The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced permission to perform Umrah for the season 1442 AH / 2021 AD, in several stages, which were suspended from the end of February 2020 until the first of October 2021, as a result of the outbreak of the new Coronavirus “Covid-19” globally.
Linguistically, Umrah is defined as a visit to a destination, and from an Islamic point of view, it is defined as worshiping ALLAH (SWT) – by circumambulating the House of KABBA, running between Safa and Marwa, and shaving or shortening the hair. It must be noted that Umrah has great merit; It is an expiation for sins, and the As the Messenger of God, peace be upon Him Said :
(The Umrah to the Umrah is an expiation for what is between them, and an accepted Hajj has no reward except Paradise)
In order to facilitate the pilgrims who are want to go for the first time and to remind those who have already performed it before, Almuslim Travel reviews how to perform the rites of Umrah step by step.
The Rituals of Umrah Include 4 Main Steps:
1- Ihram
2- Tawaf
3- Sa’i between Safa and Marwah
4- Shaving the Head/Shortening Hair
1- Ihram:
Ihram essentially formalizes the ‘intention’ to perform Umrah. In order to put on ihram, one has to change his clothes and take a shower (ghusl), which represents washing everything that spoils his purity.
Men can wear two pieces of cloth, Rida, and Izar, while women can wear any outfit that covers their head and body. It is also recommended for women who have menstruation or who experience postpartum bleeding to perform ghusl.
After this cleansing, the obligatory prayers or the sunnah two-Rakat ihram prayers are also performed. Once these are done, one must officially enter ihram by turning to Qibla – before leaving the current location to go to the Miqat place in Mecca. It is strictly forbidden to use perfumes or perfumed products while in Ihram.
After making the intention for Umrah in Miqat, the following is read:
لَـبَّـيْكَ ٱللّـهُـمَّ بِعُمْرَة –
“Labbayk Allahumma bi Umrah”
(I came to your service, O Allah, for Umrah)
After that, Talbiyyah is brought in line with the Sunnah:
“ لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ لَبَّيْكَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ ”
“Labbayk Allahumma labbeyk, labbayke la sherike la lebbeyk. İnnel hamde wal-ni’mete luke wal-mulk, la şerikelek.”
(Here, my God, I came! I followed your decree. You have no partner. Surely, praise, blessing, and property belong to you. You have no partner.)”
It is recommended to recite Talbiyah after entering the Ihram and continue this until circumambulating the Kaaba.
2- Tawaf (Circumambulating the Kaaba)
It is recommended to take bath before entering into Kabba Mosque, if possible as Prophet (ﷺ) would perform ghusl before entering it. Enter the Masjid al-Haram with the right foot and read the following prayer:
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ سَلِّم، اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِك
Allahummasalli `ala muhammad wasallim – Allahumma aftahlee abwāba
[O Allah, send prayers and peace upon Muhammad. O Allah, open the doors of your Mercy for me]
After touching Hajr e Aswad in the corner of the Kaaba, circumambulation begins by saying “ “bismillāhi, Allāhu Akbar”. Ideally, we should touch the stone with the right hand and then kissed. If the person cannot kiss the stone directly, then he can touch it with his hand and kiss it with his hand. Touching Hajr e Aswad is very virtuous.
If a person cannot even touch the stone with his hand, he should turn his face to the side of the stone and say “Allah-u Akbar”. Then the circumambulation begins – the Kaaba is taken to the left and it is turned around the Kaaba.
It is necessary to be careful not to touch the cover of the Kaaba during circumambulation because perfume can be used on the cover and touching this cover may cause the perfume to rub on you. In this case, the Ihram is invalid.
During circumambulation, men’s right shoulder and right arm should be left uncovered. Muslims also know it as “ Iztiba” . Iztiba is to pass one end of the “rida” under the right armpit and take it over the left shoulder.
In addition, men must practice ‘remel’, which means walking fast with small steps during the first three rounds of circumambulation. In the remaining round, men can walk normally. While performing tawaf, between the Yemeni Corner and Black Stone, one should recite:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَ فِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَ قِنَا عَذَابَ النَّار
After circumambulating around the Kaaba seven times, we go to Maqam-i Ibrahim and recite the following verse:
وَاتَّخِذُوْا مِنْ مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ مُصَلًّى
“Wattakhidhoo min-maqāmi ibrāheema musallā”
“Take a place of prayer from Abraham’s station (pray there)” (Qur’an 2:125)
Afterward, two rak’ahs of prayer must be performed behind the Maqam of Ibrahim. If it is difficult to do this, you can pray anywhere in the mosque. In the first rak’ah, Sorrah “ Kafiroon (109)”, and in the second rak’ah, Soorah “Al-Ikhlas (112) “ are recited. After the prayer, return to Hajr e Aswad and touch it if possible.
3- Sa’i between Safa and Marwah
Afterwards, we go towards Sa’y and while approaching the verge of Mount Safa, recite the following verse:
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ ۖ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا ۚ وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيم
“Indeed, Safa and Marwah are among the signs of Allah. So whoever performs Hajj to the House or performs Umrah – there is no sin upon him for walking between them. And whoever volunteers good – then indeed, Allah is appreciative and Knowing. [Surah al-Baqarah, 2:158].”
And
نَبْدَأُ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللهُ بِهِ
“Ebde’u bima bede’e Allahu bihi”
“I shall start with what ALLAH started with”
Afterwards, one must climb the Safa hill, where the Kaaba is visible. Return to the Kaaba, raise the hands and pray to Allah. Here, the person is free to pray as he wishes. According to one hadith, Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite the following prayer:
اللَّهُ ُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَ يُمِيْتُ وَ هُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْر؛ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَه، أَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ وَ نَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ وَ هَزَمَ الأَحْزَابَ وَ حْدَهُ
(Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, there is no god but Allah, He is One, He has no partners, His is the dominion, His praise belongs to Him and He has power over all things. There is no god but Allah; Allah kept His promise, helped His servant, and in groups He alone devastated his attacking enemy).” (Muslim, as-Sahih, “Hajj,” 76 – 428)
The above should be repeated three times in the form of Zikr, prayer, Zikr, prayer. Then it descends towards mount Marwa and the men run between the green lights. The distance between Safa and Marwa is marked by two green marksmen who must run to the second mark and climb the hill after walking normally towards the Marwa hill.
There, one turns to Qibla and repeats what is read in Safa. After that, it is necessary to descend from the hill again and proceed towards Safa. After reaching Safa, the things done for the first time are repeated, and return to Marwa to complete seven tours (one tour is to go from Safa to Marwa).
4) Shaving the Head/Shortening Hair
Finally, after the seven rounds have been completed, the hair must be trimmed. Men should shave their heads or cut their hair evenly. It is sufficient for women to cut their hair at fingertip length.
Umrah is officially completed with the fulfillment of this sunnah.
We hope this article will be a useful resource for those who are considering going for Umrah in the near future. May Allah (SWT) accept your prayers and good deeds. Ameen.
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