(Prior to performing obligations on the first day of hajj, one must know the preparatory obligations. For prerequisites of hajj, this is the first part of the hajj series: Introduction to Hajj).
The first day of hajj is on 8Th dhul hijjah. This day is YOUM-U-TARWIYAH. After the pilgrims entered the state of Ihram, they begin reciting the invocation :
Here I am, Oh God, at Your command!
Here I am at Your command!
You are without an associate!
Here I am at Your command!
To You are all praise, grace, and dominion!
You are without an associate!
Sounds of “LABBAIK ALLAHUMMA LABBAIK” echo in the whole city; Upon reaching Makkah, the very first obligation is of TAWAAF.
Tawaaf On First Day Of Hajj:
Tawaaf is a ritual of circumambulating the Kabah exactly seven times. It starts from the point of Hajr-e-Aswad (the black stone). Few lucky pilgrims also get a chance to touch and kissing the Hajr-e-Aswad. During the tawaaf, all the pilgrims have to recite takbeer. It is recommended for men to do initial three laps at a fast pace. The last four laps can be covered at a normal speed. So the tawaaf ends at the point of MAQAAM E IBRAHIM by offering two rakaah prayers at that point. Then they drink the zam zam water.
Sa’i:
After Tawaaf, the very next obligation is of SA’I. In SAI, the pilgrim has to walk at a fast pace between the two mountains in Makkah. The two famous mountains are “SAFA” and “MARWAH.” This ritual in hajj is actually done in the memory of Hazrat Hajra when she ran between these two mountains seven times in search of water. The baby Ismail (a.s) was crying and rubbing his toes on the ground because of thirst, when finally, on the 7th time, and an underground water fountain sprang. This holy water reservoir was named ZAM ZAM.
So, the Intention of Sa’i is with sincerity for seeking the pleasure of Allah. Because it is by saying, “I am doing sa‘i between Safa and Marwah seven rounds for hajj at-tamattu‘ to seek nearness of Almighty Allah.”
Mina And First Day Of Hajj:
Now pilgrims move towards Mina, Where they would spend the remaining day and one night. Mina is a small village at the east of the city. So, Pilgrims spend their night in tents camped at mina, reading Quran, praying, and resting for the next day.
These were the obligations to be performed on the first day of hajj; preceding rituals on the second day of hajj are covered in the next article of our Hajj series.
