Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Third Day (10th Dhul Hijja)
During the Day of Sacrifice, or
yawm al-nahr
in Arabic, pilgrims begin the day in dawn
prayers at Muzdalifah and then return to Mina. They collect small pebbles about the size
of a chickpea - 49 pebbles if their stay in Mina lasts two days, 70 pebbles if they are able
to stay for three days.
At Mina, pilgrims throw seven stones at the
jamrah
- 'pillars' (now replaced with
walls) symbolising the temptation of Ibrahim by the devil.
Sacrifice follows, although pilgrims have one or two days to arrange for the slaughter-
ing of an animal. A camel is considered the worthiest sacrifice, but an ox or ram are also
acceptable.
Encouraging piety and charity, Islamic banks in Mecca facilitate official sacrifice by vouching to
slaughter an animal on behalf of a pilgrim on an appointed day and sending the meat to developing-
world countries.
It is at this point that a pilgrim's hair is clipped. Although only a lock of hair is required
to be cut, many men choose to have their whole heads shaved. The shaving is a symbol of
rebirth - showing that the sins of the pilgrim have been cleansed through the successful
completion of hajj.
On this day or the following, pilgrims head for the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca to carry
out
tawaf al-ifadah
(or
tawaf az-ziyarah
), a second circling of the Kaaba.
HAJJ CALENDAR
The table below shows the dates of hajj.
Yawm 'Arafat
(the main hajj day) is actually on the 9th of the month, but most
pilgrims are already in Mecca by
yawm al-tarwiyah
, the 8th of the month.
ISLAMIC
CALENDAR
ESTIMATED EQUIVALENT IN WESTERN
CALENDAR
8-12 Dhul Hijja 1434H
13-16 October 2013
8-12 Dhul Hijja 1435H
2-5 October 2014
8-12 Dhul Hijja 1436H
21-24 September 2015
8-12 Dhul Hijja 1437H
9-12 September 2016
