Complete Guide on Performing Umrah
Have you’ve decided to go for Umrah this year? That’s awesome!
Remember, you’re one of the lucky ones chosen by Allah for this honor, so don’t take it for granted. Give thanks to Allah for giving you this opportunity and making it possible for you to go. Now that you’re ready to go, it’s time to get prepared for the journey of a lifetime. To make sure you get the most out of your Umrah, it’s important to understand the proper way to do it. And that’s where this step-by-step guide comes in. It consists of all the information you need to know before heading to Mecca for your spiritual journey. So, don’t wait and check it out!
1. Ihram
One of the cool things about Ihram is that it makes everyone equal. Rich or poor, it doesn’t matter, everyone wears the same clothes. But, keep in mind, Ihram also comes with some restrictions you should be aware of before you go:
- Men can’t shave or cut their nails
- Men should avoid wearing clothes with stitching or weaving. On the other hand, for women, fully white or black clothing that fully covers their body except their face and hands is their Ihram. They can wear stitched clothes during Umrah or Hajj.
- Women should keep their bodies covered except their face and hands.
- No scent allowed, including perfumes, deodorants, aftershaves, and scented soaps. You’ll be provided with unscented soaps to use during your trip.
- Sexual activity is a no-no
- Pilgrims are not allowed to hunt animals or cut plants or trees.
When traveling by air, it’s important to enter the state of Ihram before crossing the Meeqat that applies to you. If you’re on Saudi Airlines, they’ll make an announcement about the Meeqat at the appropriate time before reaching Makkah. It’s advisable to wear Ihram clothes at home and delay the niyyah until you’re close to the Meeqat while on the airplane. Perform ghusl or wudhu before putting on Ihram clothing, then recite Talbiyah when you’re close to your applicable Meeqat. After reciting Talbiyah, you’ve entered the state of Ihram and are a Muhrim.
2. Tawaf Al-Umrah
Preparation
To perform Tawaf, you must be in a state of wudhu, with no impurities. If your wudhu ends during Tawaf, perform ablution again and continue from where you left off. Wear Ihram clothing, which should be clean and pure. Men should cover their body between the navel and knees and women should cover their entire body except for their hands and face.
Starting point
To perform Tawaf, observe Idtiba by passing the upper sheet of Ihram under your right armpit. Start Tawaf at the corner of Kaaba where Hajr Al-Aswad is positioned, make niyyah and recite
“Bimillahi Wallahu Akbar, Allahumma Imanan bika wa tasdiqan bika kitabika wa wafa’an bi ahdika wattaba’an li sunnati nabiyyika Muhammad (Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam).”
Begin Tawaf by heading to your right, walk quickly in the first three rounds and avoid eating, drinking, or talking during Tawaf. Perform Tawaf with humbleness and respect for the Kaaba.
Dua to read during Tawaf
Recite supplications and duas during Tawaf for acceptance. Memorize and recite Arabic Sunnah duas and understand the meaning. The best dua to recite between Yamani corner and Hajr Al-Aswad is
“Rabbana Atina Fid Dunya Hasanah, wa fil akhirati hasanah, wa qina Azab annar” (O Lord, grant us the best in the world and the next world, and protect us from hellfire). Complete each round by kissing, touching, or saluting the black stone (Hajr Al-Aswad) also known as Istilam.”
Salah Al-Tawaf
After Tawaf perform two Rak’ah of Salah after completing Tawaf, ideally near Maqam-e-Ibrahim but it can be done anywhere in the Masjid if it is not possible.
Zamzam
After completing Tawaf, perform two Rakahs of Salah and head to Zamzam well to drink water and make supplications. One recommended dua after drinking the water is
“Allahumma Inni As’aluka ‘ilman nafi’an, wa rizqan wasi’an, wa ‘amalan mutaqabbalan, wa shifa’an min kulli da’.”
3. Sa’ee
Perform Sa’ee by walking between Safa and Marwah hills seven times. Start by reciting when approaching the Safa hill “Inna s-safa wa l-marwata min sha’a’iri llah (i)”, then “Abda’u bima bad’allahu bih“. Upon reaching the Safa hill, recite “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillahi l-hamd“. When walking towards Marwah, men should run, and women should walk at a normal pace between the two sets of green fluorescent lights. Recite any supplications or duas you wish. Perform two rak’ahs of Salah after completing Sa’ee
4. Halq or Taqsir
To end the state of Ihram, you must perform Halq (shaving of the head) or Taqsir (trimming of hair). Men should shave their heads or trim hair to a length of a fingertip from all sides. Women should trim a fingertip length from the end of their hair. If you don’t have hair, just run a razor over your head to complete the ritual. Note that women are not allowed to perform Halq.
5. Ending Ihram
You have now finished your Umrah, Congrats! As you exit the state of Ihram, you can now change into regular clothes and resume activities that were previously restricted during Ihram, such as using perfume and cutting nails. However, if your Umrah is part of Hajj, sexual activity will remain forbidden until Tawaf al-Ziyarah. Remember to give thanks to Allah and seek forgiveness for any mistakes made during your Umrah.