| Adhan |
The call to prayer (salat);
usually issued from the minaret of a mosque. |
| Arafat |
A desert location approximately nine miles east
of Makkah where the pilgrim spends the 9th of Zul
Hijjah as a rite of Hajj. The waqfa is
performed at Arafat. |
| Ayyam ut
Tashreeq |
The 11th, 12th, and 13th days of the month of Zul
Hijjah. On these days, the pilgrim performs Rummy in Mina.
|
| Dum |
Also known as khaffarah. This is the atonement
required of a pilgrim for a willful violation of a prohibition or
obligation whilst in the state of Ihram.
|
| Eid
ul-Adha |
The festival of sacrifice performed on the 10th
day of Zul-Hijjah.
An animal such as a sheep or goat is sacrificed as a commemoration of
Prophet Ibrahim's (pbuh) willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael for
God. |
| Ezaar |
Lower cloth of Ihram. |
| Hajj |
Hajj is one of the five pillars or central
duties of Islam. It is a set of acts of worship to be performed in and
around Makkah at least once in a lifetime by every Muslim satisfying
certain conditions. There are three types of Hajj (see below). |
| Hajj ul
Ifrad |
The type of Hajj where the pilgrim pronounces
his niyyah
(i.e.intention) to perform only Hajj at Miqat while
changing into Ihram.
|
| Hajj ul
Qiran |
The type of Hajj where the pilgrim pronounces
his intention to perform both Umra and
Hajj together with the same Ihram
at Miqat.
|
| Hajj ut
Tamattu |
The type of Hajj where the pilgrim pronounces
his intention to perform only Umra at
Miqat
when changing into Ihram. A
second niyyah,
and a second change into Ihram follow on the 8th of Zul
Hijjah for the performance of the remaining rites of Hajj. |
| Hajar ul
Aswad |
The sacred Black Stone built into the
south-east corner of the Ka'bah at
a height of approximately four feet. The stone does not belong to the
geology of the region and is a part of the original construction of the
Ka'bah by Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh). The Black Stone was personally installed
in the wall of the Ka'bah by the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) himself during
its reconstruction following its destruction by a flash flood. The Prophet
(pbuh) also kissed it during his Last (Farewell) Hajj. Thus, touching and
kissing (Istilam)
of Hajar ul Aswad during Umra and Hajj is considered sunnah. |
| Halq |
The complete shaving of the head by the male
pilgrim on the 10th of Zul
Hijjah. This is the last thing he does before getting out of the state
of Ihram. See
Taqseer
also. For female pilgrims, the requirements of
Halq and Taqseer are satisfied if they trim their hair by approximately
half an inch. |
| Haram ash
Shareef |
The mosque around the Kabah in
Makkah, as well as the mosque in Medina. The latter, also known as Al
Masjid un Nabawi, contains within its premises the grave of Prophet
Mohammed (pbuh). |
| Hateem |
The area adjacent to the Kabah on
its west side, enclosed by a low semi-circular wall. Tradition has it that
Hajar (wife of Prophet Ibrahim [pbuh]) is buried in this enclosure. It is
highly recommended that the pilgrim should offer salat us
sunnah and supplications to Allah in this area. However, this is not a
part of the official rites of Hajj. |
| Idtiba |
The mode of Ihram used
during Tawaf
ul Qudoom. The male pilgrim drapes one end of the top part of his
Ihram over his left shoulder back-to-front. The other end goes across his
back, under his right arm, across his front, and is finally draped over
his left shoulder. Idtiba is not observed in any other type of Tawaf.
Also, when the pilgrim offers salat us sunnah after Tawaf ul Qudoom or an
obligatory salat during this Tawaf, he must cover both his shoulders. In
other words, Idtiba is practiced only while actually performing Tawaf ul
Qudoom. Female pilgrims wear no Ihram, so that
the question of Idtiba for them does not arise. |
Ihram
|
The distinctive garb of the male pilgrim worn
during Umra or Hajj. It consists of two pieces of white, plain and unsewn
cloth. One of the pieces (ezaar) is
wrapped around the midriff to cover his body from just above his navel to
his ankles, and the other (reda) is
draped around his shoulders to cover the upper body. For ladies, their ordinary, and unpretentious clothes of
daily wear constitute their Ihram. |
| Istilam |
The act of kissing Hajar
ul Aswad at the beginning and the end of every circumambulation
(circuit) of the Ka'bah during Tawaf. If
it is not possible physically to kiss Hajar ul Aswad for any reason, the
pilgrim may extend his hand to touch the Sacred Stone and then kiss his
own hand. If even that is not possible, he may raise his hand towards
Hajar ul Aswad and, thereafter, kiss his own hand. |
| Jamraat |
The three stone pillars in Mina which
symbolically represent the locations where the devil (shaitan) attempted
to tempt Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) away from the path of Allah. The pilgrim
symbolically stones these pillars on the 10th through to the 13th of Zul
Hijjah in commemoration of the rejection of the devil by Prophet Ibrahim,
and of his steadfastness to the cause of Allah. The Jamraat are located
within a few hundred feet of one another in a line and are named as
follows: |
| Jamrat ul
Kubra |
The last stone pillar in the line. This is also
called Jamrat ul Uqabah. |
| Jamrat ul
Oola |
The first stone pillar in the line. |
| Jamrat ul
Wusta |
The second (middle) stone pillar in the line.
|
| Ka'bah |
A cubic structure originally built by Prophet
Ibrahim (pbuh) and his eldest son Ishmael. It is now housed within the Haram
ash Shareef in Makkah. During Hajj, the essential rite of Tawaf is
performed around the Ka'bah. Every day, millions of Muslims perform
prayers (salat)
facing the direction of the Ka'bah. |
| Kaffarah |
Another name for Dum |
| Marwah |
A rocky hillock located approximately one
hundred yards from the Ka'bah inside Al Masjid ul Haram. The pilgrim
performs the devotional rite of Sai between
the hillocks of Safa and Marwah.
|
| Mahram |
The husband, or a
male companion of a female pilgrim to whom her marriage is expressly
prohibited by the shariah (e.g., father, brother, uncle, nephew, etc.) A
woman must be accompanied by a Mahram for Umra and
Hajj. |
| Makam-o-Ibrahim |
The stepping stone used by Prophet Ibrahim
(pbuh) during the original construction of the Ka'bah. The stone carries
the imprints of his feet, and is housed in a glass enclosure on the north
side of the Kabah. |
|
|
The mosque around the Kabah also known as Haram
ash Shareef. |
| Mes'aa |
The stretch between Safa
and Marwah.
See also Sai. |
| Miqat |
An imaginary boundary around Makkah. A
prospective pilgrim cannot cross this boundary without first changing into
Ihram. This boundary is anchored by different townships and localities in
different directions (Zul Hulaifa in the north, Yalamlam in the
south-east, Dhat Irq in the north-east, Juhfah in the north-west, Qarn ul
Manazil in the east.) The pilgrim changes into Ihram at Miqat and
pronounces his intention to perform Umra or Hajj. For people living inside
the Miqat permanently, their place of residence is their Miqat. |
| Mina |
A desert location approximately three miles
east of Makkah where several rites of Hajj are performed. |
| Muallim |
A knowledgeable professional who can guide the
pilgrim during Hajj. Also called a Mutawwif. |
| Muhrim |
A pilgrim in the state of Ihram |
| Multazam |
The part of the Ka'bah between its door and Hajar
ul Aswad. This is a specially sacred part of the Ka'bah. It is
recommended that, if possible, the pilgrim should touch the Ka'bah at
Multazam and offer supplications to Allah. However, this is not a part of
the official rites of Hajj. |
| Mutamatti |
One who has performed Hajj ut Tamattu. |
| Mutawwif |
See Muallim |
| Muzdalifah |
A desert location approximately midway between
Mina and
Arafat.
The pilgrim spends the night of the 10th of Zul
Hijjah here. |
| Namira |
A mosque in Arafat |
| Niyyah |
Intention. All acts of worship are preceded by
an appropriate niyyah. |
| Qarin |
One who has performed Hajj ul
Qiran |
| Qasr |
The mode of shortened prayers usually offered
when on a journey. |
| Qibla |
The direction (towards the Ka'bah)
that Muslims face to pray. |
| Ramal |
The ritual where male pilgrims are required to
walk briskly with their chests thrust forward and with their shoulders
rolling slightly during the first three circuits of Tawaf
ul Qudoom. Ladies are not required to
practice Ramal |
| Reda' |
The upper cloth of Ihram. |
| Rummy |
The act of symbolically stoning the devil
(shaitan) in Mina on the 10th through to the 13th of Zul
Hijjah. This commemorates the tradition that Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh)
was tempted three times by the devil but rejected all three of the devil's
attempts by stoning him and driving him away. These three locations are
symbolised by three stone pillars (jamaraat)
in Mina.
|
| Safa |
A small hillock approximately half a mile from
the Kabah,
inside Al
Masjid ul Haram. The pilgrim performs the act of Sai (or
'running') between Safa and Marwah.
|
| Sai |
The act of walking seven times back and forth
between the rocky hillocks of Safa and Marwah.
This act retraces the footsteps of Hajar (wife of Prophet Ibrahim), during
her desperate search for water to quench the thirst of her infant son
Ishmael after they were left in the desert by Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) in
response to a divine vision. |
| Salat |
Obligatory or supererogatory prayers. |
| Shawt |
One complete circumambulation, or circuit, of
the Kabah. Each shawt (pl. ashwaat) starts and ends at Hajar ul Aswad.
Seven ashwaat constitute one Tawaf.
|
| Talbiyah |
A recital of the following words by the pilgrim
during Umra and Hajj:
- Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik. Labbaik, La Shareek Laka, Labbaik.
Innal Hamdah, Wan Nematah, Laka wal Mulk, La Shareek Laka
Translation: "Here I am at Thy service O Lord, here
I am. Here I am at Thy service and Thou hast no partners. Thine alone is
All Praise and All Bounty, and Thine alone is The Sovereignty. Thou hast
no partners."
The Talbiyah is a prayer as well as an assertion of the pilgrim's
conviction that he intends to perform Hajj only for the glory of Allah.
The pilgrim starts the recital upon changing into the Ihram, and
continues to recite it frequently throughout Hajj. Male pilgrims recite
the Talbiyah loudly whereas female pilgrims
are required to recite it in a low voice. |
| Taqseer |
Shortening or clipping of the whole head of
hair by the male pilgrim following the completion of Hajj. This may be
performed in lieu of Halq.
However, snipping off a few hairs here and there is not acceptable. The
sunnah of Rasool Allah (pbuh) supports only Taqseer
and Halq. |
| Tawaf |
The seven fold circumambulation of the Kabah
while reciting prayers. It constitutes an integral part of Umra and Hajj.
There are five different types of Tawaf (see below): |
| Tawaf ul
Ifadah |
The Tawaf
performed by the pilgrim on the 10th of Zul Hijjah as the last formal rite
of Hajj in Makkah after changing into street clothes (also called Tawaf uz
Ziyarah). |
| Tawaf un
Nafl |
A devotional Tawaf which
may be performed any time. |
| Tawaf ul
Qudoom |
The initial Tawaf
performed by the pilgrim upon entering Al Masjid ul Haram in Makkah
pursuant upon his intention for Hajj. |
| Tawaf ul
Umra |
The Tawaf
performed as a rite of Umra. |
| Tawaf ul Wuda |
The Farewell Tawaf
performed by the pilgrim just before leaving Makkah for his next
destination. |
| Umra |
A set of religious and devotional rites
performed in Makkah. Umra, or lesser Hajj, can be performed at any
time of the year and, unlike Hajj, does not involve the rites at Mina, Muzdalifah,
and Arafat.
|
| Waqfa |
The ritual of waqfa (standing before Allah) is
performed by pilgrims at the Mount of Mercy in Arafat.It
is a central rite of Hajj. |
| Wudhu |
The ablution that is performed prior to
prayer.. |
| Yaum un Nahr
|
The 10th of Zul Hijjah. This day is designated
as the preferred day of sacrifice during Hajj. |
| Yaum ut
Tarwiyah |
The 8th of Zul Hijjah signifying the start of
Hajj. The pilgrim proceeds to Mina on this
day. |
| Zamzam |
The sacred water which sprang forth
miraculously under Ishmael's (pbuh) tiny feet during his mother's frantic
search between Safa and Marwah.
Zamzam is now enclosed in a marble chamber in the Ka'bah. |
| Zul Hijjah |
The last month of the Islamic calendar. |
