Akhta Yartakibuha Bad al-Hujjaj
- Author died
- 1421 AH
- Editions
- Akhta Yartakibuha Bad al-Hujjaj
Akhta Yartakibuha Bad al-Hujjaj (Mistakes Committed by Some Pilgrims) is a concise jurisprudential guide by the Saudi scholar Ibn Uthaymin (1347–1421 AH / 1929–2001 CE) addressing widespread ritual errors, misconceptions, and religious innovations committed during the performance of Hajj and Umrah.
Background and Purpose
The material in the work was originally delivered in instructional gatherings and composed as the ninth chapter of Ibn Uthaymin's broader manual Manasik al-Hajj wa-al-Umrah wa-al-Mashru fi al-Ziyarah (Rites of Hajj, Umrah, and What is Prescribed in Visiting), and has also been published as an independent treatise as well as within his collected legal writings (Majmu' Fatawa wa-Rasa'il).
The author frames the treatise around the Quranic obligation of following the prophetic example and the principle that acts of worship are invalid unless rooted in the Quran and the Sunnah, citing the prophetic statement: من عمل عملا ليس عليه أمرنا فهو رد ("Whoever performs an action that is not in accordance with our matter, it is rejected"). Ibn Uthaymin specifically criticizes the proliferation of uninformed religious rulings given during the pilgrimage season, which he describes as misleading to the public.
Structure and Content
The treatise systematically traces the chronological stages and stations of the pilgrimage, enumerating mistakes related to actions and utterances at each phase:
- Ihram and Miqat: The author highlights passing the designated geographical stations of ihram (miqat) without entering into the ritual state—such as airline passengers postponing ihram until landing in Jeddah rather than when aligning with the miqat. He also corrects common misconceptions, such as believing that two rak'ahs are strictly mandatory to initiate ihram, that ihram on the day of Tarwiyah must be assumed from al-Masjid al-Haram rather than one's lodging, or that garments worn during an Umrah cannot be reused for Hajj without being washed.
- Circumambulation (Tawaf): The book addresses verbalizing the intention (niyyah) aloud prior to circling, which is characterized as an unfounded innovation. Practical errors during tawaf include starting the round before reaching the Black Stone out of misguided caution, walking inside the Hijr of the Ka'bah (which invalidates the round because the semi-circular enclosure is part of the House itself), performing ramal (quickened walking) throughout all seven circuits rather than merely the first three of Tawaf al-Qudum, and causing harm by violently jostling other pilgrims to touch or kiss the Black Stone. He also censures adhering strictly to booklets providing specific, invented prayers for each separate circuit.
- Prayer behind Maqam Ibrahim: Ibn Uthaymin criticizes creating severe overcrowding and obstructing circumnavigating pilgrims by insisting on praying the two rak'ahs directly behind Maqam Ibrahim, noting that these prayers are valid throughout the entire mosque.
- Station at Arafah: The work warns against remaining outside the demarcated boundaries of Arafah until sunset, which entirely invalidates the pilgrimage since standing in Arafah is the essential pillar of Hajj. Other mistakes include departing before the sun has fully set, abandoning the audible chant of talbiyah while traveling to the plain, and struggling to climb Mount Arafah or facing the mountain rather than the Qiblah during supplication.
- Muzdalifah and Mina: Errors identified include becoming preoccupied with gathering pebbles before praying Maghrib and Isha upon arriving at Muzdalifah, believing that the stones must originate exclusively from Muzdalifah, washing the pebbles, or prematurely vacating Mina during the days of Tashriq without valid necessity.
- Stoning the Jamarat (Ramy al-Jimar): The author condemns the belief that pilgrims are physically stoning devils—which often leads to cursing and extreme aggression—as well as hurling oversized boulders, shoes, or sticks in violation of the prophetic prohibition against religious extremism (ghuluw). He also corrects the practice of throwing all seven stones in a single toss and unnecessarily delegating the ritual to a proxy while physically capable.
- Hair Cutting and Farewell Circumambulation: He cautions against shaving only part of the head or clipping merely a few individual strands of hair rather than trimming comprehensively, and concludes with rulings on performing the farewell circumambulation (Tawaf al-Wada') as the final rite before departure.
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