Jun 15
Saturday 8 Dhul Hijjah, 1445
Jun 15
Saturday 8 Dhul Hijjah, 1445
Hajj is one of the five main pillars of Islam. It’s a pilgrimage that takes around 5 to 6 days, with each day having a particular significance and steps. These days last from the 8th to the 13th of Zil Hajj, the 12th month in the Islamic lunar calendar. Since Hajj is a major commitment and requires traveling plus sacrifice, it’s only obligatory for adults with the relevant resources. After all, we need to prepare for every single day and step of this blessed journey. Even before the first day of Hajj, there’s a lot to prepare. Of course, the journey truly begins on Day 1, when we officially become Hajj pilgrims and embark on this spiritually cleansing path.
The official name for the first day of Hajj is Yom al-Tarwiyyah, which translates to ‘The Day of Quenching/Satisfying Thirst’. The reason behind this is that this is the day when Hajj pilgrims were instructed to drink a lot of water and also have full water containers. This advice was given in preparation for their long and arduous journey from Makkah Mukarramah to Mina. Part of the preparation also included getting the animals ready, well-fed, and in good health for the journey ahead.
The first day of Hajj constitutes a lot of preparation, planning, organization, coordination, and everything else one can do for such an important undertaking. At the same time, preparation for Hajj also includes a bit of spiritual alignment or realignment. Since Hajj is such an important pillar of faith and is only obligatory once for those who can perform it, we need to be ready in every way. Part of the readiness may include mentally focusing on cleansing the inner self through dhikr (remembrance of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)).
Along with tasbih and duas, a pilgrim may prepare him or herself by offering more nafl rak’aats of ritual prayer, perfecting their mandatory prayers, reciting more Quran each day, or just meditating and remembering Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) in their heart (muraqabah). If there is enough time available, pilgrims may prefer to pay a visit to the Masjid-e-Haram in Makkah. Here, they can offer prayers, do tawaf, and get a spiritual boost just by looking at the Holy Ka’abah.
On the first day of Hajj, the pilgrims first gather together in the holy site of Makkah. There, they work on their preparation for the Hajj journey, both spiritual and material. To understand the rituals on this first day, let’s first have a glance at the three main types of Hajj:
In case a pilgrim has made the niyyat for Hajj Tamattu’, they will again enter the state of ihram on the first day of Hajj. They will then make niyyah for Hajj and recite “Labbayka Allahuma Hajjan” (O Allah, I answer Your call by performing Hajj). If a pilgrim is doing Hajj al-Ifrad or Qiran, they will already be in Ihram and won’t have to make a specific niyyah on the first day of Hajj.
After the Hajj pilgrims offer the mandatory Fajr prayer, they set out from Makkah and make their way towards Mina. The distance to be covered here is approximately eight kilometers, though it might be smaller due to the expansion of the city of Makkah in this day and age.
It should be noted that the journey towards Mina is not just traveling, but a time for making dua, contemplating, and further spiritual preparation. It is also recommended that the pilgrims recite the Talbiyah or ‘Labbaik’ as much as possible, so the crowds will be chanting this dhikr out loud while they travel.
When these Hajj pilgrims reach Mina, they proceed to the tents provided especially for their stay overnight. These tents are not intended to be luxurious or extravagant; instead, they mark the beginning of a deeply spiritual experience, where pilgrims can set aside their worldly concerns. However, due to the heat in this part of the world, the Mina tents are usually air-conditioned. This would not be the case in most tents in Arafat, where the primary focus will be on standing under the skies and praying to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). In Muzdalifah, the pilgrims will be sleeping without any tents at all.
During the time in Mina on the first day of Hajj, pilgrims will utilize the items they had packed earlier. There are several lists available detailing what a pilgrim should pack for Mina, so it’s best to consult those before setting out on Yom al-Tarwiyyah. There aren’t any official shops in this area, so don’t depend on shopping for any necessities at this point. There are several food stalls, but locating items such as soap, prayer mats, towels, etc, might present a challenge.
While in Mina on this first day, pilgrims should be ready for specific prayers. These include the Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha prayers of 8th Zil Hajj. The Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha prayers will only be two mandatory rakahs instead of the usual four. Finally, pilgrims will offer the Fajr salah on the 9th of Zil Hajj before leaving Mina and heading towards the plain of Arafat.
The first day of Hajj in Mina marks the beginning of the hardships that pilgrims face during Hajj. While the time spent in Mina is a little easier than in Arafat or Muzdalifah, it is still quite different from the regular lives we lead. Pilgrims might feel exhausted from the journey and disturbed by the heat despite the air conditioning. The tents are often crowded since every pilgrim has to spend the day here after their travel.
To deal with the potential issues we might face in Makkah, it’s recommended that we keep drinking fluids and hydrate our bodies as much as we can. We should also pay attention to what our body needs–rest, food, etc–so that we don’t fall ill or faint during the Hajj days. It is the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (ﷺ) to keep reciting the Talbiyah repeatedly during the days of Hajj. This dhikr is the best and most recommended one during this time, so the first day of Hajj should be especially filled with the words:
لَبَّيْكَ ٱللَّٰهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ ٱلْحَمْدَ وَٱلنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَٱلْمُلْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
“Here I am [at your service], O God, here I am. Here I am [at your service]. You have no partners (other gods); here I am. To You alone is all praise and all excellence, and to You is all sovereignty. There is no partner to You.”
With the affirmation of ‘Labbaik’, the Hajj pilgrims have a constant reminder of their niyyah to perform the pilgrimage only for the sake of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى).
Here are a few more pointers to keep in mind on this important day:
Also known as ‘Tent City’, Mina is a crucial stop on the Hajj journey. The meanings of this place’s name include ‘to be put to the test’, ‘to find’, ‘to be tested’, etc. It’s fitting, as the pilgrims’ test starts with the tents and heat of Mina. ‘Mina’ can also mean ‘flow’, as it is also the spot where the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) had sacrificed 100 camels while on Hajj. This practice set the precedent for animals being sacrificed in Mina after Hajj, marking the completion of the pilgrimage. Mina is also important because it’s the site of the First Pledge, where twelve Ansar Companions took the oath of accepting Islam. Among their oaths was that they would not commit shirk, not steal, not be adulterous, and not speak falsely about anyone.
While there are various reasons for the significance of this day, the short answer is that it’s the official beginning of Hajj. This is the day when pilgrims enter into the state of Ihram and follow the Prophet’s (ﷺ) actions plus examples. Their journey is a sacrifice of health, comfort, wealth, time, and societal connections. By starting upon this journey, Muslims confirm that they aim to please Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) above all other concerns.
The first day of Hajj is spent in getting to Mina and then making ourselves in worship there. Tents are provided in Mina where pilgrims can spend the night. The main focus of this part of the journey is to prepare for the next day, which is the Day of Arafat.
The aim of going to Mina on the very first day is to get the pilgrims in a state of worship and spiritual readiness for the main parts of Hajj. The Day of Arafat is the most intense and important part of Hajj. By following the Sunnah of going to Mina first, Muslims from any era can focus on spiritual preparation before moving on to the next step of their pilgrimage.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) only performed one Hajj during his lifetime. When the first day of Hajj arrived in the year 10 AH (632 CE), the Prophet (ﷺ) made the niyyah for Hajj and entered into the state of ihram. He then headed towards Mina from Makkah. With his actions, we understand how important it is to make an intention and remain obedient to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). The Prophet (ﷺ) then performed all the steps of Hajj, leaving an example for all Muslims.
The activities and practices of this first day give us several lessons in spirituality, discipline, sincerity, equality, and so on. With the ihram, we refocus our sincerity to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). The simplicity of our clothing and the unity of our purpose make us realize that we are all equal in the eyes of our Lord. On a more worldly level, the preparations we make show us the importance of knowing how to plan ahead and manage to live on what we have.