its own. When he reaches Makkah, tawaf al-qudoom is Sunnah, and if he does sa‘i after it, that sa‘i may count for Hajj according to the majority. If he did tawaf and sa‘i but did not exit ihram by cutting or shaving his hair and changing out of ihram, then he remains in ifraad and his Hajj is valid, even if he mistakenly thought the tawaf and sa‘i were for ‘umrah. If he did exit ihram, then he would have made it ‘umrah and later entered Hajj as tamattu‘, in which case a tamattu‘ sacrifice would be due.

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6. What does ta‘ajjul mean when leaving Mina during Hajj?

  • Leaving Mina before sunset on the twelfth of Dhu’l-Hijjah after stoning the Jamarat. (correct answer)
  • Leaving Mina on the eleventh of Dhu’l-Hijjah.
  • Leaving Mina before stoning the Jamarat.
  • Leaving Mina without performing tawaf al-wada‘.

Why

Ta‘ajjul does not mean simply leaving Mina early. It means leaving Mina before sunset on the second day of Tashreeq, which is the twelfth of Dhu’l-Hijjah, after stoning the three Jamarat. If sunset comes while a person is still in Mina by choice, then he must stay the night of the thirteenth and stone the Jamarat after Zuhr on the thirteenth. The days counted here are the days of Tashreeq, beginning with the eleventh, not the Day of Eid.

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7. What should a pilgrim do regarding the Talbiyah after entering ihram?

  • Recite it frequently, especially as circumstances and times change. (correct answer)
  • Avoid reciting it after entering ihram.
  • Recite it only once silently and never repeat it.
  • Recite it only after completing tawaf.

Why

After entering ihram, the pilgrim should recite the Talbiyah as the Prophet ﷺ did and recite it frequently. Men should raise their voices with it, while women recite in a manner that those beside them can hear, unless non-mahram men are nearby, in which case they recite quietly. In ‘umrah, the Talbiyah is recited from ihram until beginning tawaf; in Hajj, it continues from ihram until stoning Jamrat al-‘Aqabah on the Day of Eid.

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8. What is the ruling on stoning the Jamarat during Hajj?

  • It is one of the obligatory rituals of Hajj. (correct answer)
  • It is merely optional.
  • It is forbidden unless one sees Shaytan.
  • It is only a cultural practice with no basis in the Sunnah.

Why

Stoning the Jamarat is an obligatory ritual of Hajj and is established in the Sunnah. The Prophet ﷺ stoned the Jamarat, and the scholars agreed on the validity of stoning during the days of Tashreeq after the sun has passed its meridian. The purpose is obedience, submission, and following the command of Allah, not treating the act as play or a symbolic custom without religious meaning.

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A note on these answers

These questions are for learning and self-testing. Explanations are drawn from the sources linked on each question and are not a fatwa. For a ruling on your own circumstances, please consult a qualified scholar.

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