How To Perform Umrah (Simple Guide)

Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage which means to visit and it’s an act of worship in Islam, that’s based on the commandment of Allah (swt) and the teaching of the His final Messenger (Pbuh).

The pilgrimage is a trip to makkah and can be performed every time of the year. It’s well-known as a ‘minor pilgrimage’ in comparison to the ‘major pilgrimage’ of Hajj. Though, it possesses enormous worth and high merit in the eyes of Allah (swt).

The Umrah consists of four essential pillars:

1. The Ihram

Ihram is basically making the proper ‘intention’ of performing the Umrah. In order to go into the fold of Ihram, one must change garments and perform the ritual bath (ghusl) which illustrates an act of purifying one’s body from all impurities.

Men dress into the two cloths, Ridaa and Izaar, while women can put on any form of garments which cover up the body and head. Women who are menstruating or going through the flow of blood are also recommended to perform ghusl.

After the cleansing, the person must perform the compulsory salat or offer two Naafil salat (Sunnah prayer). After that, the person is ought to face the direction of the Qibla and is allowed to enter Ihram – the person must go into Ihram ahead of he/she left for the Meeqat in Makkah. It’s prohibited for both men and women to use perfume while in Ihram.

At the Meeqat, the pilgrim must make the intention and recite the words:

“Labbayk Allaahumma bi ‘Umrah”
(Here I am, O Allah, for ‘Umrah)

After this, the person should recite the Talbiyah, in accordance with the Sunnah:

 “Labbayka Allaahumma labbayk, labbayka laa shareeka laka labbayk. Inna al-hamd wa’l-ni’mata laka wa’l-mulk, laa shareeka lak”

(Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Verily all praise and blessings are Yours, and all sovereignty, You have no partner).”

It is recommended that the person should keep reciting the Talbiyah from the instant he/she steps into Ihram until he/she reaches the time to perform Tawaaf.

2. Tawaaf (Circumambulation Of The Ka’bah)

It’s obligatory on the pilgrim to enter Masjid al-Haram, with his/her right foot and recite this following prayer:

“Bismillaah wa’l-salaatu wa’l-salaam ‘ala Rasool-Allaah. Allaahumma ighfir li dhunoobi waftah li abwaab rahmatika. A’oodhu Billaah il-‘Azeem wa bi wajhih il-kareem wa bi sultaanih il-‘qadeem min al-Shaytaan il-rajeem”

(In the name of Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, forgive me my sins and open to me the gates of Your mercy. I seek refuge with Allah the Almighty and in His noble Countenance and His eternal power from the accursed Satan).”

The pilgrim may go ahead and touch the Black Stone (Hajr e Aswad) and then start the Tawaaf. Preferably, the pilgrim is supposed to touch the black stone with his right hand and then kiss it. If a person is not capable to kiss it due to the crowd, the person can tap it with his/her hand and then kiss his/her hand. There is a vast benefit in touching the Black Stone.

The pilgrim commences the Tawaaf – circumambulating the Ka’bah, with the Ka’bah being on their left. One has to be careful of not touching the fabric of the Ka’bah during Tawaaf because the fabric contains perfume and touching it might possibly wipe a few of the perfume onto you nullifying your the state of Ihram.

It’s obligatory for men to uncover their right shoulder during the Tawaaf, which is known as Idtibaa. This is done by placing the Ridaa under the right armpit and placing it up on the left shoulder.

Furthermore, the men must perform ‘raml’ in the first three circles of Tawaaf, which is basically walking fast while taking little steps. For the rest of the rounds, they can begin to walk in their usual place.

Ahead of finishing the seven rounds of Tawaaf, the pilgrim has to then go to the location of Ibrahim (Maqaam e Ibrahim) and recite the following verse from the Quran:

“And take you (people) the Maqaam (place) of Ibraaheem (Abraham) [or the stone on which Ibraaheem (Abraham) stood while he was building the Ka’bah] as a place of prayer (for some of your prayers, e.g. two Rak‘at after the Tawaaf of the Ka’bah at Makkah)” (Surah Baqarah:125)

Two rakaat of prayer should be performed behind Maqaam e Ibrahim. If that is hard for the pilgrim, the pilgrim can offer the salat in any corner of the mosque. Through the first rakaat, recite Surah Al-Kafirun and for the second rakaat, recite Surah Al-Ikhlaas. Upon performing the prayer, the person should go back to the Black Stone and touch it if possible.

3. Saa’i Between Safa And Marwah

The pilgrim should head to Saa’I (massa) and when he/she gets closer to the hill of Safa, then recite the following verses:

“Verily, As-Safa and Al-Marwah (two mountains in Mecca) are of the Symbols of Allah” (Surah Baqarah:158)

And

“Nabda’u bima bada’a Allaah bihi”

(We start with that with which Allah started)

The pilgrim must then mount up on the Safa hill to the peak from where the Ka’bah is able to be seen. He/she should face or look towards the Ka’bah, lift up his/her hand and pray to Allah (swt). The pierson is bound to make whatsoever dua he/she desires. According to an authentic narration of the Prophet (Pbuh) the following dua should be recited as praise:

“Laa ilaaha ill-Allah wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahu’l-mulk, wa lahu’l-hamd, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer. Laa ilaaha ill-Allah wahdah, anjaza wa’dah, wa nasara ‘abdah, wa hazamaa al-ahzaaba wahdah”

(There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner or associate; His is the Dominion, all praise is due to Him, and He is able to do all things. There is no god but Allah alone; he fulfilled His promise, granted victory to His slave, and defeated the confederates alone).” (Sahih Muslim, 1218)

The above dua should be recited three times; do dhikr, supplicate, do dhikr, supplicate (and so on). Then the pilgrim should move down to Marwah and the men are to sprint between the green lights.

The distance is indicated by two green indicator – the men should run till the second marker and then walk up as usual to the hill of Marwah and climb up.

Upon mounting the hill, the pilgrim must look towards the Qibla and recite what he/she said at Safa. Following that, the pilgrim must come down again and move to towards Safa.

Upon getting to Safa, recite again the first dua and repeat the same when he/she goes back to Marwah for seven circuits (One circuit is from Safa to Marwah).

4. Shaving/Trimming of Hair

Lastly, after the end of the seven circuits, the pilgrim is mandatory to cut his/her hair. Men are needed to cut off their hair on their full head equally. Women are also expected to cut their hair equal to the measurement of a fingertip.

With this last act, the pilgrim officially completes his/her Umrah.

Allah knows best