How to prepare for the Hajj trip:

These things should be done before traveling to the Hajj:

1. Repentance, by asking for Allah's forgiveness and repenting from all sins.
2. To do justice and return whatever one owes to others.
3. To prepare the expenses of the Hajj from lawful resources.
4. To seek a good companion who helps the pilgrim in charity and good deeds.
5. To promise one's self the following:

• Never to commit sins.
• To give much reverence to the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad, (peace be upon him).
• To sincerely dedicate the Hajj for Allah with the intention of pleasing Him.
• To devote oneself to the worship of Allah.
• Not to argue, quarrel, fight or occupy one's mind with other people.

Recommended travel acts and invocations:

• It is a Sunnah for the pilgrim to say farewell to his family, relatives and friends before he sets off on his journey.
• He says to those he leaves behind: (I leave you in the trust of Allah whose trust is never misplaced).
• While the resident answers by telling the pilgrim: (I place your religion, your faithfulness and the ends of your deeds in the trust of Allah, proceed with Allah's care and protection! May Allah endow you with piety, forgive your sins and facilitate all good for you wherever you are).
• Before departure, it is advisable for the pilgrim to pray two rak'ahs Sunnah of travel. In the first rak'ah he recites (Surah Al-Kafirun) and in the second rak'ah he recites (Surah Al-Ikhlas), after reciting (Al-Fatiha).
• After finishing the prayer he recites: (Ayat Al Kursi).
• When the pilgrim leaves home he says:
  (In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, There is no might nor power except with Allah. O Allah! I take refuge with You lest I should stray or be led astray, or lapse from virtue myself or by others, or oppress or be oppressed, or behave foolishly or be treated foolishly.)
• The pilgrim recites Al Takbir three times saying: (Allahu Akbar) then says: (How perfect He is, The One Who has placed this (transport) at our service, and we ourselves would not have been capable of that, and to our Lord is our final destiny. O Allah, we ask You for virtue and piety in this journey of ours, and we ask You for deeds which please You. O Allah, facilitate our journey and let us cover its distance quickly. O Allah, You are The Companion on the journey and The Successor over the family, O Allah, I take refuge with You from the difficulties of travel, from having a change of hearts and being in a bad predicament, and I take refuge in You from an ill fated outcome with wealth and family).
• Then he recites Ayat Al-Kursi, Surah Al-Ikhlas and Al-Mou'awithatin (Surah Al-Falak and Surah An-Nas).