Explanation of the Pillars and Obligations of Hajj

Question:
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-Iyadh* (Verification and Clarification), which we wrote on the matters of the pilgrim a long time ago. It is distributed widely in Medina and is explained in the books of the jurists. The complete Hajj is known to consist of four things that are indispensable: entering the state of ihram, tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka'bah), sa'y (walking between al-Safa and al-Marwah), and standing at 'Arafah. If one enters ihram for half of the Hajj with the intention in his heart, that is the right path, and some scholars call it a condition. The second, third, and fourth—tawaf, sa'y, and standing at 'Arafah—are indispensable. Its obligations are seven, according to the most correct view. Among them is entering ihram from the miqat (boundary) of one's country that one passes through; one must enter ihram for his Hajj from the miqat and not pass the miqat without doing so. Among them is shaving the head or shortening the hair. Among them is staying overnight at Muzdalifah and staying overnight at Mina; these are four. Among them is stoning the pillars (ramy al-jamarat) five times. Among them is standing at 'Arafah until sunset, which is the sixth. The seventh and last is the farewell tawaf. These are indispensable, though some may be dropped due to an excuse, such as a menstruating woman or a woman with post-natal bleeding, for whom the farewell tawaf is not required. Staying overnight at Mina is dropped for water carriers, shepherds, and others who have a valid legal excuse. Entering ihram from the miqat is dropped for one who comes to Makkah for work, not intending Hajj or 'Umrah, and then decides to perform them; in that case, he enters ihram from his location and is not required to return to the miqat. This is established in the books of the jurists. And the believer, if he intends the limit, takes what is the appropriate, recognized occasion, such as the places of the 'aqiqah sacrifice or other recognized occasions; he benefits if he reads them. Yes.