Hajj Tips

1. Start preparing for Hajj at least 6 months before departure. Go through the procedure, learn some duas and azkaar by heart.
2. It is important to arrange the trip through a reliable and trustworthy travel agent.     You can check the Approved Hajj and Umrah Travel Agents the following ways. 
   
   
   1. Company History from Company House website UK    www.companieshouse.gov.uk/
   2. Check UK company registration no. Our Company registration No is 5319552
   3. Check ATOL   Air Travel Organisers' Licensing Number by following www.caa.co.uk
   4. Check if the agent is IATA protected.  Our IATA No is  91-278902    www.iata.org
   5. Check if the agent is authorised from the Ministry Of Hajj Saudi Arabia by following their official website www.hajinformation.com
   A   Check in detail what the Hajj package includes, for example, hotel names, distances from Haram Shariff and Masjid Nabwi. Check if there will be any shifting between hotels/apartments (Azizyah) 
   
   
   B    Check if the package includes food, meals or buffets. 
   
   
   C    Check exactly how many people will be sharing per room in all locations
   
   
   D    Check what services are included during the days of Hajj in Mina
   
   
   F     Check if the hotel in Makkah, is provided and accessible during the days of Hajj 
3. Hajj is physically demanding and it is recommended to practice walking at least 30 minutes a day, the brisker the better.
4. Learning basic Arabic will make your daily life easier as most Arabs prefer to communicate in Arabic.
5. Keep your luggage minimum, the less the better. Loading/Unloading luggage can be a hassle, especially whilst travelling on coach. In Mina/Arafat the space provided is limited per person, hence try keeping luggage at minimum.
6. Carry a cloth/nylon bag for your footwear so that you can conveniently carry your slippers/flip flops around without worrying about them getting misplaced. We provide a string bag, which is included in the package.
7. Take medicines, lots of them. As there are so many people there, coming from various parts of the world and bringing local viruses with them, its better to be prepared especially if you are travelling with kids. Normally take flu, fever, digestive, anti-allergy and general painkiller medicines with you
8. While in Haram or in Masjid, do not jump over people.
9. Crossing in front of people performing Salah is an excuse (in the Haram only), do not make it a routine.
10. Keep a photocopy of your passport and a ID card and car d of the hotel you stay at in case stopped by police or lost.
11. Get a good understanding of your location of the hotel in respect of the Haram.
12. If you are travelling with children, have them wear ID Cards with your hotel’s address and contact information.
13. In order to maintain a communication link, use local mobile SIMs. (Provided in our package with 40RS)
14. Bring an extra set of ihram in case one gets dirty or you sweat too much
15. Be careful when wearing the ihram, practice in advance and make sure you can walk properly and you do not accidently flash
16. If you are sensitive to light bring sunglasses as it gets very bright and hot
17. A trick to kissing the black stone is to join the queue 10 - 15 minutes before the azan for Asar. The people pushing are shooed away and the line moves quickly.
18. For the Hijr Ismail for Zohar or Asar pray near the entrance and when salat is finished go near the entrance. After the funeral prayer they will open the gate up and it will be straightforward to go in.
19. Learn the funeral prayer (Salat Jenazah).
20. Ladies are allowed into the Ar Raudah section of the prophets mosque in the morning and night for an hour or so. The one at night is a lot less crowded
21. Smile in another Muslims face and say Salam to a stranger
22. Shake someone's hand and ask about their health
23. Sit with a Hajj group from another country and ask about Islam in their country
24. Guide someone and help someone, carry someone's bags for them
25. Recite talbiyah loudly, encouraging others
26. On the days of Eid, walk through the tents reciting takbeer loudly reminding others
27. Gather stones for people and  guide people to the Jamarat
28. Offer to throw on behalf of unable Hajjis
29. Lower your gaze
30. Remind people of the lives of the Sahaabah
31. Read Qur'an with the Tafseer
32. Do the authentic Dhikr of the morning and evening
33. Give major attention to shy people in your group
34. Remind people of patience, why they came here, and the example of our Ulumaa' in Hajj
35. Explain  Khutbah Hajj al Wada  to those around you
36. Explain the importance of purifying ones actions for the sake of Allah
37. Phone relatives (from Makkah) on Eid day  and Make dua for forgotten friends
38. Don't allow Muslims to fight during Hajj
39. Help people find a place to sleep
40. Remember - during the heat - the unending torment of hellfire
41. Say 'Laa ilaaha illa Allah, wahdahu laa sharika lah, lahul Mulk wa lahul hamd, wa Huwa 'ala kulli shay'in Qadeer' 100x
42. Say the dua of entering the market place when you go there
43. Give charity
44. Stay for the 13th of Dhul Hijjah if possible.
45. Remind people to go home as better Muslims
46. Forgive people that wrong you
47. Visit the hospital and thank Allah for all that he has given you
48. Take young Muslims and invite them to sit with the elders. Make them the center of attention.
49. Ask about the health of senior men and women in your group.  Make sure they are attended to.
50. Focus hard on helping those immediately near you
51. Remember specific blessings Allah has bestowed upon you and say Alhamdulillah
52. Pray to Allah using his 99 most beautiful names (al Asmaa' al Husna)
53. Use a Miswak
54. Always intend reward from Allah for everything you go through during Hajj