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Hajj Guide Book in English - The Message

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Have an additional four to five copies of the photos made<br />

and take them with you to Saudi Arabia. <strong>The</strong>y may be<br />

needed for ID cards issued by your muallim and for other<br />

Saudi documents and procedures. Hav<strong>in</strong>g spare pictures<br />

on hand will save you the time, aggravation, and expense<br />

<strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> hav<strong>in</strong>g them made <strong>in</strong> a foreign land.<br />

General<br />

You will be exert<strong>in</strong>g considerable physical effort dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>Hajj</strong>. All <strong>Hajj</strong> rites (Tawaaf, Sa’y, Rumy etc.) require a great<br />

deal of strength and endurance. <strong>The</strong> constant crush of<br />

hundreds of thousands of other pilgrims, each try<strong>in</strong>g to<br />

perform the same rites at the same time <strong>in</strong> limited space<br />

and very hot weather, compounds the demands on your<br />

physical condition and mental toughness.<br />

In order to be prepared for the rigors expected of you, you<br />

must be <strong>in</strong> good physical shape. To achieve this, start a<br />

program of brisk walk<strong>in</strong>g and jogg<strong>in</strong>g for twenty to thirty<br />

m<strong>in</strong>utes a day about three to four months before your<br />

departure. Gradually <strong>in</strong>crease this regimen to an hour<br />

every day or every other day.<br />

Obta<strong>in</strong> and study books on <strong>Hajj</strong> and its rites if you wish to<br />

know more about its history and traditions. Familiarize<br />

yourself with all aspects of the <strong>Hajj</strong> process. Memorize the<br />

prayers you will be recit<strong>in</strong>g and also learn their mean<strong>in</strong>g. It<br />

requires very little effort to do so and it is so much more<br />

fulfill<strong>in</strong>g and reward<strong>in</strong>g when you understand what you<br />

recite. It serves little purpose to recite prayers m<strong>in</strong>dlessly<br />

with no comprehension of the mean<strong>in</strong>gs of the words<br />

spoken.<br />

Cloth for Ihraam (Men)<br />

<strong>The</strong> Ihraam cloth consists of two pieces of white, unsewn<br />

and pla<strong>in</strong> cloth, either 100% cotton or light terry-cloth.<br />

<strong>The</strong>se are cool to wear and also provide for better<br />

absorption of the heavy perspiration you will <strong>in</strong>evitably<br />

experience dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Hajj</strong>. <strong>The</strong> sizes of the two pieces are as<br />

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