Please select wheather you would like to learn more about Umrah or Hajj.
What is Umrah?
As a respect of Kaaba Sharif (also called the Haram Sharif), whoever enters the Mikaat (the Haram area,
boundary of Makkah city which our prophet (peace be upon him) defined), for the first time or after a long
time, one must perform Umrah (told by our Prophet (PBUH). It is also advised to perform Umrah when you are
leaving the Haram area for good or for long time should also perform Umrah asking Allah so he may come back
to Allahs house again.
The Umrah is to wear Ihram, make Niyat of Umrah with 2 Rakat of Nafal prayer saying to Allah that I intend
to perform Umrah and then do 7 Tawaf (Walk around Kaba, starting from the corner of Hajre Aswad (the black
stone) and end at the same corner and then Make 7 Saee (Walk from the SAFA hill to MARWA Hill (1 Saee) and then
back to SAFA again which makes 2 Saee). Saee start from SAFA and end at MARWA. After finishing the Saee, men
should shave or trim their hair short and women cut few centimeters (little from one side and a little from
another side). The Umrah is complete and Ihram can be changed and wear normal cloths.
During Tawaf and Saee, there is no specific prayer, you can pray to Allah for anything.
The acts of faith performed by all pilgrims during their spiritual journey to the Holy Kaaba are
collectively known as Umrah.
Umrah is an Arabic word that means “to visit populated places”. Unlike Hajj it is not obligatory and is
performed voluntarily by Muslims to show their devotion towards Almighty Allah. The Prophet (PBUH) said:
“Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed (between it and the previous one). And the reward of Hajj Mabrur
(the one accepted by Allah) is nothing except Paradise.”
Umrah consists of four essential practices:
Ihram: Enter Ihram by washing your body and wearing Ihram and declare the intention to make the pilgrimage.
Tawaf: Enter Al Masjid Al Haram (Holy Mosque) and perform Tawaf – circling the Kaaba seven times in a counter
clockwise direction.
Sa’i: Perform Sa’i – walking 7 times between the hills of Safa and Marwah beside the Kaaba.
Taqseer/Halq: At the end of the Umrah, men exit from Ihram by shaving their head or shortening the hair. Completing
Umrah for women requires cutting off a short lock of hair.
Iharm
Prior to visiting the sacred boundary of Makkah, pilgrims are mandated to assume a state of Ihram, which is
the combined sacred act of Niyyah and Talbiyah necessary to perform Umrah. Niyyah is the innate intention to
perform an act of worship, while Talbiyah is a special prayer said in supplication.
Now, You should perform the following actions to ensure you are prepared to enter into the state of Ihram:
For Men, it is sandals and two sheets of white colour cloth.
For Women, it is their usual clothing and footwear, over which they wear the Hijab or Jilbab.
If you are travelling from outside: You can do the Ihram from home, at airport or in the plane (usually it is announced
in the plane about half an hour before approaching haram boundary area). You could do the Ihram either at Jeddah Airport or
go to one of the Miqat Station on your way to Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Ihram.
If you are inside Makkah boundary and want to perform Umrah, you go to one of the Miqat station and do your Ihram.
It’s Sunnah to perform two Rakahs of Salah before entering into the state of Ihram. This can be performed after getting
changed at the airport or in-flight before crossing the Miqat providing there are prayer facilities on-board. Observe the
prayer with the intention of performing two Rakahs Nafl for Ihram. Since you are not yet in the spiritual state of Ihram, the
prayer may be observed with the head covered.
"At Your service, Allah, at Your service. At Your service, You have no partner, at Your service. Truly all praise, favour
and sovereignty is Yours. You have no partner."
Tawaf
After assuming a state of Ihram, the Muhrim performs the obligatory act of Tawaf in the Al Masjid Al Haram.
The Muhrim must stop reciting the Talbiyah and start circumambulating the holy Kaaba seven times (as a reminder of the
angels that circumambulate the celestial realms of Allah’s house, al-Bayt al-Ma’mur).
They must circumambulate the Masjid Al Haram by starting from the Black Stone and completing it there at with the sincere
intention of seeking closeness to Allah.
Pilgrims can to Istilam (kiss or gesture towards the Black Stone), if he/she can during the circumambulations. Otherwise,
they can touch it with their right hand and start moving towards completing the seven anticlockwise circumambulations while
reciting du’aa with the holy Kaaba on their left, without any interruptions or distractions.
The last circumambulation ends exactly where the first one began, to ensure that the pilgrim completed all seven rounds
without moving or falling behind a single step or more. And with the seventh round of circumambulation and performance of eight
Istilam, the state of Tawaf concludes. At this point, men must cover their shoulders with the upper part of the Ihram sheet.
Upon completion of Tawaf, pilgrims can go behind Maqam Ibrahim (the station of Ibrahim) and perform Salat of Tawaf to offer
the two short rak’aa’s and thereafter drink the holy Zamzam water from Well of Zamzam in the basement of the Sacred Mosque while
supplicating to Allah.
After drinking Zamzam, pilgrims then proceed to the Multazam, a section of the holy Kaaba between the Black Stone and the
door of the Kaaba, to supplicate to Allah and offer du’aa.
Sa'i
Umrah pilgrims intending to make Sa’iy must make their way out of the Al Masjid Al Haram towards the Masaa’ (the place of
Sa’iy) which commemorates the struggle Prophet Abraham’s wife Hazarat Hajra went through to search for water for her son in
between the hills of Safa in the south and Marwah in the North. In essence, Sa’iy is a great way to spend some time on self-reflection
and self-realisation.
Pilgrims start Sa’iy by going up the hill of Safa to see the holy Kaaba from the Safa door. They must face the Kaaba with utmost
devotion and love, while raising their hands to supplicate to Allah. They must then descend from Safa and walk towards the hill of
Marwah while reciting the supplication Subhan Allah and keep moving until they reach two green pillars between which only the men
have to run through while the women walk at a normal pace.
When on top of Marwah, praise Allah facing the Kaaba and recite the supplication mentioning Allah.
The procedure continues with pilgrims going from Safa to Marwah and returning back to Safa, until they complete seven laps in
total. Each round is nearly 450m long. The seventh round will end at Marwah where all pilgrims must stand facing the Kaaba and repeat
the same supplications that were recited at Safa. Men must perform Sa’iy with their shoulders covered.
Offer two Raka of Nafl (at a desirable time) in the Al Masjid Al Haram and offer a du’aa.
Taqseer/Halq
Finally, the last step of your journey, shaving or clipping the hair. Men should get their head completely shaved, or get their
hair clipped. While women are forbidden to shave their heads and only allowed to have a lock or strand of their hair clipped. The act
of cutting the hair symbolizes one’s detachment from physical appearances and complete subjection to Allah.
All the prohibitions imposed on the conduct of pilgrims by Irham are lifted, upon completion of this last obligatory ritual. They
can then remove Ihram sheets and change into their regular clothes.
