The Pillars of Hajj and Its Obligations

Question:
On this day, which is the last of the days of Mina, we begin with these questions. The first question says: Your Eminence the Shaykh, Hajj has pillars and obligations. What are the pillars of Hajj, and what are the obligations of Hajj?

Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions. This issue has been clarified in the book *Al-Tahqiq wa al-Iyadhah* (The Verification and Clarification) which we wrote regarding the matters of the present time for a long period. It is distributed widely for free, and it is clarified in the books of jurists. The pillars of Hajj are known: entering the state of ihram, circumambulation of the Ka'bah (tawaf), walking between al-Safa and al-Marwah (sa'y), and standing at 'Arafah. These four are essential. If one enters the state of ihram for Hajj with the intention in his heart, that is the majority view, and some call it a condition. The second, third, and fourth are purity, sa'y, and standing at 'Arafah. These are essential. Its obligations are seven, according to the most correct view. Among them:
Entering the state of ihram from the miqat, the miqat of his land that he passes through. He should enter the state of ihram for his Hajj from the miqat and not pass the miqat. Among them is shaving the head or shortening the hair. Among them is staying overnight at Muzdalifah, staying overnight at Mina. These are four. Among them is stoning the pillars (ramy al-jamarat), which is five. Among them is standing at 'Arafah until sunset, which is six. And the seventh, which is the last, is the farewell tawaf. These are essential, though some may be dropped due to an excuse, such as a menstruating woman or a woman with post-natal bleeding, for whom there is no obligation. May Allah send prayers upon him. And staying overnight at Muzdalifah is dropped for the water carriers, the shepherds, and the like of those who have a legitimate religious reason.
Entering the state of ihram from the miqat is dropped for the one who came to Makkah for work, not intending Hajj or 'Umrah, and then he decided to do it. He should enter the state of ihram from his location, and it is obligatory for him to return to the miqat. This is a well-established principle in the books of jurists. And the believer, if he intends Hajj, should take from the appropriate and considered residence, such as the residence of *Al-Tahqiq wa al-Iyadhah* or other appropriate and considered sources, and benefit from reading them. Yes.