Umrah is a sacred journey that demands conviction and love for the Almighty Allah. A large number of Muslims gather in this holy place every year from all over the world and unite in the bond of brotherhood. Among these millions of people, there are also many new pilgrims, performing Umrah for the first time by choosing the best Umrah packages. For those pilgrims, this article can help massively to know about the guidelines for performing Umrah.
Umrah Guidelines
The following guidelines must be followed for pilgrims, planning to go on Umrah tours:
1. Ihram
This marks the first step in performing Umrah where men wear white, unstitched clothes following a specific code of conduct. Women wear the usual attire but, only the ones that exhibit modesty. Every pilgrim needs to enter the state of Ihram before reaching the allocated Miqat point. Pilgrims intending to embark on the Umrah trip can follow these steps to fulfill the process of Ihram:
- Make intention for Umrah and declare it loudly.
- Take a bathto cleanse yourself.
- Wear the Ihram, consisting of two white one-piece clothes for men and the normal modest dress for women.
- Men wrap one cloth around their waist that covers the lower part of their body. They throw the other cloth over their left shoulder and leave the right shoulder exposed.
- Women don’t have to make changes to their attire except that it needs to be modest and properly cover their bodies.
Perform Tawaaf
Tawaf means to circumambulate the Ka’abah which stands as the holiest cube-shaped structure in the Masjid-al-Haram, located in Makkah. Pilgrims make seven rounds of Tawaf around the Ka’abah which starts from Hajar al-Aswad, the corner of the black stone. Pilgrims have to start the Tawaaf from the right side and they need to maintain a civil manner throughout the sacrament. Follow these steps to perform Tawaaf:
- Circumambulate the Ka’abah and advance towards it upon reaching the place of the black corner. Pilgrims need to touch or kiss this stone only if possible. Otherwise, they can raise their hands towards it and say:
“I start In the name of Allah, the most beneficial and the most merciful.”
- Begin the Tawaaf by facing the Ka’abah and make the intention to perform it.
- Start walking around the Ka’abah in an anticlockwise direction while ensuring that the Ka’abah remains on your left side.
- Walk at a moderate speed and recite prayers or Quranic verses as desired.
- Perform the first step at each round until you make the seventh (last) round, culminating in the Tawaaf at the black stone.
2. Perform Sa’i
Pilgrims proceed to perform Sa’i after completing Tawaaf. This step involves walking fast between the hills of Safa and Marwa following the actions of the wife of Prophet Ibrahim A.S., Hajarah A.S. Follow these steps to correctly perform Sa’i:
- Approach the hills of Safa and Marwa, situated inside the Masjid al-Haram.
- Begin walking at Mount Safa and ascend it while facing the Ka’abah and reciting prayers.
- Descend from Safa and walk towards Mount Marwa.
- Ascend Mount Marwa upon reaching it and face the Ka’abah, making the same prayers.
- Complete seven rounds of walking between Safa and Marwa, which begins at Safa and concludes at Marwa.
3. Perform Halq or Taqsir
After completing the Tawaaf and Sa’i, men have to either shave their heads which is called Halq, or trim their hair, also called Taqsir. Women, in contrast, need to trim a small portion of their hair. This act indicates the conclusion of Umrah after which, pilgrims can release their Ihrams and wear normal, modest clothes
Prohibited Things While Performing Umrah
- Pilgrims can not-cut their nails or hair while in the state of Ihram. This prohibition applies to both men and women until the completion of the Umrah rites.
- The use of any scented items including perfumes, scented soaps, or lotions,is prohibited during the state of Ihram. Pilgrims can buy unscented soaps for cleansing purposes.
- Pilgrims can not engage in any sort of intimate or sexual activity during the state of Ihram.
- Killing or hunting any animals inside the limits of the Haram (holy areas) is prohibited.
Know About the Umrah Guidelines 2024
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has declared anew rule which needs to be known by pilgrims, going through the Umrah booking process. Any pilgrim opting for Umrah packages 2024 all-inclusive needs to know that the ministry has prohibited visiting Riyad-al-Jannah more than once a year. Each pilgrim will have to register through an application called ‘Nusuk’. He will have to show his registration on the application to the security guards. Only after passing through this process will the guards allow the pilgrim to visit Riyad-al-Jannah where they can perform prayers. The authorities have taken this step to avoid overcrowding in this holy place and maintain discipline.
Registration Process
The application can be downloaded on a mobile phone. When a pilgrim enters his details on the application, it analyzes the data to confirm whether the person has visited Riyad-al-Jannah in the last year or not. After analyzing and finding out that the person hasn’t visited, it offers different times and datesfor visiting this place. The pilgrim can choose from the offered schedules and complete the registration process. Upon arriving at the scheduled date and time, pilgrims will have to wait in a line where the security guards check the registration. Each pilgrim has to show the live application with registration details. Showing screenshots of the details doesn’t stand true and the pilgrim will not be allowed to go to the holy place.
Also Read: What is the Best Time to Book Your Umrah for Maximum Savings?
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