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A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO HAJJ FOR MUSLIM WOMEN
By Khadija Watson 
Truly Hajj is a journey of a life time and is one of the five pillars of Islam that every Muslim is required to do once if at all possible. These include; one must be a Muslim, have no outstanding debts, (house and car exempted) leaving ones family with enough money to cover expenses for their living while you are gone, have enough money to cover your own traveling expenses, and be in good health. These are the general rules.
Women should not travel without maharam (non-marriageable male relative) or at least be accompanied in a group of pious women. Inshallah, you will have received instructions on the theology and performance of Hajj itself, often referred to as the rituals. You should be well acquainted with what will be required before you start your Hajj.
However, through the years we have found that little thought is given to the practical side of Hajj especially pertaining to the women. And it is with this in mind that we offer a few suggestions in order to make you hajj more memorable.
First of all Hajj is not a vacation!! You are among MILLIONS of people in the same place at the same time. If you don’t know the meaning of walking you soon well. You may find yourself walking for miles before actually getting to where you are going…it is exhausting, to say nothing of the heat. Mecca in Saudi Arabia is one of the hottest countries in the world and while the temperatures may be cool or even cold (depending on the time of year) where you come from, in Mecca it will most likely be between the upper 80’s to high 90’s or 100, and higher if it is summer time. You will experience not only close quarters and body heat but the smells that go along with it. Sabr (patience) is a virtue that if you have yet to acquire will be tested to your endurance.
Dress:
The men are required to wear a long two piece cloth called Ihram, the women on the other hand there is no specific dress other than her abaya/purdah/burka and hijab. She may wear any muted color, black or white. However, white is recommended for two reasons; 1) white reflects the sun while dark colors absorb the heat. 2) If anyone (man or women) die while performing Hajj, they will be buried as shahid (martyrs) and will not have their body washed and will be buried in the clothes they are wearing at the time of death. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), “For the woman, making Hajj is as though she has preformed Jihad.”(Jihad meaning struggle) and on the Day of Judgment the Hajji will be resurrected in what they were wearing.
Last year on CNN the women reporting from Mecca was wearing a bright red hijab. I can only say she does not understand the reason for the dress. It should be remembered the reason for dressing the same is to remind us that we are all equal, regardless if you are a first lady, royal family, a multi-billionaire, rich or poor there should be no distinction. For a Muslim woman to wear any bright color that would call attention to herself is unacceptable.
Most women will be wearing white, the dress or abaya should belong to the ankles and with long sleeves. Some are wearing a short white hijab and some are wearing a very long hijab that comes to the waist. It is recommended that the material will be light weight and of a fabric that is not clinging or hot (not polyester or nylon) and definitely not see through. If you are wearing an abaya then the clothes underneath should not be tight fitting. Wearing jeans or such will be very uncomfortable and hot; you will find a loose dress will be more comfortable, Islamic and cooler.
We wish to remind the sisters that none of their hair should be showing and while the past few years it has become the style among Muslim women and even in the most conservative Islamic countries for the hair only to be partially covered is not correct. It is common to see many woman teachers or commentators on the television doing so, however this is error on their part and they are not following the correct procedure as given to us by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) or from the Holy Quran. If you have medium or long hair you might like to tie or clip it up as I have found with the heat and sweating your hair at the neckline will become tangled.
You may or may not wear a face covering; the Prophet’s wives would cover their faces on Hajj when a man would come near them. We can only say that these days there are so many millions making Hajj that you can’t help but to be close to each other, so this will be up to the individual.
Bring enough clothes and underwear to cover the days of Hajj, leave the rest at the hotel.
Many groups have the women wear a colored ribbon, flower or muted colored hijab so that in a crowd you can easily be identified and locate members of your group if separated.
Shoes:
Now is not the time to break in a new pair of shoes!! The men are not allowed to wear anything with stitching on but this does not pertain to the women. Flip flops, shower slippers whatever you call them are not recommended. They are easily stepped on from behind which could cause you a fatal fall, to be crushed or harmed!! Shoes such as Crocks or clogs would be better because they are sturdier and a little elevated. Tennis shoes are okay (for women) if they do not cause a blister, anything fancy or flimsy leave at home. The women may also wear socks which the men are not allowed.
Caution
One must remember with four million people not all are there to perform Hajj and like pilgrimages all over the world whether they are going to Jerusalem, Lourdes, the Vatican, Hindu or Buddhist shrines there is always an element of pickpockets. And because of this it is best to carry as little with you as possible for your own convenience, (this is not the time for large tote bags or backpacks) I personally have found it easier to make very wide and deep pockets on your dress or abaya which you should closed with a zipper, velcro or a large pin. This way someone passing by you cannot get into your pocket. One year I was going down some steps and a woman was going up the steps very fast and passed close enough to me to try to reach in my pocket, however she came up empty handed because I had a large pin closing my pocket.
Do not wear backpacks or carry around so much in your purse, you will find it difficult to carry, it is better if your hands are free. There are also very small purses with a long strap that I would suggest buying, they are very cheap ($3) and you can wear this hanging down the front of you putting it on before you put on your hijab, this way it is concealed. Carry nothing but your passport, money, cell phone, chap stick and medicine if necessary. Do not carry all of your money in one place but divide it putting some in your purse, pocket and even your sockets.
Do not bring jewelry with you and you might consider removing your wedding ring because with the heat your hands might swell and even a little you will not be able to remove your ring and there is no place around to get the ring cut off!
And since this is not a beauty contest you will not need your make up bag. No one cares what you look like nor are they looking at your beauty other than what Allah has made. There is nothing more pathetic than seeing a sister with mascara and eye linner running down her greasy face.
Passports and Money:
Have Xerox copies of your passport (and that of any family member traveling with you) in case your passport gets misplaced or stolen. You will need to be able to identify yourself to your own consulate. In case that you cannot find your passport you must report it immediately to your embassy. Carry the telephone number in your suite case before you leave your country, find out who you should talk to and how to reach them if the office is closed. I do not suggest bringing travelers checks for the good and simple reason it is highly unlikely that the hotel will accept them and don’t expect businesses to. You may find that you will have to go to a designated bank to have them cashed. Hajj time in Saudi Arabia is a vacation time for the whole country and government offices (including foreign embassies) and banks will be closed from the day of Arafat up to 10 days following. Find out the emergency number for your embassy in case it is closed.
The Tent:
First and foremost memorize the tent number and it’s exact location, believe me all of the tents look alike, you might go to the bathroom and come out wondering did I turn left or right? Be aware of your surroundings. This exact thing happened to my friend’s mother, she wondered around for hours from tent to tent. Finally someone had pity on her and invited her to join their group. She was finally reunited with her group after two days!!
Now days it is becoming popular for Hajj travel agencies to offer 5 star luxury accommodations. Having a big tent with single beds, around the clock buffet (some even with their own chef!) defeats the purpose of Hajj where we are all equal regardless of economic background and its purpose is to remind us of the Day of Judgment. If you need all of this stay home and go to a resort!! Don’t cheat yourself out of the reward that Allah has for you, remember Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) never preformed Hajj this way and we are to follow his example to the best of our ability.
The tents are barren and you will be given a mattress to sleep on the floor, bring your own sheets and small pillow. Do not bring night gowns or pajamas for changing into. First there is no place to change and you will find no one else doing it. And parading around in flimsy nightwear is offensive to other women.
The tents have a limited number of outlets for recharging your mobile phones.
Showers and Toilets
Every tent block has one or two showers and toilet areas, however remember that there are hundreds of people in your block!! This shower and toilet area have around 10 or more private enclosed stalls. You will have to line up, make sure you have everything with you, all of your clothes for changing, towel, soap and shampoo. No one is going to go get these things for you. You must be fully dressed when leaving the shower stall. Be considerate of others and bath as quickly as possible. Do not wash your clothes while you are in there as there are places for washing clothes if you find it necessary and have the energy.
I personally have found the best time for taking a shower is in the middle of the night.
You will also have to line up for toilets and unfortunately this is the place of many altercations. Don’t wait until the last minute to go to the toilet as you will sometimes be in line 15-20 minutes!! There is water available for washing your private parts and an over head flush, if you need take soap and tissue with you. It will take a few times to catch on how to use this and be comfortable doing so, however when you got to, you got to go!!
The Stones:
For collecting stones to throw at the Jamarat you should bring a small plastic bag or small container. After spending your day in Arafat you will proceed to Muzdalifah where you will spend the night, you will not be sleeping in tents that night but most likely on the ground!! Don’t worry about feeling like a fool because the other 4 million people are doing the same thing, anyway you will be so tired you won’t even notice. While you are there you must pick up 7 small stones to throw at the first Jamarat the next day which will be Eid.
The rest of your nights will be in Mina at your tent, again you will collect stones 7 for each of the three Jamarat, which means if you are staying the 3 days of Tashriq you will collect 63 stones in Mina.
What to do if you get lost!
Before starting Hajj you must determine what to do if you get separated from your group. First of all DON’T PANIC!! It is good to have partners and preferable to stay where you are when you got lost. If this is not possible a predestinated place should be your next objective. Use your cell/mobile phone if you can and look around as to where you are. If your time is short to perform the next ritual then go ahead and perform it.
English
Please note that 80% of the people making Hajj do not speak English!! However, I have found that a big smile and a lot of hand and body language will help you in finding out what it is you need to know. It might be advisable to learn a few words in Arabic to help you along, like bathroom, water, I am lost, help!! Your Hajji guide can help you with this and possibly make it an exercise of fun that you can practice on your long flight over. People are very happy when they find out that you as a Westerner have embraced Islam and will do everything they can to help you. It is exciting to meet people from all over the world and not all of them speak Arabic either.
Coming from all over the world you will have the opportunity to buy many items that are native to different countries. People or groups sit on the ground and sell their goods right in front of you. This is where it is good to have a calculator as not being able to understand each other let them punch in the amount they are asking, it is usual to pay a little less than then this so then you take the calculator, and put in the price you like. I have used this technique and have made some very happy purchases. Even when shopping in large store or boutiques you can ask for a discount, in this case you will accept what they offer. You will also be exposed to people who are illiterate and there is usually someone around to help. Carry Saudi Riyals for all transactions.
Medicine
Bring whatever medicines that you need with you to cover your stay. However, it is also a good idea to find out the generic name of your medicine as it is possible to buy it here. You do not need to fear about counterfeit medicines because the Saudi government is very strict about this matter. Actually you may even find that some of your medicine is cheaper here than in the United States even though it is exported from the U.S.!! When I travel to the US I always bring enough medicine to cover the time I will be there!
If you become sick or have an accident while here on Hajj the Saudi government will see that you are taken care of including medicine and hospital at no cost to you.
Menstruation:
If you see that it might possibly be the time of your menstruation during Hajj you can ask your doctor for medicine to delay it. It will only delay it and you might find after stopping the medicine with the return of your menstruation (usually within a few days) it might be somewhat heavier than usual. There is a Fatawa allowing this, so do not hesitate doing so, otherwise you might not be able to complete your Hajj rites and unless all of them are done this would void your Hajj which would have to be repeated another time.
Water and Juices:
Your Hajj agency will supply you with water and juice inside the tents, take as much as you need and always carry a bottle of water with you.
List of things to bring besides clothes
Prescription medicine Hand sanitizers
Topical ointment Sun glasses
Headache/fever medicine Towels (not so thick so they dry faster)
Diarrhea medicine Sheets (flat twin size)
Small bandages /band aids Small pillow (blow up is good)
Sunscreen Quran (or translation)
Soap, shampoo, Tissue
Toothbrush, toothpaste Face mask
Collapsible cup (can be carried in your purse)
Fork and spoon,
I mention these last items even though you will receive plastic spoons and cups they are always good to have on hand.
Inshallah, we hope that this will be useful to you and invite any Hajji to offer any suggestions for the future. We would also be interested in any testimony from those making Hajj for the first time to share with our readers and possible book in the future. While on Hajj please make du’ah (prayer) for all of us connected with Islam Uncovered.
May you have a rewarding experience and may Allah forgive you your sins, accept your Hajj and give you Paradise.
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