What are the pillars and obligations of Hajj?

Hajj consists of pillars, which cannot be expiated if missed, and obligations which can be expiated if missed, although one would be sinful for skipping it intentionally.

Pillars

1 Ihram

2 ‘Arafa (after Maghrib)

3 Tawaf al-Ifada

4 Sa’y

Obligations

1 Tawaf al-Qudum 

2 Going to Muzdalifa (for a short while)

3 Stoning Jamrat al-’Aqaba (any time after Fajr)

4 Cutting or shaving (cutting would be near scalp)

5 Stoning ‘Aqaba before shaving or cutting

6 Stoning ‘Aqaba before Tawaf al-Ifada

7 Spending the night in Mina

8 Stoning the three pillars on the days of Mina (starting after Dhuhr)

Obligations can be expiated (below).

The Expiations

The expiations of Hajj are three types:

1 Hady: the slaughter of a sheep or goat

2 Fidya: fasting three days or the feeding of six poor Muslims two mudds

3 Hifna: the feeding of one poor Mulim one handful of food

Hady (slaughter) is required for:

1 Tamattu’

2 Qiran

3 Omitting one of the eight* obligations (fara’id) of Hajj

4 Sexual intercourse

5 Emission of sexual fluid even if merely by looking or fantasizing

6 Emission of pre-seminal fluid

7 Kissing on the mouth 

Fidya (fasting or feeding) is required for:

1 Shaving before stoning

2 Covering the face

3 Covering the head for male

4 Wearing a khuff while sandals are available

5 Squeezing a pimple or injury

6 Placing a large bandaid on a pimple or wound

7 Oiling or lotioning oneself without a need even if scentless

8 Removing a nail due to a harm

9 Removing more than one nail or hair for any reason

9 Removing or killing ten or more insects

10 Using henna or kuhl without a reason

Hifna (one handful of food) is required for:

1 Clipping a nail for no reason

2 Removing hairs that are less than ten in number without reason

3 Killing an insect but less than ten

Things that do not require expiation:

Carrying arms 

Touching perfume the scent of which has faded away

Removing and pushing away harmless insects

Killing harmful pests and animals

Written by: Shadee Elmasry

Source: Habib bin Tahir. Al-Fiqh al-Maliki wa Adillatuhu.