Hajj and Umrah glossary
The Arabic words you will hear and read on your journey, explained in plain language.
- Ihramإحرام
- The state a pilgrim enters by intention to begin Umrah or Hajj; also the two cloths men wear in it.
- Niyyahنية
- Intention, made in the heart.
- Miqatميقات
- The boundary that must not be crossed towards Makkah without ihram.
- Talbiyahتلبية
- The pilgrim's chant that begins “Labbayka Allahumma labbayk”.
- Tawafطواف
- Walking around the Ka‘bah seven times.
- Matafمطاف
- The open area around the Ka‘bah where tawaf is made.
- Shawtشوط
- One circuit of tawaf, or one lap of sa‘i.
- Al-Hajar al-Aswadالحجر الأسود
- The Black Stone, set in the eastern corner of the Ka‘bah; tawaf starts level with it.
- Ar-Rukn al-Yamaniالركن اليماني
- The Yemeni Corner, the corner before the Black Stone in the direction of tawaf.
- Hijr Ismailحِجر إسماعيل
- The low curved wall beside the Ka‘bah. The area inside it is part of the Ka‘bah, so tawaf goes around it.
- Maqam Ibrahimمقام إبراهيم
- The Station of Ibrahim, near the Ka‘bah; the two rak‘ahs after tawaf are prayed behind it when there is room.
- Al-Multazamالملتزم
- The part of the Ka‘bah's wall between the Black Stone and the door.
- Idtibaاضطباع
- For men, uncovering the right shoulder during tawaf.
- Ramlرمل
- For men, walking briskly in the first three circuits of tawaf.
- Zamzamزمزم
- The well in Masjid al-Haram, and its water.
- Sa‘iسعي
- Walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah.
- Mas‘aمسعى
- The corridor between Safa and Marwah where sa‘i is made.
- Halq / Taqsirحلق / تقصير
- Shaving the head, or shortening the hair, to leave ihram.
- Tahallulتحلل
- Release from the state of ihram.
- Rukn (pillar)ركن
- An act without which the Umrah or Hajj is not valid.
- Wajib (obligation)واجب
- A required act; leaving it calls for compensation but does not invalidate the pilgrimage.
- Sunnah (recommended)سنة
- A rewarded act that is not required.
- Fidyah / Damفدية / دم
- Compensation due for breaking a rule of ihram or missing an obligation.
- Wuqufوقوف
- The standing at Arafat on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, the core of Hajj.
- Jamaratجمرات
- The three pillars at Mina that pilgrims stone during Hajj.
- Ramiرمي
- The stoning of the Jamarat.
- Hadyهدي
- The animal sacrificed during Hajj.
- Tawaf al-Ifadahطواف الإفاضة
- The tawaf of Hajj made after Arafat; a pillar of Hajj.
- Tawaf al-Wada‘طواف الوداع
- The farewell tawaf, made before leaving Makkah.
- Ayyam at-Tashriqأيام التشريق
- The 11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul Hijjah, spent at Mina.
- Mahramمحرم
- In Hajj and Umrah, the man who accompanies a woman on her journey: her husband, or a man she is permanently forbidden to marry through kinship or another lawful cause, such as her father, son, brother, paternal or maternal uncle, father-in-law and others.Source: Islamweb, fatwa no. 6741
- Ar-Rawdahالروضة
- The area in the Prophet's Mosque between his pulpit and his tomb.
- Ziyarahزيارة
- A visit, usually to Madinah and its historic sites.
- Mutawwifمطوّف
- A guide who accompanies pilgrims through the rites.