Umrah: A Comprehensive Guide for All

What is Umrah?

The definition of Umrah is the holy pilgrimage of Muslims through a trip to Mecca. Each year millions of Muslims travel from all around the world to visit the sacred place of Mecca. Muslims must understand Umrah's meaning and its significance along with many other interesting related facts. This blog will provide complete information and step-by-step Umrah guidance for you. 

Meaning of umrah

The word, “Umrah” comes from the Arabic word “Umrah” meaning,“ to visit a place having lots of people”. People often ask by saying, “What is Umrah?”. According to the definition of Umrah, it is a pilgrimage journey to Mecca.

Background of Umrah

According to Islamic historians, Allah instructed Prophet Adam to build the Kaaba.  So, he was the first person to do the first Umrah. Prophet Ibrahim along with his son Ismail, reconstructed the Kaaba. In his time, Kaaba becomes a central point of monotheistic worship. Hagar’s search for water was a significant moment. In the era of Moses, Kaaba was respected among his followers. In the era of Prophet Solomon, Kaaba was a holy site. The Muslims were able to do Umrah after the conquest of Makkah. The control of Mecca was in the hands of Muslims. The Holy Prophet forgave the idolaters. The rituals and practices of Umrah were codified by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Difference between Umrah and Hajj

Umrah and hajj have great differences.  Umrah is not performed at any specific time. Hajj is only performed in the month of Zul-Hajj. Umrah is a small pilgrimage. Hajj is a long pilgrimage comprising a month. The clear differences between Umrah and Hajj are given below:

Umrah Steps

This step-by-step Umrah guide will discuss the Umrah steps in detail. 

Ihram

Ihram is a special sacred state a Muslim must enter to perform Umrah. Entering the state of Umrah requires niyyah, Pilgrims enter the state of Ihram for Umrah by visiting Meqat. A pilgrim has to wear a special Umrah dress for ihram. Men wear two long towels. Females wear modest abayas.

Tawaf

Pilgrims enter the Masjid-Al-Haram to do tawaf. They perform tawaf by circling seven times in an anticlockwise direction around the Kaaba. They continue to recite Umrah duas including Talbiyah during this phase. Must recite this dua when you see the Kaaba for the first time. 

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِىْ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِىْ الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَّقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّار

“Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”

Sa’i

Pilgrims walk seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah. They continue to recite comprehensive Umrah duas and Talbiyah. When you start Sa’i, recite the following dua. It is very special for Sa’i.

 سبحان الله والحمد لله، ولا إله إلا الله والله أكبر. لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله.

Upon reaching the mount of Marwah, pilgrims have to recite this dua three times: 

الله أكبر الله أكبر، الله أكبر، لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد، وهو على كل شيء قدير. لا إله إلا الله وحده أنجز وعده، ونصر عبده، وهزم الأحزاب وحده

Head shaving or trimming of hair

This is the last step of Umrah. Men have to shave their heads. Women have to trim their hair. Pilgrims come out of the condition of ihram after halq or taqsir. 

Steps of Hajj

Hajj is different from Umrah. Hajj has more components as compared to Umrah. These steps are discussed below:

Ihram

The ihram for hajj is similar to the ihram for Umrah. Pilgrims enter the state of ihram at Meqat. 

Tawaf-Al-Qudum

Tawaf-Al-Qadum is the initial tawaf out of the three tawafs of the hajj. All pilgrims of Hajj have to perform this tawaf after entering the haram of Makkah.

Sa’i

Sa’i of hajj is quite similar to the Sa’i of Umrah. Pilgrims of Hajj do Sa’i between the mounts of Safa and Marwah. They keep reciting the Sa’i duas and seek the mercy of Allah.

Stay at Mina

Pilgrims travel to Mina after Sa’i. they set up their tents with basic commodities. They stay there overnight. They prepare themselves for the main rituals of hajj. Pilgrims perform their regular five times prayers. They continue to recite the Quran and indulge themselves in doing duas.

Day of Arafat

Pilgrims depart from Mina to the plains of Arafat. They perform all their prayers in Arafat. They stand in prayer on the plain of Arafat. They continue to pray duas for seeking the blessings of Allah Almighty.

Muzdalifah

Pilgrims travel to Muzdalifah after waquf at Arafat. They reach Muzdaliffah and pray their Maghrib and Isha prayers. The pilgrims collect pebbles for Rami. 49 pebbles are collected for Hajj-Al-Tamattu and Hajj-Al-Ifrad. 70 pebbles are collected for Hajj-Al-Qiran. They pray for Fajr and leave for Mina.

Ramy-Al-Jamarat

Pilgrims throw pebbles at three pillars in Mina. these pillars are known as Jamarat. The smallest pillar is known as Jamarat al Sughra. The middle pillar is known as Jamarat al Wusta. The largest pillar is known as Jamarat al Aqaba. On the tenth Zilhajj, pilgrims only stone Jamarat al Aqaba seven times. On the 11th, 12th, and 13th Zilhajj, pilgrims stone all the three pillars of Jamarat..

Qurbani

On the tenth Dhul-Hijjah, Pilgrims perform the ritual sacrifice of an animal (usually a sheep, goat, cow, or camel). Pilgrims do sacrifice after stonning Jamarat-Al-Aqabah (the largest pillar). It commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim’s sacrifice of his son, Ismail.

Removal of hair

Similar to Umrah, Muslim men shave their hair or cut a portion of their hair. Women trim a small portion of their hair. This act symbolizes purification and the partial end of the state of Ihram.

Tawaf-Al-Ifadah

Pilgrims return to Makkah to perform Tawaf-Al-Ifadah. They perform another tawaf known as the tawaf of hajj. They move around the Kaaba seven times in an anti-clockwise direction. After Tawaf-AL-Ifadah, they perform two rakahs of prayer behind the Kabba. Then Pilgrims do Sa’i.

Pilgrims Do Sa’i

After Tawaf-Al-Ifadah, Muslims perform Sa’i. pilgrims start Sa’i by making an intention. Then they face themselves toward the Kaaba and start Sa’i from Mount Safa. pilgrims walk from Safa to Marwah seven times. They cover a distance of 450 meters. Pilgrims run between the portions of Milain Akhdarain.

Stay in Mina

Pilgrims stay at Mina for a few days. They perform the ritual of Ramy-Al-Jamarat. All three Jamarat are stoned seven times. This act symbolizes the act of rejection of evil. Pilgrims pray and fast during “Ayam-e-Tashreeq”. They keep themselves busy with regular prayers and Quran recitation.

Tawaf-Al-Wada

Tawaf-Al-Wada is also known as Farewell Tawaf. It is an essential part of Hajj. pilgrims do this tawaf before leaving the Holy City of Makkah. During tawaf, pilgrims recite prayers, supplications, and verses from the Quran. Pilgrims seek forgiveness and blessings from Allah.

Key differences in Umrah Clothing of men and women

The word Ihram means “ making forbidden”. The Umrah dress is different for male and female pilgrims. The ihram for Umrah includes two white clothes for male pilgrims. Pilgrim women usually wear an abaya for ihram.

Ihram for men

• Men wear Umrah dress comprising of two pieces of unstitched white cloth
• One is known as “Rida” and other “Izar”
• Rida is for covering shoulders and upper body
• Izar for below the waist extending to ankles
• Slippers must be open and unsewn

Ihram for women

• Women’s Ihram for Umrah should be a modest dress
• It must cover the entire body
• Should be a loose-fitting and full-length abaya
• Scarf needs to be worn for covering the head
• Unsewn Slippers but fully covering their feet 

How to Perform Umrah

People often think, what is Umrah and its parts? The definition of Umrah makes it clear that Umrah is a visit to Masjid-Al-Haram for religious worship. There are four components of Umrah. Firstly Muslims wear Ihram from Miqaat. They do Tawaf in seven circles around the Kaaba. Then they perform Saee in seven rounds. Then pilgrims remove or cut their hair.

Components of Umrah

The pilgrims have to follow the four Umrah steps for performing their Umrah. 

Wear Ihram

Pilgrims are required to wear Ihram and do niyah of the Umrah. Recite Talbiyah as many times as you can. The text is given below: 

لَبَّيْكَ اَللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ – لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ – إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ – لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ.

Do Tawaf With Seven Rounds 

Tawaf is an essential part of Umrah. People circumvent the Kaaba in seven rounds. Pilgrims continue to seek Allah’s blessings through Umrah duas in every round. After completing the seven circles, people pray two rakas of prayer. Then, Muslims drink Zamzam and Thank Allah Almighty.

Move to Maqam-e-Ibrahim for Prayer

In Umrah, pilgrims visit Maqam-e-Ibrahim. This shrine includes the footprint of the Prophet Ibrahim (AS). It describes the Prophet Ibrahim’s hard work while building the Kaaba. 

Do Saee Seven Times

Sa’i is the act of running or walking between the hillocks of Safa and Marwah during Umrah. Every round represents the Hagar’s quest for food and shelter for her son Ismail (AS). During Saee, the pilgrims read Umrah duas.

Shorten Your Hair

It is the last step of Umrah. The pilgrims shave or cut their hair. Muslim women trim or cut a small portion of their hair. Then pilgrims say goodbye to the Kaaba. They leave the sacred mosque with the chance of performing Umrah again.

Benefits of Umrah

Umrah has various spiritual and physical benefits for pilgrims. Umrah is a healthy trip to Mecca for pilgrims. It is a highly beneficial activity for the Muslims. As it is clear from the following hadith: 

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ الْعُمْرَةُ إِلَى الْعُمْرَةِ كَفَّارَةٌ لِمَا بَيْنَهُمَا، وَالْحَجُّ الْمَبْرُورُ لَيْسَ لَهُ جَزَاءٌ إِلاَّ الْجَنَّةُ ‏"‏‏.‏

Allah's Last Prophet had (ﷺ) said, "Umrah is an expiation for what is between them, and the accepted Hajj has no reward except Paradise."

Forgiveness of Sins

Umrah is a source of forgiveness for all current and previous sins.

Act of Worship

Umrah is an act of worship for Allah Almighty. Pilgrims seek the pleasure of Allah Almighty through the Umrah duas.

Spiritual Reward

Umrah has a spiritual reward equal to jihad for the pilgrims. It also helps in the spiritual cleansing of pilgrims.

Renewal of Faith

Umrah helps us in renewing our faith through catharsis and personal rebirth. It further strengthens our faith.

Inner Peace

Umrah creates a sensation of internal peace for the believers. The purification of the soul also brings satisfaction and joy to the pilgrims.

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Closing Words

Umrah is the most significant act of worship practiced by Muslims worldwide. There are prominent differences between Hajj and Umrah. The pilgrims have to wear special Umrah dress during Umrah. It is known as Ihram. Pilgrims from all over the world buy Saudi Umrah visas. Pilgrims avail of a special Umrah package for visiting the holy city with ease. It is a great sunnah of our Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Umrah is very beneficial for believers.