Requirement of Hajj in Quran

The Hajj (pilgrimage) is in the well-known months. So whoever intends to perform Hajj therein, then he should not have sexual relations, nor commit sin, nor dispute unjustly during the Hajj. And whatever good you do, Allah knows it. And take a provision for the journey; but the best provision is piety, righteousness. So fear Me, o men of understanding!

Requirements of Hajj
1. Ihram: Forbidding certain behaviors which are permissible normally, and to invoke talbiyah.
2. Tawaf: Walking around the Kaaba seven times and then praying two rakaats.
3. Sa'y: Traveling back and forth seven times between Safa and Marwah.
4. Arafat: Spending the afternoon of the Arafat day on the plain of the Mount Arafat until after sunset.
5. Muzdalifah: Spending the night just before the Eid in the valley of Muzdalifah until sunrise.
6. Stoning: Throwing pebbles at three walls called jamarat in the valley of Mina on the days of Eid.
7. Sacrificing: Sacrificing an animal in Mina, small or big, on the days of Eid (only for those who combine hajj and umrah).
8. Shaving: Having his head shaved.

Four of these requirements are already joint with umrah. Sacrificing an animal is conditional, too. So then, there are only three requirements special to hajj: Spending the day of Arafat in Arafat, spending the night of Eid in Muzdalifah, and Mina on the days of Eid.

Hajj is so simple and so plain.

Pre Hajj Requirments

Saudi Ministry of Health Requirements

Hajj and Umrah visitors must have certificates for the following vaccinations before entering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:

Meningococcal Meningitis

A certificate of vaccination against Meningococcal Meningitis is required from all visitors from all over the world arriving for the purpose of Umrah or Hajj. The certificate must have been issued not more than three years and not less than ten days before arrival to Saudi Arabia.

The responsible authorities in the country from where the visitor comes must ensure that vaccination has been carried out as follows:

Adults and children over the age of two years must receive the vaccination against meningococcal meningitis with the quadrivalent vaccine (serogroups A,C, Y and W135).

Children between 3 months and 2 years of age must be given two doses of the A vaccine with a 3-month interval between the two doses.

It must be ensured that all visitors from countries in the African meningitis belt have been vaccinated in their countries, not more than 3 years and not less than 10 days before arrival. This should be documented on the vaccination certificate. Visitors from these countries will be checked at entry points to ensure that they are vaccinated. Suspect cases shall be isolated and preventive measures will be taken in respect of their direct contacts. If the authenticity of the vaccination certificate is felt to be questionable, re vaccination is to be carried out. Chemoprophylaxis will be administered to all visitors from these countries to lower the carrier rate among them.

Yellow Fever

All travelers arriving from countries known to be infected with yellow fever (as shown in the World Health Organization [WHO] Weekly Epidemiological Record) must present a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate in accordance with the International Health Regulations. In the absence of such a certificate, the person will be vaccinated upon arrival and placed under strict surveillance for 6 days from the day of vaccination or the last date of potential exposure to infection - whichever is earlier. Health offices available at entry points will be responsible for notifying the appropriate Director General of Health Affairs in the region about the place of residence of the visitor.

Make sure you take your vaccination certificates with you to Saudi Arabia.

2011 policy: Hajj on first come, first served basis

In light of a United Nations population report, Saudi Arabia has enhanced the quota of Pakistani Hajj pilgrims by 19,609 for 2011 – a year in which Islamabad will divide its pilgrims into two separate categories of “Green and White”.

A draft of the new Hajj policy 2011, available with The Express Tribune, shows that the increase in Pakistan’s quota for the annual pilgrimage follows a UN report stating that the country’s population reached 184.8million in 2010.

Following the enhancement, the total number of pilgrims from Pakistan will stand at 179,256 as opposed to 159,547 in 2010.

The most striking part of this new Hajj policy is that the government has decided to introduce two varying accommodation categories for its pilgrims – “Green” and “White” – divided in terms of rent/distance from the Haram Sharif.

Those opting to use the Green category would be required to pay a total of Rs210,047 (for pilgrims belonging to Karachi, Quetta and Sukkur) or Rs222,047 (for those hailing from the rest of the country).

This category will have accommodation within 2,000 metres of the Haram Sharif.

Pilgrims opting for the White category from Karachi, Quetta and Sukkur would pay

Rs200,847 – while those from the rest of Pakistan would pay Rs212,847.

The distance of the accommodation provided under this category will be over 2,000 metres, but will be provided transport facilities.

The government is also making it mandatory for each pilgrim to buy Saudi Riyal 1,000 from the open market before departing for Hajj – an undertaking of which will be submitted with the Hajj application. This new policy might raise the local rates of Saudi Riyal in the open market as a total of 90,000 pilgrims performing Hajj under the government scheme will all be required to buy the amount from the open market.

The new policy also says that any person who has performed Hajj during the last five years shall not be eligible this year. The Religious Ministry is also launching a pilgrim protection scheme under which each Haji would be required to contribute nonrefundable Rs400, which will be collected in Modarabah banks in Pakistan.

In case of death during the pilgrimage, a sum of Rs200,000 will be paid – while for the loss of a limb in an accident Rs50,000, loss of two limbs Rs100,000 and emergency evacuation due to illness Rs50,000.

Earlier, Pakistan had submitted its case to Saudi Arabian authorities to have its pilgrim quota enhanced in the light of the UN population report. In 1987, the ratio was fixed at 1:1,000 Muslim inhabitants of a country.

The criterion for determining total as well as Muslim population of a country has been standardised by Saudi Arabian authorities to be on the basis of UN population statistics. As per UN estimates (state of world population report 2010), the population of Pakistan is 184.8 million out of which 97 percent are Muslim. Pakistan raised the issue with Saudi authorities when a Pakistani delegation visited Saudi Arabia last month.

Other salient features of the new Hajj policy:

(i) This year, there will be no balloting. The method of first come, first served is being introduced. Applications will be invited from April 11 to April 30.

(ii) There shall be two schemes, i.e. government Hajj scheme and through Hajj Group Organisations (HGOs).

(iii) Out of the total allocation, 50 per cent would be allocated to the government Hajj scheme and 50 per cent to private scheme.

(iv) Unsuccessful applicants for Hajj 2010 will be considered approved for Hajj 2011 if they have not withdrawn Hajj dues subject to the condition that they have not applied afresh for Hajj 2011. Dues will be adjusted.

(v) 15 per cent of the total seats under government scheme would be reserved for following categories of applicants: hardships, broken family and substitution cases, pilgrims recommended and fully funded by charitable/reputable organisations such as the Shaikh Rashid bin Said Al Maktoum Hajj Foundation sponsored by UAE, employees of PTC, NTC, PTA, Kahuta Research Laboratories, OGDC, Hamdard Foundation, or those on the recommendation of the ministry of Labour and Manpower.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2011.