What Are Umrah Rituals? How to Perform Them Step-by-Step?
Umrah is a minor journey in Islam that is not obligatory but is Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad PBUH. This practice is deeply rooted in Muslim’s hearts due to its significant blessings. Muslims travel to Mecca and Medina to perform the rituals of Umrah with pure Intention. Muslim pilgrims wear the Ihram and set pure intentions to offer the rituals of Umrah in the two sacred cities of Saudi Arabia. Unlike the Hajj pilgrimage, it has no specific dates. But pilgrims can perform according to their suitable schedule.
Pilgrims take a sequence of steps to express devotion, proposal, and love to Allah Almighty, and these steps are known as Umrah rituals. The trip is based on self discipline and dedication to gain spiritual purification. There is a proper way to perform all rituals of Umrah, and each step is elaborative in Sunnah. The Holy Prophet Muhammad PBUH has taught us all rituals by his practical example of performing Umrah. Islamic travel offers the best opportunity to learn all the rules and regulations of performing Umrah in the right way.
When you are planning to perform Umrah and looking for the best guides who can teach you the right way to perform Umrah rituals step-by-step. Then you should choose Umrah Packages from UK by Islamic Travel, which includes all amenities with the assistance of the best guides and guidelines to make sure that you are performing Umrah in the right manner.
Perform Rituals of Umrah step by step:
Islamic Travel’s team of Umrah Experts will guide you about the rituals step-by-step, which are mentioned below:
Pure Intention (Niyyah):
Niyyah is a pre-umrah preparation that Muslims make to declare the purpose of performing Umrah and showing submission to Allah SWT. Niyyah intends to offer Umrah in the heart. And it is Spiritual readiness and purification of intentions that act as a pillar for the preparation of Umrah. The worth of any task depends on the intention determined before performing the task. It is recommended to make an intention at the boundary of Meeqat before entering Mecca. Niyyah is a manifestation of the pure purpose of seeking readiness to perform this sacred worship.
Pure intention is very crucial in performing Umrah, and it plays a pivotal role in all processes of Umrah. Similarly, an Umrah visa is also very crucial in performing the pilgrimage. It offers validation and proof of sacred purpose to your travel. Hence, make sure to start your journey of Umrah with pure intention and a valid Umrah visa. Islamic Travel assists their Umrah clients in getting an Umrah visa if they book the Umrah package from them.
Perform ritual Ghusl:
Muslim pilgrims should perform ritual baths before entering the Ihram. Ghusl is basically Personal hygiene, including trimming nails and shaving armpits and pubic hair, that is encouraged for the readiness of Umrah. Ghusl is complete ablution for the whole body with pure intention to make yourself ready for Umrah.
- Start with Bismillah
- Wash your hands three times
- Wash your private parts completely and remove save armpit and pubic hair
- Perform Wadu
- Pour water on your entire body (starting from the head, then the right side, followed by the left side)
Two Rakkah prayers before leaving Home for Umrah
Muslim pilgrims should perform two Rakkah prayers before leaving their homes for Umrah. This is the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH and He has practiced this ritual in a certain way. Hence, Muslims should also follow their leader and recite Surah Al Kafiron in the first rakat and Surah al Ikhlas in the second rakat.
Entering Ihram
Entering the Ihram is the foremost obligation for the preparation of Umrah. A specific state of attire in which certain conditions are applied. And Pilgrims must wear Ihram before reaching Meeqat. After crossing this boundary, every pilgrim should be in Ihram for the preparation of Umrah. Wearing the Ihram imposes some lawful and unlawful conditions for Muslim pilgrims.
Men’s and women’s Ihram are different in stitching as well as style of wearing. Such as men wear two pieces of unstitched white clothes. Ihram for men consists of two pieces of cloth. Pilgrims should follow a way to wear the Ihram, such as unfolding one of the clothes known as Izhar for the lower body. And another piece of cloth known as Rida. Women can wear stitched pieces of the Ihram and should cover all body parts except the face, hands, and feet. Women should wear loose-fitted and stitched clothes in the Ihram. Usually, women wear Abaya as Ihram.
Meeqat
Meeqat is a designated boundary of Mecca that pilgrims can only cross in the state of Ihram. It is a state of purity preceding Mecca for performing Umrah. There are 5 Meeqat places from different entries to Mecca.
- Dhul Hulayfah: This Meeqat is distance 450 KM from Mecca and 9 KM from Medina.
- Al Juhfa: This Meeqat is 190 kilometers northwest of Mecca. This is Meeqat for pilgrims travelling from Syria.
- Wadi Al Aqiq: This Meeqat is near Medina.
- Quran Al Manazil: This Meeqat is a hilly place about 90 kilometers to the east of Mecca. This is the meeqat for pilgrims from Nejd.
- Yalamlam: This Meeqat is a hilly area about 50 kilometers southeast of Mecca. This is Meeqat for the people of Yemen and others coming from that direction. It is a Meeqat for many pilgrims coming from China, Japan, India, and Pakistan. They travel by ship and airplane from distant places.
Performing Tawaf
Pilgrims go around the Holy Kaaba in an anticlockwise direction and starting this circumambulation from Hajr-e-Aswad seven times knows as Tawaf. It is an obligatory act of Umrah that shows the unity of all Muslims who circumambulate around the Holy Kaaba. Tawaf indicates reverence and deep respect for the Holy Kaaba. It includes certain steps to attain the execution of the Tawaf, including entering the sacred mosque, starting the Tawaf, and circling seven times around the mosque. The first three rounds should be completed in a brisk walk known as Ramal. The final four rounds are performed in normal walking. Muslim pilgrims should be in Mecca to perform Tawaf. Muslims say Talbiyah (specific Dua) after starting the first round and stop recitation once they reach the black stone.
- Make intention in front of the Hajr-e-Aswad before starting Tawaf
- Keep the right shoulder exposed (Ramal) for men.
- Supplicate between Rukn Yamani and the Black Stone.
- Men uncover their right shoulder during Tawaf is known as Idtiba’a.
Offer Istilam
Istilam is an act of kissing and touching of Hajr-e-Aswad. It is an act to offer tribute to that sacred stone that landed from Jannat. Believers consider it an Honor to touch or kiss this stone. Pilgrims try to touch and kiss the Kaaba. But if it is not possible to reach it, you can point your palms towards the Aswad from a distance and kiss them. This act is known as Istilam.
Hateem
Hateem is a crescent-shaped and semicircular wall situated in the Kaaba. It is also known as Hijr-e-Ismail. It is a short wall made of white marble. Pilgrims are not allowed to perform Tawaf within the area of the Haram.
Maqam Ibrahim
Maqam Ibrahim is a small glass enclosure near the Kaaba; it has footprints of Hazrat Ibrahim A.S. At this point, Muslims offer prayer, constituting two Rakkah. According to the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet PBUH, pilgrims offer Surah Kafiron in the first Rakkah after Surah Fateha. Whereas they offer Surah Ikhlas in the second Rakkah after Surah Fatiha.
ZamZam Water
During the Umrah rituals, Muslim pilgrims also drink ZamZam. Drinking ZamZam holds significant importance for its spiritual benefits. Muslims should drink ZamZam with their right hand by saying Bismillah it’s a Sunnah of our Prophet PBUH.
Offering Sa’i (walking between two mountains)
Sa’i is an obligatory act performed in remembrance of Hazrat Hajra’s search for water for his son (Hazrat Ismail A.S.). It is running between two historically famous mountains named Safa and Marwa. This act shows perseverance, hope, faith, and trust on Allah Almighty. It starts from Safa, walks between these mountains seven times, and asks specific Duas.
- Start at Safa: This sacred walk starts from a mountain named Safa, a mountain located in Mecca. It is significant for the incident of Hazrat Hajra and his son Hazrat Ismail.
- Walk Seven Times: People repeat this sacred walk seven times between Safa and Marwa. The distance between Safa Marwa is about 450 meters.
- Specific Duas: This ritual, back and forth walking, endures Specific duas and repentance words. Pilgrims offer this Dua at Safa.
“Innas-Safa wal-Marwata min sha’a’irillah, abda’u bima bada’allahu bihi”
Translation:
(Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah. I begin with what Allah began with)
Halq (shaving or cutting of hair)
This act of hair shaving during Umrah varies for men and women. The purpose of this act is to beseech the mercy of Allah SWT, as the Holy Prophet prayed for it. Male pilgrims are required to shave their full head for the first time and trim their head for the next time in this act of Halq. Women pilgrims can trim their hair.