Four Essential Rituals of Hajj on the Day of Sacrifice

By: Imran Ayoob Lahori

The Four Acts on Yawm al-Nahr (10th Dhul-Hijjah)​

On the Day of Sacrifice, pilgrims perform four main rituals in the following order:

1. Stoning the Jamarat (Ramy al-Jimar)
2. Sacrifice of the animal (Nahr or Dhabh)
3. Shaving the head or trimming the hair (Halq or Taqsir)
4. Tawaf al-Ifadah (Tawaf al-Ziyarah)

Reference: [Muslim: 1308, Kitab al-Hajj: Bab Bayan Anna al-Sunnah Yawm al-Nahr an Yarmi Thumma Yanhur; Abu Dawood: 1998; Ibn al-Jarood: 486; Hujjat al-Nabi by Al-Albani: p. 85]

Stoning During Ayyam al-Tashriq (11, 12, 13 Dhul-Hijjah)​

Each day, pilgrims throw seven pebbles at each of the three Jamarat:

1. Jamarah al-Ula (First Jamarah / Jamarah al-Dunya)
2. Jamarah al-Wusta (Middle Jamarah)
3. Jamarah al-‘Aqabah (Last Jamarah)

Practice of Ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما):

• He would throw seven pebbles at Jamarah al-Dunya, saying Allahu Akbar with each throw.
• Then he would move forward to a soft ground, face the Qiblah, raise his hands, and make du‘a for a long time.
• He would do the same after Jamarah al-Wusta, moving to the left side for du‘a.
• At Jamarah al-‘Aqabah, he would throw pebbles from the valley and would not stop there.
• He said: هكذا رأيت رسول الله يفعل — “This is how I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ doing it.”

References: [Bukhari: 1752, Kitab al-Hajj: Bab Raf‘ al-Yadayn ‘Ind al-Hamratayn al-Dunya wa al-Wusta; Nasai: 5/276; Hakim: 1/478; Bayhaqi: 5/148; Ahmad: 2/152]

Tolerance in Pebble Count​

Hazrat Sa‘d ibn Malik (رضي الله عنه) narrated:


“We returned from Hajj with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Some said: ‘I threw seven pebbles,’ while others said: ‘I threw six.’”
ولم يعب بعضهم على بعض — “None of them criticized the other.”


References: [Sahih: Sahih Nasai: 2882, Kitab Manasik al-Hajj: Bab ‘Adad al-Hasaa alladhi Yurmi Bihi al-Jimar; Nasai: 3079; Ahmad: 1/168; Bayhaqi: 5/149]