Assalamu Alaikum ! Hajj season is upon us! If you are going to Hajj this year, you might be feeling anxious and you have every right to feel this way.
No matter how many people describe the journey of Hajj to you, it's not something you can understand until you personally experience it.

Just remember, the ability to perform Hajj is an invitation from Allah (S), and He treats His guests with nothing but the best!

We wanted to share our Hajj journey and reflections with you all because it is something We wish We had prior to our pilgrimage. We are hoping our memories will help somewhat in preparing you for Hajj. We break down the entire journey step by step below:

Madinah

Makkah

On the first level, you will be able to see the Kabah constantly as you perform Umrah. For safety reasons, your leader might push for other levels. Stick with them, but at least one time, whether it’s during a nafl tawaf, Hajj tawaf/ Tawaf al Ziyarah or Tawaf al-Wada', try to experience the first level.

One thing we want to mention is that all my life, We had heard to look down while walking towards Kabah and then as you come upon it, look up and make dua and it shall be accepted. However, while we were at Hajj, the Shaykhs said that was a cultural thing. You will come across a lot of “cultural” suggestions, so please be wary and ask a scholar about anything you are unsure of. Remember, you are at Hajj so keep your defenses on the minimum and your Nafs in check! Try to take advantage of any opportunities for good deeds and give as much charity as you can (We often gave to the workers cleaning the Haram in Madinah and Makkah or the women cleaning the bathrooms in Mina).

Safa wal Marwah

Also, try to finish any shopping you want to do because once you leave for Hajj, you will only be back for the final tawaf (Tawaf al-Wada') after which you have to leave Makkah.

It’s pertinent to make a list of gifts and requests from family and friends prior to leaving for Hajj, so you're not scrambling to remember while you're there.

As far as food is concerned, eat whatever meals are included in your package, and eat the rest at the food court. You have every type of cuisine there - from Pakistani to American to Turkish and much, much more.

Try to get some rest the night before you leave for Mina.

The night before you depart for Mina, your travel group will ask you for the bags that you will NOT be taking with you; they will be stored until you leave for the airport or Jeddah. For Mina, We packed a carry-on and a backpack. The carry-on contained my toiletries (remember, non-scented because you will be in Ihram for three days), pajama pants and a tank top for each day We were in Mina and two abayas - one for Arafat, Muzdalifah, and the first of the Jamarat and the second for the remaining days. We also packed one pair of flip-flops and my Clark cloud-stepper sandals and oud that we had bought from Madinah to wear after we get out of Ihram (this will be the day of Eid for all not performing Hajj, but remember, for Hajji’s it’s not over yet!). The backpack contained my water bottle (the kind that keeps water cold for many hours), cold packs and basic meds that We ended up using near the end of Mina (Sudafed, cough med and Tylenol and electrolyte tabs). Our body had given up at that point, but Alhumdulilah after Muzdalifah, you do get some rest in Mina. Your time there will be mostly spent in ibadah.

Mount Arafah is significant because it was where the Prophet (S) gave his farewell sermon. During the entire day there, Muslims performing Hajj stand in earnest supplication, praying for Allah (S) to forgive all their sins.

For Muslims around the world who are not at Hajj, the Day of Arafah is the day before Eid, typically spent fasting and worshipping Allah (S).

Once we got to Arafah, we prayed Fajr and were strongly urged to nap until Duhr. In Arafah, you combine Duhr and Asr. After you pray, it's time to get to work and ask for Allah’s mercy.

This is one of the most important times during Hajj when Allah will (inshallah) cleans you of ALL your sins. We had compiled a list of duas the month before Hajj. While making dua and reflecting on our life.

After 5 hours of waiting at Arafah, we finally made it to Muzdalifah. It was very exhausting, but Alhumdulilah could’ve been worse. It’s Hajj after all, and you will endure hardships. Allah (S) will test your patience at various points whether it’s with wait times, people, food or perhaps all of the above.

Try to spend your time at Muzdalifah resting and worshiping. Also, make sure you collect stones for Jamarat

At Jamarat, you will throw the stones you collected at three pillars that represent the temptations of the Devil. The stones represent Prophet Ibrahim (AS)'s rejection of the devil's recommendation to not carry out the sacrifice commanded by Allah (S) and the firmness of his faith. While stoning, continue to make all the duas that are in your heart and remember, you can’t fool Allah (S) - He knows you best! After throwing the stones, pilgrims will slaughter an animal as a sacrifice and give away the meat to the poor.

When you head back to Mina, you will hear that it’s Eid. People may even dress up slightly because it is, but remember, it’s not Eid for you yet.

Like Umrah, you still have to get your hair cut and perform Tawaf al Ziyarah before your Hajj is complete. After the hair cutting, you will be out of Ihram for Tawaf Al-Ziyarah, so feel free to shower with your scented toiletries.

We headed to Makkah for the Tawaf after Isha that night. We took the bus, and it took a very long time due to the rush to arrive at Makkah (it’s only a 15-20 minute walk), so on the way back, upon completion, we had ice cream and walked back! We did the second round of Jamarat and then headed back to our camp.

Our Hajj was now complete! We had one final round at Jamarat, then one more night in Mina that we utilized to read Quran and bond with my Hajj sisters.