· Some men uncover their right shoulders as soon as they assume Ihraam (the sacral state). This is incorrect and should only be done during the Tawaaf (circumambulation) of arrival for ‘Umrah.
· Some people think that Ihraam is initiated by donning the clothes of Ihraam, when in fact it is initiated by the intention in one’s heart. Therefore, wearing the clothes of Ihraam is actually the physical preparation for Ihraam.
· Some women mistakenly think that their Ihraam clothes should be of a certain color, such as white or green, and this is incorrect. A woman can wear her regular clothes, as long as they are within defined Islamic limits, and she must avoid adornment or clothes that are tight or transparent. This kind of garment is prohibited anyway at all times.
· Men praying wearing the lower garment of Ihraam only, which is wrong because the Prophet, , said: “Let not any of you pray with a garment which does not cover his shoulders.”[Al-Bukhari, Muslim]
· Shaving the beard when assuming Ihraam is an act that is prohibited at all times.
· Some people believe that once they wear the clothes of Ihraam they are prohibited from removing them, even if they become dirty; when in fact they can change or wash it.
· Collective Talbiyah.
· Combining the prayers in Mina when they are only permitted to shorten them.
· Not exerting extra effort in reciting the Quran and worshipping Allah The Almighty, when this is the place where they are supposed to exert these extra efforts.
· Not spending the night in Mina on the night of the eighth of Thul-Hijjah without a legitimate excuse.
· Some pilgrims choose a place to stay in without first finding out whether they are inside or outside the boundary of ‘Arafaatalthough there are signs clearly indicating the boundaries of ‘Arafaat. Standing within the boundaries of ‘Arafaat is a pillar without which Hajj is incomplete; and the area called Waadi ‘Arunah is not within the boundaries.
· Some people leave 'Arafaat before sunset, which is not permitted.
· Some people struggle to climb the mount, believing that it holds certain virtues, which, according to them, makes it mandatory to climb it - this has not been reported as being a practice of the Prophet, .
· Some people face the direction of the mountain of ‘Arafaat during their supplications, which is a mistake; the Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) is that they must face the Qiblah.
· Some pilgrims waste time on that day in joking and idle chatter, and abandoning supplications and the remembrance of Allah The Almighty on this great day.
· Many pilgrims take cameras and use them to shoot pictures of the rituals, which is not what a pilgrim should be doing.
· Not making sure that the direction of the prayer is towards the Qiblah before praying Maghrib, ‘Ishaa’ or Fajr: it is compulsory to ask anyone who knows the direction and to face it while praying.
· Some people collect their stones for stoning the Jamaraat as soon as they arrive in Muzdalifah and before offering their Maghrib and ‘Ishaa’ prayers, thinking that this is permitted. In fact the Sunnah is to collect them after leaving Muzdalifah as one heads towards Mina, although it is permissible to collect the pebbles from anywhere.
· Some people do not make sure that they are spending the night within the boundaries of Muzdalifah.
· Delaying the Maghrib and ‘Ishaa’ prayer until after midnight: this is prohibited.
· Some people leave Muzdalifah before midnight without spending the night there and without having a legitimate excuse; although this is a compulsory rite of Hajj.
· Some people leaveMuzdalifah and head towards Mina even before the Fajr prayer, although they are strong and healthy and have no excuse to leave early, as the weak or sick might.
· Staying up all night praying and remembering Allah The Almighty, or reciting the Qur’aan, which contradicts the Sunnah.
· Delaying the Fajr prayer close to sunset or later.
· Sleeping after praying Fajr.
· People rushing out with their cars harming others and perhaps even causing accidents.
· Some people do not make sure whether their stones fall into the stoning plate or not.
· Some people authorise others to stone on their behalf, which is only permissible for people totally incapable of stoning due to sickness or other valid reasons (such as for the elderly, women and children).
· Some people use slippers or huge rocks to stone with.
· Some people say, "O Allah! I stone to enrage Satan and please You."
To be continued …