Umrah is a non-obligatory pilgrimage and beautiful Sunnah of our beloved Prophet, Muhammad PBUH. It is source of gaining the higher spiritual levels and closeness of Almighty Allah. Every year many Muslims perform the Umrah from United Kingdom and other countries. There are two most known ways to perform the Umrah Pilgrimage. Either you book all the services which are required for the Umrah separately or book the Umrah Packages from United Kingdom which includes all the necessities which a pilgrim needs during the Umrah Pilgrimage.Islamic Travel provides the best, cheap and all-inclusive Umrah Packages for the UK pilgrims. Furthermore, it provides the updates and provides complete guidance regarding the Umrah through its highly educated Islamic Scholars and Writes. In this article we will discuss the rituals of Umrah. There are four rituals of Umrah i.e. Ihram, Tawaf, Sa’i and Halq o Taqseer, which will be discussed in detail.
Ritual 1 – Ihram from Meeqat
First rite of Umrah is Ihram. Ihram is comprised of two white cloth sheets (named Izra and Rida) which are compulsory to enter the boundary of Haram Sharif or Masjid Al Haram. Before pilgrims make the Niyyah for the Umrah, they are compulsory to wear the Ihram from different points as Meeqat for the Pilgrims. Some of them are listed below:
- DhulHulaifa is Meeqat for the pilgrims who are coming through the Holy city of Madinah.
- Al-Juhfa is Meeqat point for the pilgrims who are coming from or through the countries through Syria, Morocco, or Egypt. This also for the Pilgrims who are coming from United Kingdom, Europe, Turkey, Algeria, Sudan and African Countries.
- Qarn-al Manazil is the Meeqat Point for the pilgrims who are coming from or through Najd or Taif.
- Yalamam is the Meeqat Point for the pilgrims who are coming from or through the countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, or Yemen.
- Dhat’Irq is the Meeqat form the pilgrims who are coming from or through Iraq.
You can find your Meeqat point from the above list of Meeqat Points for the Umrah Pilgrims. It is compulsory to wear before entering in the sacred boundary of Holy Haram. Ihram is important for the Niyyah and Talbiyah. Niyyah is the intention for the Umrah while Talbiyah is special supplications of Kalmat which are said in the Umrah. Before becoming the Muhrim (a pilgrim who have worn the Ihram) it Mustahab to perform ablutions, Ghusl, Perfuming the head and beard, clipping the nails of toe and figures, trimming the moustaches, shaving the unwanted body hairs, making the two Rakaats Nawafil of Salah-al-Ihram, and reciting the Niyyah Ihram. These are some set of acts which should be done while wearing the Ihram.
Ritual 2 – Tawaf or Circumambulation of Kaabah
Second Rite of Umrah is called Tawaf which refers to an act of worship in which pilgrim Circumambulate the Holy Kaabah. If you have assumed the Ihram then you have to perform the Tawaf. In the busiest seasons like Ramadan, there are more number of pilgrims perform Umrah and that’s why there is always rush of pilgrims round the whole month. While December is the month in which less number of pilgrims perform the Umrah as compare to other month of Gregorian calendar. There are more chances to kiss the Black Stone in the month of December because less busy month. Wise people book the cheapDecember Umrah Packagefrom United Kingdom and other countries. If you are Muhrim then you have to perform the Tawaf. Tawaf is one of the most important ritual of Umrah. It is also known as the heart of Umrah. Each round of the Tawaf is started from the Black Stone and also ends on the Black Stone. During the Hajj, it is very difficult to kiss the Black Stone. Hajj can be performed after booking the Hajj packages from UK. Black stone is referred to a piece of rock which are brought from the heaven. In Arabic it is called Hajar e Aswad.
Ritual 3 –Sa’i between Safa and Marwah Mountains
Sa’i is one the most important rite of Umrah which is performed after the performance of the Tawaf. It is an act of worship which is offered by walking between the mountains of Safa and Marwah. Safa is mountain in the south of Mecca and Marwah is located north of Mecca. The rite of the Sa’i forced us to remember the story of HazratHajra A.S, the wife of Hazrat Abraham A.S. She ran between the Safa and Marwah when his son (Hazrat Ismail A.S) was weeping for thrust. She was running to find the water for his son. That time when Hazrat Ismail A.S was weeping and rubbing their heels with the ground, with the order of Allah SWT found sprang from there and till now water supply of Mecca is supplied through that Zamzam well. Pilgrims start the Sa’i from the hill of Safa and see the Kaabah with utmost devotion and love. They ran towards the Green Pillars, here the woman have to walk normally but man have to ran. They have to run towards the hill of Marwah by reciting the Dua mentioning the Almighty Allah. Every pilgrim have to complete the 7 laps total between Safa and Marwah. She / He have to repeat the supplications at the Safa and then mover towards the Marwah. The distance between Safa and Marwah is about four hundred and fifty meters. Men who Mehrim must cover their shoulders while performing the Sa’i. After the offering the two Rakaats of Nafal, pilgrims should come out of the Holy Haram with their left foot out and recite the Dua.
Ritual 4 – Halq o Taqseer
Mina is valley which is located about eight kilometers from the Mecca. It is the place from where the Umrah came to end and pilgrims pack their bags for the return flights. Halq o Taqseer is an obligatory act of pilgrimage which is performed here. Halq is a shaving of complete head for the men and leave the state of Ihram. It symbolizes the pilgrims to detachment pilgrim with the physical appearance. Taqseer is an alternative act for the woman. Woman have to cut their hairs at least an inch. This because hairs are an adornment of woman. For those pilgrims who are performing the Hajj al-Tamattu (where Hajj and Umrah are performed separately), must perform this rite of Umrah and Hajj separately. Hairs can be cut in Mecca, Mina, or Muzdalifah. But according to the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet PBUH pilgrims must cut their hairs in the Valley of Mina. There are two types of Barbers who cut the hairs in Mecca and Mina. There are two types of Barbers in the both cities i.e. Licensed Barbers, Unlicensed Barbers. Licensed Barbers charge up to 30 Riyals from the pilgrims and it is one the best way for the health conscious pilgrims. But pilgrims who want to avail the cheaper option they can visit the unlicensed barbers who charge between 5 to 10 Riyals. But it may be a risk for the health of health conscious persons.
Final Thoughts
We have tried our best to guide you about the rituals of Umrah and how these can be performed. There are four important rituals of Umrah which are Ihram, Tawaf, Sa’i, and Halq o Taqseer. Ihram is dress for the pilgrims in which they have to perform the other rituals of Umrah. Tawaf refers the circumambulation of the Holy Kaabah and it is performed by circumambulating the Kaabah seven time. Each round the Tawaf is started from the Black Stone and also ends at Black Stone. Second Last Ritual is named as the Sa’i in which pilgrims ran between the two mountains Safa and Marwah in the remembrance of HazratHajra A.S. when she ran between these mountains in the search of water. Last rite of Umrah is known as Halq o Taqseer in which men shave their head and woman cut their hairs at least one inch. Ihram is left during this rite of Umrah. According to the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet PBUH, pilgrims perform this rite in Mina but it can be performed in the Mecca and Muzdalifah as well. These were four rituals of Umrah which every pilgrim should know and then book the Umrah Packages from any authentic Umrah Travel agency in the United Kingdom, if he is resident of United Kingdom. May Allah take you safely to the holy land of Mecca and Madinah, and May Allah accept your Umrah. (Ameen).
