What You Need to Know Before Embarking on Your Umrah Journey

Umrah has four steps to be followed. Firstly, we have to wear Ihram clothes before the Miqat. Niyyah for the Miqat, and perform two Rakats of Salah, after that recite the Talbiyah oftenly. Secondly, we have to Tawaf of Kaaba by reciting the two Rakats of Salah near the Maqam Ibrahim. Thirdly, we have to perform Sai of Safa and Marwah. In the end, we have to shave(Halq) and trim our head hairs (Taqsir) properly, and then we can remove our Ihram, and our Umrah will be completed.

First Sight of the Kaaba

Entering the mosque, we have to lower our eyes until we reach the Mataf area, where the Tawaf of Kaabah takes place. After that, when we are ready with humility, awe, and reverence, we lift our eyes on the beautiful Holy Kaaba.

When we see the Kaabah first time, we raise our hands and make Dua in Umrah Packages 2023 which we have to perform with sincerity and concentration because this is the most answerable Dua. Always we have to keep in mind to recite Salwat upon our Holy Prophet ﷺ         when making Dua. Umar Ibn Al – Khattab Narrated   :

Dua is suspended between heaven and earth, and none of it is taken up until you send blessings upon your Prophet ﷺ.

[Narrated in Sunan al-Tirmidhi]

Recite the following three times:

.اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ. اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ. لَآ اِلَهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ

Allāhu akbar. Allāhu akbar. Lā ilāha illa-llāh.

Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. There is no God except Allah.

It’s a Sunnah to recite the following Duas:

اَللَّهُمَّ زِدْ أَهْلَ هَذَا الْبَيْتَ تَشْرِيفاً وَتَعْظِيماً وَتَكْرِيماً وَمَهَابَةً، وَزِدْ مَنْ شَرَّفَهُ وَكَرَّمَهُ مِمَّنْ حَجَّهُ أَوْ اعْتَمَرَهُ تَشْرِيفاً وَتَكْرِيماً وَتَعْظِيماً وَبِرّاً.

Allāhumma zid hādhā-l-Bayta tashrīfan wa ta’ẓīman wa takrīman wa mahābah, wa zid man sharrafahu wa karramahu mimman ḥajjahu awi-’tamarahu tashrīfan wa takrīman wa ta’ẓīman wa birrā.

Allah, increase this House in honor, esteem, respect, and reverence. And increase those who honor and respect it—those who perform Hajj or ‘Umrah—in honor, respect, esteem, and righteousness.

اَللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلاَمُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلَامُ، حَيِّنَا رَبَّنَا بِالسَّلاَمِ.

Allāhumma Anta-s-Salāmu wa minka-s-salām, ḥayyinā Rabbanā bi-s-salām.

O Allah, You are Peace and from You is peace. Therefore, make us live, Lord, in peace.

Do Zikr, make Dua and send Salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ in abundance here. Make the most of this chance before you begin your Tawaf, especially if it’s the first time you’ve put your eyes on the Kaaba.

The Guidance Of Performing Umrah

There are four (4) Rituals of Umrah:

  1.  Ihram
  2. Tawaf
  3. Sa’yee
  4. Qasar / Halaq

1. Ihram

A pilgrim should set the intention of performing Hajj & Umrah and recites Talbiya before Meat.

Procedures of Ihram

  1. First, you must take a bath (Ghusal) with the intent of Ihram.
  2. Wear Ihram.
  3. Then you have to Offer two Rakat of Nafal by covering your head.
  4. With your head not covered affirm your intention / Niyyah :

اَللَّهُمَّ اِنِّيْ اُرِيْدُ الْعُمْرَةَ فَيَسِّرْهَا لِيْ وَ تَقَبَّلْهَا مِنِّيْ

“O ALLAH! I intend to perform Umrah. So please make it easy for me and accept it from me.”

  • After leaving home, you should continuously start reciting below  Dua’a and Talbiya. It is required to recite Talbiya loudly once.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ

(In the name of ALLAH, I place my trust in ALLAH, and there is no might nor power except with ALLAH)

  • And when you Enter Masjid Al Haram, Recite Darud e Sharif, pray to ALLAH, and move towards Kabah.

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وسلم, اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ

(In the name of ALLAH! O ALLAH! Exalt the mention of your Messenger. O ALLAH! Forgive my sins, and open the gates of Your mercy for me).

  • Keep your eyes fixed at Baitullah and Say:

اللّهُ أكبر اللّهُ أكبر, لا إلَهَ الا اللّه, اللّهُ أكبر اللّهُ اكبر, و لِلّه الحمدَ

(ALLAH is the Greatest, ALLAH is the Greatest, there is no God, but ALLAH, ALLAH is the Greatest, ALLAH is the Greatest, to Him belongs all Praise.)

  • After you have recited this Talbiya and move forward and perform Tawaf.

Prohibitions of Ihram

  1. You have to cut your nails.
  2. You have to cut your hair and remove extra hair from any part of your body
  3. You can use any scents or perfume on the body or the robes.
  4. You have to wear Stitched Clothing.
  5. Sandals and flip-flops should not be covered either and should allow the ankle and back of the foot to be exposed.
  6.  You do not have to Cover your Face or Head.
  7. Hunting of animals is not allowed, not even lice
  8.  Refrain from all Sexual activity

2. Tawaf

Tawaf is something that is considered moving seven times around Kabah. You should have. Utmost respect and devotion are needed. Pilgrims must keep walking with the Kabah on their left. After arriving at Kabah, you must stop and recite Talbiyah. You have to do it while you are in wudu. Men are supposed to leave their right shoulder naked during Tawaf. This is called idtiba’a. After this, men have to cover both their shoulders.

  1. You have to Start at the Black Stone,
  2. You can Kiss it or not.
  3. You have to Touch it with your right hand. If not
  4. Then Face towards the Black Stone and point out with your right hand

Say

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ, اللّهُ أكبر

(just before kissing it/or just before or while touching/pointing) For men, to Raml (hasten/briskly walk) during the first 3 rounds of Tawaf and walk normally during the other 4 rounds. Once you reach the Yamani corner, either Touch it with your right hand (do not kiss it) and say بِسْمِ اللَّهِ, اللّهُ أكبر or, if unable, then continue without gesturing or saying anything from the Yamani corner to the Black Stone, recite :

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَة ً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَة ً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّار

(Our Lord, grant us good in this life and good in the hereafter and save us from the punishment of the Hellfire.[Quran; 2:201])

When they reach Rukh Al Yamani (the fourth corner of Kabah), they should only touch Hijra e Aswa.

After the Completion of  Tawaf, proceed to Maqaam‐e Ibraaheem ‐ (Prophet Ibraaheem’s station)

At the end of these Seven circles, they will do Istilam and say

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ, اللّهُ أكبر

Recite this verse (which means):

وَاتَّخِذُوْا مِنْ مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ مُصَلًّى

(And take you (people) the Maqaam (place) of Ibraheem as a place of Prayer. [Quran; 2:125])

Then offer 2 Rakat of Nafal while you are close to Maqam-e-Ibrahim without covering their heads.

Zamzam

The pilgrims will have to go to  Zamzam, which is located in the basement of Makkah, to drink the Zamzam while standing and saying “بِسْمِ اللَّهِ.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمَاً نَافِعَاًً وَرِزْقَاً وَاسِعَاًَ وَشِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ

O, Allah! I implore for the beneficial knowledge, vast provisions, and cure from every disease.”

3. Sa’yee

The significance of Sa’ey is to run/ walk back and forth around seven times in between the hills of Safah & Marwa, which are located to the North and South of Kabah.

When you leave the border of the Masjid, you can say.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ, وَ الصلاة والسلام عَلَى رسول الله, اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ,

(In the name of Allah, and prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of Allaah. O Allaah, I ask You in Your favor. But, o Allaah, guard against the accursed devil.)

Upon moving toward Mount Safaa, this Ayaat (verse) is recited

إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَآئِرِ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا وَمَنْ تَطَوَّعَ خَيْراً فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيْم

(Verily, As‐Safaa and Al‐Marwah are from the symbols of Allaah. So it is not a sin on him who performs Hajj or ‘Umrah of the house (ka ‘bah) to perform the going (tawaaf) between them. And whoever does good voluntarily, then verily, Allaah is the All‐Recognizer, All‐Knower. [Quran; 2:158])

نَبْدَأُ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللَّهُ بِه

(I begin with what Allaah began with.)

Then ascend upon Mount Safaa, face the Qiblah, raise your hands, and recite 3 times:

اللّهُ أكبر, اللّهُ أكبر, اللّهُ أكبر

(Allaah is the Greatest, Allaah is the Greatest, Allaah is the Greatest.)

لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَه، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَ يُمِيْتُ وَ هُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْر؛ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَه، أَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ وَ نَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ وَ هَزَمَ الأَحْزَابَ وَ حْدَه

(There is nothing worthy of worship except Allah, Alone. He has no partner, To Him belongs the kingdom, & all praise belongs to Him, & He has power above all things, There is nothing worthy of worship except Allah, He fulfilled His promise, Granted victory to His servant, And alone He defeated the allied army.)

The seventh journey will end at Marwa. After this, the one will offer two (2) Rakat nafal.

4. Qasar / Halaq

After Sa’yee, the male pilgrims have to get their heads entirely shaved, and females will have to cut off their hair equal to a fingertip length.

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