While Eid al-Adha is a special holiday for billions of Muslims around the world, it also marks the third day of the Hajj pilgrimage.
On this day, many will be travelling to Arafat for the first time in their lives where they will stand and pray to God for forgiveness at the spot where the prophet Muhammad delivered one of his last sermons. If this year is your first Hajj pilgrimage, or you plan to take your pilgrimage in the following years, you may understandably be nervous or confused on some aspects.
There are some strict religious rules following how the Hajj must be undertaken and if you're not familiar with what you're supposed to do, it can dampen what should be an incredibly special moment in your religious journey. Fortunately, there are plenty of tips available to help make your Hajj pilgrimage a more fulfilling experience.
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Understand why you're undergoing Hajj
With emotions running and high it can be far too easy to forget why you decided to go on Hajj in the first place. Before leaving for your journey take a good portion of time to be alone to pray and set your intention for the journey.
While the Hajj is something that every adult with the means to do so should do at least once in their life, it should also be seen as an opportunity to renew yourself. It is also the perfect opportunity to reaffirm your faith and religious commitment.
Learn as much as you can ahead of time
It is no secret that the Hajj can be complicated and if you are not born into the religion it can be extremely confusing. However, the best way around this is to research as much as you can about what you need to do during the Hajj as well as the history behind the pilgrimage.
There are many books and on-hand guides you can buy online which will crunch down all the vital information you need while on your pilgrimage.
Do plenty of exercise
It may be a good idea to do some running or walking regularly before going to Hajj. It is a physically demanding pilgrimage and will see you walking across many miles.
If you're the type to regularly avoid exercise you may find the Hajj to be too physically demanding which could dampen the experience.
Prepare a list of everything you need to take
While preparing for your journey, there may be a list of things you need to take with you such as travel documents, money, a neck bag, an Ihram belt and much, much more. The worst-case scenario is that you arrive in Mecca and you discover that you've forgotten some important items.
Make sure to write up a list of all your essential items and double-check it before leaving for your journey to help quell any anxiety you may have.
Learn some basic Arabic
Since the Hajj takes place in Saudi Arabia, it wouldn't hurt to learn some basic Arabic to help navigate your way through the pilgrimage. Even basic things such as 'where is the bathroom' or 'do you speak English' can go a long way if you find yourself lost while on pilgrimage.
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