What happens on tarwiyah day?

The day of tarwiyah is the day number 8 in the month of Dhul Hajj. It is one of the special days that Allah Almighty mentioned in the holy Quran when he said: “By the dawn. And (by) ten nights.” [Quran 89:1-2.]

There are many special acts done on that day, and from the following hadith we can learn a few:

Narrated Abu Shihab: “I left for Mecca for Hajj-at-Tamattu` assuming Ihram for `Umra. I reached Mecca three days before the day of Tarwiya (8th Dhul-Hijja). Some people of Mecca said to me, “Your Hajj will be like the Hajj performed by the people of Mecca (i.e. you will lose the superiority of assuming Ihram from the Miqat). So I went to `Ata’ asking him his view about it.

He said, “Jabir bin `Abdullah narrated to me, ‘I performed Hajj with Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) on the day when he drove camels with him. The people had assumed Ihram for Hajj-al-Ifrad.

The Prophet (ﷺ) ordered them to finish their Ihram after Tawaf round the Ka`ba, and between Safa and Marwa and to cut short their hair and then to stay there (in Mecca) as non-Muhrims till the day of Tarwiya (i.e. 8th of Dhul-Hijja) when they would assume Ihram for Hajj and they were ordered to make the Ihram with which they had come as for `Umra only.

They asked, ‘How can we make it `Umra (Tamattu`) as we have intended to perform Hajj?’ The Prophet (ﷺ) said, ‘Do what I have ordered you. Had I not brought the Hadi with me, I would have done the same, but I cannot finish my Ihram till the Hadi reaches its destination (i.e. is slaughtered).’ So, they did (what he ordered them to do).” [Sahih al-Bukhari 1568, Book 25, Hadith 54]

If you seek to learn more about the acts of the day of tarwiyah, its meaning and more then keep reading.

What is the Day of Tarwiyah?

The day of tarwiyah is the eighth day of the Arabic month Dhul Hijjah. Due to its importance for Hajj in Islam and for Muslims, Allah Almighty mentioned it in the holy Quran when he said:

“By the dawn. And (by) ten nights.” [Quran 89:1-2.]

Whereas the tarwiyah day is one of the ten nights mentioned in this verse. Any good deed done on one of the first 10 days of duhl Hajja is greatly rewarded.

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijja).” Then some companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Not even Jihad?” He replied, “Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah’s sake) and does not return with any of those things.” (Al-Bukhaary, 916).

Origin of the word Tarwiyah.

The word Tarwiyah was originally used because the water was scarce in Mina. As Al-Misbah Al-Munir said in his explanation: “The Day of Tarwiyah is the eighth of Dhul-Hijjah because water was scarce in Mina, and people would provide themselves with water for the days to come. The term is also used to describe the process of carrying and transmitting Hadith, derived from the same root.”

Furthermore, the scholars also suggest that this day is called the day of Tarwiyah which means reflection, because when Allah commanded the prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son, he wasn’t sure if the command was from Allah or Satan was trying to manipulate him.

What happens on the day of Tarwiyah?

There are a couple of actions that could be done on the day of Tarwiyah including the following:

1. Enter Ihram

On the 8th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, known as the Day of Tarwiyah, it is recommended for those who performed Umrah and removed their Ihram (under the Tamattu’ Hajj) to enter Ihram again for Hajj during the morning. This also applies to people who changed their intention from Qiran or Ifrad Hajj to perform Umrah. Similarly, residents of Mecca who intend to perform Hajj should also enter Ihram on this day. However, those performing Qiran or Ifrad Hajj and who have not exited their initial Ihram should remain in their Ihram.

Abu Sa’id (Allah be pleased with him) reported: “We went out with Allah’s messenger (ﷺ) pronouncing loudly the Talbiya for Hajj When we came to Mecca, he commanded us that we should change this (Ihram for Hajj) to that of Umra except one who had brought the sacrificial animal with him. When it was the day of Tarwiya (8th of Dhul-Hijja) and we went to Mini, we (again) pronounced Talbiya for Hajj.” [Sahih Muslim 1247, Book 15, Hadith 231]

Musa b. Nafi reported:

“I came to Mecca as a Mutamattil for Umra (performing Umra first and then putting off Ihram and again entering into the state of Ihram for Hajj) four days before the day of Tarwiya (i. e. on the 4th of Dhu’l-Hijja). Thereupon the people said: Now yours is the Hajj of the Meccans.

I went to ‘Ata’ b. Abi Rabah and asked his religious verdict. Ata’ said: Jabir b. ‘Abdullah al’Ansari (Allah be pleased with them) narrated to me that he performed Hajj with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in the year when he took sacrificial animals with him (i.e. during the 10th year of Hijra known as the Farewell Pilgrimage) and they had put on Ihram for Hajj only (as Mufrid).

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Put off Ihram and circumambulate the House, and (run) between al-Safa and al-Marwa, and get your hair cut and stay as non-Muhrims. When it was the day of Tarwiya, then put on Ihram for Hajj and make lhram for Mut’a (you had put on Ihram for Hajj, but take it off after performing Umra and then again put on Ihram for Hajj).

They said: How should we make it Mut’a although we entered upon lhram in the name of Hajj? He said: Do whatever I command you to do. Had I not brought sacrificial animals with me, I would have done as I have commanded you to do. But it is not permissible for me to put off Ihram till the sacrifice is offered. Then they also did accordingly.” [Sahih Muslim 1216c, Book 15, Hadith 154]

Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) said about the hajj of the prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that: “… all the people, except the Prophet and those who had with them sacrificial animals, removed the ihram and clipped their hair. When yaum at-tarwiya (The 8th of Dhul Hijja, the day when pilgrims leave Mecca and go to Mina.

The name is commonly explained as meaning that this was the day when the pilgrims provided themselves with a supply of water for the arid journey before them) came they went towards Mina having put on the ihram for the hajj…” (Muslim, 2137).

2. Perform Ghusl

It is recommended to perform Ghusl to prepare for the day of the Day of Tarwiyah, if you seek to enter Ihram. Wash up, and put on some perfume.

3. Say the Talbiya

Make your intention to perform Hajj, you don’t have to say it out loud. Then recite the Talbiya as follows: (Labbayk Allahumma Hajj). And you could continue the supplication by saying (If something prevents me, then my place of exit from Ihram is wherever You prevent me).

When performing Hajj in Islam for someone else then you should say that in your intention. Say “I perform Hajj on behalf of (and mention the person)”. Then you can go on and say the Talbiyah as follows:

Labbaika Allaahumma labbaik, labbaika laa shariika laka labbaik, innal hamda, wan ni’mata laka wal mulk, laa shariika lak.

“I am here at Your service, O Allah, I am here at Your service. I am here at Your service, You have no partner, I am here at Your service. Surely the praise, and blessings are Yours and the dominion. You have no partner.”

4. Head to Mina before noon

On the tarwiyah day, it is recommended to go to Mina before noon and recite the Talbiyah as much as you can until you arrive.

5. Shortening the four-unit prayers

When you arrive in Mina you should offer the Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha, and Fajr prayers. Don’t forget to shorten the four-unit prayers, meaning the Duhr, Asr, and Isha, shorten them not combine them.

Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him narrated: “… the Prophet rode and prayed there the noon, afternoon, sunset, evening, and dawn prayers. After that, he waited a little till the sun rose…” [Muslim, 2137].

6. Stay overnight in Mina.

It is recommended to spend the night of Arafah in Mina. Our beloved prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to do the same. When he used to pray the dawn on the 9th day of Dhul Hajja he would stay until the sunrise in Mina. Then he would walk from Mina to Arafat while reciting the Talbiyah or Takbeer.

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: ‘When we assumed Ihram (for Hajj or ‘Umrah) some of us raised their voices with Talbiyah and nobody objected to that, and others raised their voices with Takbir and no one objected to that (which means that saying Allahu Akbar ‘Allah is the Greatest’, or reciting the Talbiyah are both acceptable during Ihram). [Bukhari, 1549; Muslim, 2254].

If you seek to follow what our beloved prophet used to do then recite the talbiyah.

All the actions of the day of Tarwiyah discussed above are sunnah not obligatory. Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan, may Allah protect him, said: “Then someone who is in Mecca with ihram will go out on the day of Tarwiyah. It is better for him to leave before the meridian so that he can pray Zuhr and other times (prayer) until Fajr, and spend the night of the ninth day in Mina. As narrated from Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him that: “… the Prophet rode and prayed there the noon, afternoon, sunset, evening and dawn prayers. After that he waited a little till the sun rose…” (transmitted by Muslim, 2137).

What is the Significance of the Day of Tarwiyah?

The Day of Tarwiyah is the start of the most important part of the Hajj. On this day, pilgrims travel from Mecca to Mina, where they pray and reflect. This journey helps them prepare physically and spiritually for the next day at Arafat, which is the most important part of the Hajj.

Hadiths about the Day of Tarwiyah

Here are some of the hadiths about the actions of the day of tarwiyah and what our beloved prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to do:

Musa b. Nafi reported:

Put off Ihram and circumambulate the House, and (run) between al-Safa and al-Marwa, and get your hair cut and stay as non-Muhrims. When it was the day of Tarwiya, then put on Ihram for Hajj and make lhram for Mut’a (you had put on Ihram for Hajj, but take it off after performing Umra and then again put on Ihram for Hajj).

The people had assumed Ihram for Hajj-al-Ifrad. The Prophet (ﷺ) ordered them to finish their Ihram after Tawaf round the Ka`ba, and between Safa and Marwa and to cut short their hair and then to stay there (in Mecca) as non-Muhrims till the day of Tarwiya (i.e. 8th of Dhul-Hijja) when they would assume Ihram for Hajj and they were ordered to make the Ihram with which they had come as for `Umra only. They asked, ‘How can we make it `Umra (Tamattu`) as we have intended to perform Hajj?’

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, ‘Do what I have ordered you. Had I not brought the Hadi with me, I would have done the same, but I cannot finish my Ihram till the Hadi reaches its destination (i.e. is slaughtered).’ So, they did (what he ordered them to do).” [Sahih al-Bukhari 1568, Book 25, Hadith 54]

Abd al-‘Aziz b. Rufai’ (Allah be pleased with him) said:

“I asked Anas b. Malik to tell me about something he knew about Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ), viz. where he observed the noon prayer on Yaum al-Tarwiya. He said: At Mina. I said: Where did he observe the afternoon prayer on the Yaum an-Nafr? and he said: It was at al-Abtah. He then said: Do as your rulers do.” [Sahih Muslim 1309, Book 15, Hadith 370]

Now you know everything you need to know about the tarwiyah day. We hope you found what you were looking for, and if you like the article share it with your family and friends, and don’t hesitate and drop a comment below.