At mid-morning on the 8th of Dhul Ḥijjah, the Prophet ﷺ went to Minā, with his Companions (radiy Allāhu ʿanhum). They performed ẓuhr, ʿAṣr, maghrib, ʿishā’ and fajr, shortening the four unit prayers into two. They prayed these at the normal times.
The 8th of Dhul Ḥijjah is known as the Day of Tarwiyah and it is the first day of ḥajj.
Ihram
If you performed ʿumrah as part of ḥajj tamattuʿ and exited the state of iḥrām (by shaving or clipping the hair), you will now enter into iḥrām again on the 8th of Dhul Ḥijjah or earlier. Refer to the iḥrām article.
Talbiyah
Refer to the talbiyah article.
Act: The talbiyah should be recited (aloud by men), beginning when you enter iḥrām on the 8th of Dhul Ḥijjah. Continue reciting it until the 10th of Dhul Ḥijjah, stopping when you begin pelting the Jamarat al-ʿAqabah.
The Secrets of the Day of Tarwiyah:
1. Remind yourself of the Day of Judgement. As you spend the day in Minā, reflect on how it mirrors the waiting on the Day of Judgement, when everyone will stand before Allah for their final account. Use this time to remember Allah, seek His forgiveness, recite the Qur’ān, recite the talbiyah and takbīr in abundance, and express gratitude for His countless blessings.
Reflect: How have you prepared for the hereafter? What will you take with you?
2. Prepare for the Big Day. Tomorrow is the most important day of ḥajj. It is the biggest and most important day of your life. Minā is the equivalent of the sunnah prayer which prepares you for the main farḍ prayer. Spend your time in Minā wisely and undertake the spiritual preparation needed to make the most of the day of ʿArafah.
Tip: Make sure you rest your body properly on this day. This is not the day to exhaust yourself in acts of worship; instead focus on preserving your energy so you’re fully prepared for the Big Day.
Act: Do not waste these precious moments socialising or talking. Instead, use your time to make tweaks and changes to your duʿā’ list and practise making duʿā’ during every moment.
Act: Ask Allah ﷻ in your ṣalāh to give you the strength and the wisdom to make the duʿā’ in the best way on the Day of ʿArafah.
3. Feel a healthy fear in Minā that your ḥajj may not be accepted and that you may return empty-handed. Worry that you may not be granted the ability to reach ʿArafah tomorrow. Perhaps something will prevent you and your entire ḥajj will be lost. Use this as a motivation to increase your duʿā’ and avoid anything which will earn the displeasure of Allah.
4. Connect to the ummah. It may be challenging being confined in a tent with so many people. However, use this opportunity to greet others with warmth and show kindness and good character. Don’t complain, get irritable or feel superior to anyone.
Act: Be generous and share food, snacks or small gifts with those around you. Remind yourself of the charitable nature of the Anṣār who Allah ﷻ described as:
وَيُؤْثِرُوْنَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ
“…They give (the Muhājīrīn) preference over themselves even though they may be in need…” (59:9).
Tip: Drink lots of water and stay hydrated. The 8th of Dhul Ḥijjah is called the Day of ‘Tarwiyah’ (quenching one’s thirst) because the Arabs would fill their water containers and drink abundantly in preparation for the Day of ʿArafah, as there was no water there at that time.
