Mark Twain's blog : Umrah Guide: How to Perform This Muslim Pilgrimage
Umrah is a non-obligatory worship performed by Muslims that pleases the Almighty. Known as the minor pilgrimage, Umrah is a Sunnah that you can perform any time of the year, excluding the Hajj days. So, millions of Muslims arrive at the holy Kaabah every year to please the Almighty and ask for his blessings and forgiveness.
Therefore, if you have availed of Umrah Packages 2023 from the UK and will be performing the Sunnah for the first time, you might need some guidance. Before you begin this spiritual journey, you must keep your intentions clear and perform it with ‘Ikhlaas (sincerity)’. Moreover, you must keep your intentions clear and try to cleanse your soul.
Here is an ultimate guide to performing Umrah, the minor pilgrimage, with all the details and steps.
Basic Pillars of Umrah
Once you have booked the ideal Umrah packages for 2023, you will have to know more about Umrah and its pillars. Four fundamental pillars of Umrah are discussed below;
1. Ihram
Ihram is a state that starts with having pure intentions to perform Umrah. After you have made the intention, you must wash away all the impurities. To enter the state of Ihram, you must complete the ghusl and change into clean clothing. Men must change into two fabrics called Izaar and Rida, while women can wear anything that will cover their body and head. Women having postnatal bleeding or menstruating must also perform a ghusl.
After cleaning yourself thoroughly and changing into clean clothes, you must perform the obligatory prayers or two rakats of Sunnah. Then you must face Qibla and enter the state of Ihram officially. Before reaching Meeqat in Makkah, you must enter the state of Ihram. You must not use any perfumed products in the form of Ihram.
Entering Meeqat, you must recite; the translation of the verse is;
“Here I am, O Allah, for ‘Umrah”
Then it would help if you recited Talbiya; the translation is;
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.”
2. Tawaf
Entering the Masjid-al-Haram with your right foot, you must recite the verse with translation;
"In the name of Allah, blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, forgive my sins and open the gates of Your mercy to me. I seek refuge with Allah the Almighty and in His noble Countenance and eternal power from the accursed Satan."
Then touch the Black Stone, Hajr-e-Aswad. Make sure to use your right hand for this. Also, try to kiss the sacred stone. If you can't kiss it, feel it and kiss your hand. But if you cannot even touch it, you must look in its direction and say ‘Allah-u-Akbar’. After that, the pilgrims must start making the Tawaf with the holy Kaabah on their left side. Try not to touch the cloth on Kaabah as it is perfumed.
Moreover, men must keep their right shoulder uncovered and practice ‘raml’ in their first three rounds of Tawaf. Raml is taking small steps while walking at a fast pace. They can walk at their average rate for the next rounds.
After performing the Tawaf, reach the station of Ibrahim and say the following words;
“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)."
Then you must recite two rakats of prayer and return to touch the Black Stone.
3. Saa’i
After performing Tawaf, pilgrims must reach the hills of Safa and recite;
“Verily, As-Safa and Al-Marwah (two mountains in Mecca) are the Symbols of Allah."
And
“We start with that with which Allah started."
Then you must climb up the hill of Safa at the point where you start seeing the Kaabah. Facing the Kaabah, you must raise your hand and supplicate to the Almighty. You can make any dua you want standing at that point. After that, you must do dhikr and supplicate three times. You have to descend to Marwah after that.
Men have to run between the green markers or lights, then generally walk to Marwah and climb up the hill. After that, you must face Qibla and recite what you recited at Safa Hill. Repeat this circular act between the two hills seven times.
4. Shaving or Cutting the Hair
The completion of Umrah needs cutting your hair. The men must shave their heads or cut their hair equally on all sides of their heads. At the same time, women must cut their hair the length of their fingertips equally.
Final Words
If you have availed of services through a reliable Umrah travel agency UK, it is time that you start doing your research. You must know about all the pillars of Umrah for a smooth spiritual journey. Moreover, you must ensure that your Umrah packages 2023 have everything from your Umrah visa and flights to accommodation and other services so you don't have to worry about anything.
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