| The changes that have taken place around Mina and the Jamrat area in the past few years are astounding. Anyone who performed Haj 30 years ago or more can remember how calm and serene it was. The increase in the number of pilgrims in the intervening period changed everything. The area turned into one of the most congested parts of the pilgrimage, with the most accidents and the most deaths. Not so now. In this, the last installment of the Arab News Countdown to Haj, we focus on how the holy sites have been redeveloped with safety wholly in mind. Points of entry into Mina are now controlled. No longer can private cars and taxis drive there; only registered buses have access. The massive five-level complex surrounding the Jamrat area for the stoning has been organized so that pedestrians can keep moving slowly but securely in a one-way system. At no point today will there be congestion or dangers. The development of the facilities — others include the provision of emergency medical services and volunteer guides to help pilgrims — is a remarkable improvement. Haj is an obligatory duty on all Muslim men and women who are mature, sane and physically and financially able to perform the Haj, and also financially maintain their dependents while away on pilgrimage. It is the fifth pillar of Islam that is to be performed once in a lifetime. While doing the rituals, pilgrims should keep away from all evils, sins and unjust disputes. According to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), “He who performs Haj for Allah’s pleasure and avoids all lewdness and sins will return after Haj free from all sins as he was on the day his mother gave birth to him.” The Haj is a six-day event that begins on Dul Hijjah 8 and ends on Dul Hijjah 13. Once a Muslim man or woman meets the conditions for Haj, he or she should not delay performing it. An outline of the Haj is as follows: • On Dul Hijjah 8 (Yaum-at-Tarwiya), pilgrims will make niyah (the intention of performing Haj). And, while dressed in ihram, and proceed to Mina, which is about 5 km away from Makkah. They will stay the night there and pray Dhuhr, Asr, Maghreb, Isha and Fajr. All of the four rakaas of prayer will be shortened into two but not combined. • At sunrise the next day on Dul Hijjah 9 (Yaum Arafat), pilgrims will go to Arafat (about 9 km away from Makkah) where they will stay until sunset. Pilgrims will pray Dhuhr and Asr together, and will spend the day reciting Qur’an and in supplication. • At sunset, pilgrims will go to Muzdalifah where they will pray Maghreb and Isha together. They will remain there until Fajr prayer and collect small stones to throw at the Jamrat. • After Fajr the next day on Dul Hijjah 10 (Yaum-ul-Haj-il-Akbar), pilgrims will return to Mina (where they spend the night of the eighth of Dul Hijjah). • Once in Mina, the pilgrims will throw seven pebbles at the main Jamrat. • On the same day those who are performing the Haj of Tamattu or Qiran will slaughter their sacrificial animals, shave off or trim their hair and change into plain clothes (those performing the Haj of Ifrad will not do so). On completing these rituals, pilgrims are allowed to do everything they were not allowed to while in ihram except marital relations. • After that, pilgrims will go to Makkah to do Tawaf Al-Ifadha. After that all prohibitions will be lifted from them, including marital relations. • After doing this, the pilgrims will return again to Mina to spend the nights of the 11th and 12th of Dul Hijjah, with the option of spending the night of the 13th (Ayaam-at-Tashreeq) if they are not in a hurry. If they stay the 13th night, they will have to throw stones at the Jamrat. Pilgrims have to leave Mina for Makkah before sunset on the 12th, otherwise they will have to spend the night in Mina. • When they come back again to Makkah from Mina, after staying for two or three days there, the pilgrims will do Tawaf Al-Wadaa (farewell circumambulation) before departing. The Haj is now complete. May Allah accept it. • Pilgrims can visit Madinah (450 km from Makkah) either before or after Haj and pay homage to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). This is not part of the Haj, but pilgrims are keen to do this out of respect for the Prophet (pbuh). While in Madinah, pilgrims pray two rakaas of Tahiyyat Al-Masjid or perform any obligatory prayer that is due when in the Holy Mosque. They can then go to the Prophet’s grave to offer their salams to him and to his two companions, the Caliph Abu Bakr ra and the Caliph Omar ra. | 
