What to Recite in Haram: A Guide for Visitors

Understanding What to Recite in Haram

For many Americans, the concept of visiting Haram, particularly the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is an experience steeped in religious significance and often accompanied by a natural curiosity about the proper etiquette and practices. One of the most common questions that arises is: "What should I recite in Haram?" This article aims to provide a detailed and specific guide to the recitations and supplications recommended for those visiting this sacred space.

The Core of Worship: Prayer and Supplication

At its heart, visiting Haram is about devotion, prayer, and seeking closeness to God. The primary recitations revolve around the five daily prayers (Salah), which are performed collectively in congregation. During these prayers, specific verses from the Quran and other prescribed supplications are recited.

The Opening Chapter: Surah Al-Fatihah

The most fundamental recitation in every prayer is Surah Al-Fatihah, the opening chapter of the Quran. It is considered the "mother of the Book" and is essential for the validity of the prayer. It is recited in Arabic:

Bismillah hir-Rahman nir-Rahim
Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil 'alamin
Ar-Rahman nir-Rahim
Maliki yawmid-din
Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in
Ihdinas-siratal-mustaqim
Siratalladhina an'amta 'alayhim
Ghayril maghdubi 'alayhim wa lad-dalin

This translates to: "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help. Guide us to the right path, the path of those whom You have blessed, not of those who have earned Your anger, nor of those who go astray."

Other Quranic Recitations

In addition to Al-Fatihah, Imams (prayer leaders) typically recite other portions of the Quran aloud during the congregational prayers, particularly in the first two units (Rak'ahs) of each prayer. While it is not obligatory for individuals to recite these along with the Imam, listening attentively is crucial. Some commonly recited chapters include:

Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow)
Surah Al-Imran (The Family of Imran)
Surah An-Nisa (The Women)
Surah Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread)
Surah Al-An'am (The Cattle)
Surah Al-A'raf (The Heights)
Surah Al-Anfal (The Spoils of War)
Surah At-Tawbah (The Repentance)
Surah Yunus (Jonah)
Surah Hud (Hud)
Surah Yusuf (Joseph)
Surah Ar-Ra'd (The Thunder)
Surah Ibrahim (Abraham)
Surah Al-Hijr (The Stone Tract)
Surah An-Nahl (The Bee)
Surah Al-Isra (The Night Journey)
Surah Al-Kahf (The Cave)
Surah Maryam (Mary)
Surah Taha (Ta-Ha)
Surah Al-Anbiya (The Prophets)
Surah Al-Mu'minun (The Believers)
Surah An-Nur (The Light)
Surah Al-Furqan (The Criterion)
Surah Ash-Shu'ara (The Poets)
Surah An-Naml (The Ants)
Surah Al-Qasas (The Stories)
Surah Al-'Ankabut (The Spider)
Surah Ar-Rum (The Romans)
Surah Luqman (Luqman)
Surah As-Sajdah (The Prostration)
Surah Al-Ahzab (The Combined Forces)
Surah Saba (Sheba)
Surah Fatir (The Originator)
Surah Ya-Sin (Ya-Sin)
Surah As-Saffat (Those Who Set The Ranks)
Surah Sad (Sad)
Surah Az-Zumar (The Troops)
Surah Ghafir (The Forgiver)
Surah Fussilat (Explained in Detail)
Surah Ash-Shura (The Consultation)
Surah Az-Zukhruf (Ornaments of Gold)
Surah Ad-Dukhan (The Smoke)
Surah Al-Jathiyah (The Kneeling)
Surah Al-Ahqaf (The Wind-Bent)$,
Surah Muhammad (Muhammad)
Surah Al-Fath (The Victory)
Surah Al-Hujurat (The Chambers)
Surah Qaf (Qaf)
Surah Adh-Dhariyat (The Winnowing Winds)
Surah At-Tur (The Mount)
Surah An-Najm (The Star)
Surah Al-Qamar (The Moon)
Surah Ar-Rahman (The Most Gracious)
Surah Al-Waqi'ah (The Event)
Surah Al-Hadid (The Iron)
Surah Al-Mujadalah (The Pleading)
Surah Al-Hashr (The Exile)
Surah Al-Mumtahanah (She that is to be tested)
Surah As-Saff (The Ranks)
Surah Al-Jumu'ah (The Friday)
Surah Al-Munafiqun (The Hypocrites)
Surah At-Taghabun (The Mutual Disillusion)
Surah At-Talaq (The Divorce)
Surah At-Tahrim (The Prohibition)
Surah Al-Mulk (The Sovereignty)
Surah Al-Qalam (The Pen)
Surah Al-Haqqah (The Inevitable)
Surah Al-Ma'arij (The Ascending Stairways)
Surah Nuh (Noah)
Surah Al-Jinn (The Jinn)
Surah Al-Muzzammil (He Who Envelopes Himself)
Surah Al-Muddaththir (He Who Wraps Himself)
Surah Al-Qiyamah (The Resurrection)
Surah Al-Insan (Man)
Surah Al-Mursalat (Those Sent Forth)
Surah An-Naba (The Announcement)
Surah An-Nazi'at (Those Who Tear Out)
Surah 'Abasa (He Frowned)
Surah At-Takwir (The Rolling Up)
Surah Al-Infitar (The Cleaving)
Surah Al-Mutaffifin (The Defrauding)
Surah Al-Inshiqaq (The Sundering)
Surah Al-Buruj (The Constellations)
Surah At-Tariq (The Night-Comer)
Surah Al-A'la (The Most High)
Surah Al-Ghashiyah (The Overwhelming)
Surah Al-Fajr (The Dawn)
Surah Al-Balad (The City)
Surah Ash-Shams (The Sun)
Surah Al-Layl (The Night)
Surah Ad-Duha (The Forenoon)
Surah Ash-Sharh (The Opening Forth)
Surah At-Tin (The Fig)
Surah Al-'Alaq (The Clot)
Surah Al-Qadr (The Night of Decree)
Surah Al-Bayyinah (The Clear Evidence)
Surah Az-Zalzalah (The Earthquake)
Surah Al-'Adiyat (Those That Run)
Surah Al-Qari'ah (The Calamity)
Surah At-Takathur (The Rivalry in world increase)
Surah Al-'Asr (The Time)
Surah Al-Humazah (The Slanderer)
Surah Al-Fil (The Elephant)
Surah Al-Quraysh (Quraysh)
Surah Al-Ma'un (The Small Gifts)
Surah Al-Kawthar (The Abundance)
Surah Al-Kafirun (The Disbelievers)
Surah An-Nasr (The Victory)
Surah Al-Masad (The Palm Fibre)
Surah Al-Ikhlas (The Purity of Faith)
Surah Al-Falaq (The Daybreak)
Surah An-Nas (Mankind)

Supplications During Prayer (Dhikr and Du'a)

Beyond Quranic recitations, there are specific phrases of remembrance (Dhikr) and supplication (Du'a) that are highly encouraged during different parts of the prayer:

While bowing (Ruku'): It is recommended to recite: "Subhana Rabbiyal-Adheem" (Glory be to my Lord, the Most Magnificent).
While rising from bowing: It is recommended to recite: "Sami'Allahu liman hamidah" (Allah hears whoever praises Him) while standing, and the Imam or individual can then say: "Rabbana walakal-hamd" (Our Lord, and to You is all praise).
While prostrating (Sujud): It is recommended to recite: "Subhana Rabbiyal-A'laa" (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High). This is recited twice during the two prostrations of each prayer unit.
Between the two prostrations: It is recommended to say: "Rabbighfir li, Rabbighfir li" (My Lord, forgive me, my Lord, forgive me).
In the final sitting (Tashahhud): This is a longer supplication recited before the final salutation to end the prayer. It includes praising Allah and sending blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The basic form is:

At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat.
As-salamu 'alaika ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
As-salamu 'alaina wa 'ala 'ibadillahis-salihin.
Ash-hadu an la ilaha ill-Allah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa Rasuluh.

This translates to: "All greetings of obedience to Allah, and all prayers and goodness. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger."
The Salawat (Blessings upon the Prophet): After the Tashahhud, it is highly recommended to recite the Salawat:

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala aali Muhammadin,
kama sallaita 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala aali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid.
Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala aali Muhammadin,
kama barakta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala aali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid.

This translates to: "O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Abraham and upon the family of Abraham. Verily You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Abraham and upon the family of Abraham. Verily You are Praiseworthy and Glorious."

Beyond the Obligatory Prayers

Visiting Haram offers a unique opportunity for extended devotion. Beyond the obligatory prayers, there are many recommended recitations and acts of worship:

Tawaf (Circumambulation)

When performing Umrah or Hajj, the first and a central act is Tawaf, the circumambulation of the Kaaba seven times. While reciting specific Quranic verses is not mandatory during Tawaf, many people choose to recite:

"SubhanAllah wal-hamdu lillahi wa la ilaha ill-Allah wallahu Akbar" (Glory be to Allah, and praise be to Allah, and there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest) during each circuit.
They also recite "Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina 'adhaban-nar" (Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire) at the corner of Yemen and the Black Stone.
Some also recite "La ilaha ill-Allah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir" (There is no god but Allah, alone, without partner. To Him belongs sovereignty and to Him belongs all praise, and He is over all things competent) after each circuit.

Sa'i (Walking between Safa and Marwah)

Another pillar of Umrah and Hajj is Sa'i, walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah. During this act, it is recommended to recite:

"Innassafa wal-marwata min sha'a'iril-lah, faman hajjal-bayta awi'tamara fala junaha 'alayhi an yattwaffa bihima, wa man tatawwa'a khayran fa innallaha shakirun 'alim" (Indeed, Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever performs Hajj to the House or performs 'umrah - there is no blame upon him for treading between them. And whoever volunteers good - then indeed, Allah is Granter of rewards, Knowledgeable) when ascending Safa.
While walking between Safa and Marwah, one can recite "Rabbighfir warham wa 'afi wa'fu 'amma ta'lam, innaka antal-a'azzul-akram" (My Lord, forgive and have mercy and pardon and overlook what You know. Indeed, You are the Most Mighty, the Most Generous).

General Supplications and Remembrance (Dhikr)

Haram is a place where supplications are believed to be readily accepted. Therefore, spending time in personal prayer and remembrance is highly encouraged. This includes:

Reciting the 99 Names of Allah (Asma ul Husna).
Reading the entire Quran if possible.
Making personal Du'a (supplications) for yourself, your family, and the entire Muslim Ummah (community).
Reciting Ayat al-Kursi (Verse of the Throne) from Surah Al-Baqarah.
Reciting the Mu'awwidhatayn (Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas).

Important Considerations for American Visitors

When visiting Haram, remember that it is a place of utmost sanctity. While the recitations above are highly recommended, the most important thing is to approach the experience with sincerity, humility, and a genuine desire to connect with God. Most Imams and mosque officials are accustomed to visitors and will be understanding of those who are still learning. The key is to participate as much as you comfortably can, and to listen attentively to the collective recitations.

FAQ Section

How do I pronounce the Arabic phrases?

Learning the precise pronunciation can take time. Many resources are available online, including audio recordings and pronunciation guides for the Quran and Islamic supplications. Don't be discouraged if your pronunciation isn't perfect; sincerity and effort are highly valued.

Why are these specific phrases recited?

These phrases are derived from the Quran and the Sunnah (teachings and practices) of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). They are considered the most comprehensive and spiritually uplifting ways to praise, glorify, and supplicate to Allah.

What if I don't understand Arabic?

You can focus on listening attentively to the Imam during congregational prayers. Many pilgrims also carry translations of the Quran and Du'a books, allowing them to reflect on the meanings even if they cannot recite in Arabic.

Is it okay to recite in English?

While the obligatory prayers must be performed in Arabic, personal supplications (Du'a) can be made in any language. You can speak to Allah in your own words and in English, expressing your needs, gratitude, and requests.

What if I make a mistake in my recitation?

Allah is forgiving. The intention behind your actions is paramount. If you make a mistake, simply correct yourself if you realize it, or continue with your prayer or supplication with sincerity. Allah knows what is in your heart.