A COMPLETE GUIDE ON THE UMRAH PILGRIMAGE 

Umrah is the holy pilgrimage to the sacred city of Mecca. Umrah is an Arabic word that means “visiting a populated place.” Umrah is a shorter version of Hajj. One of the five pillars of Islam is “Hajj”. Every Muslim, if he is financially well, should perform Hajj at least once in their lifetime. It is obligatory to perform Hajj if you are economically sound and physically well. Umrah, on the other hand, is voluntary. You can perform Umrah any time during the year, But Hajj can only be performed during a specific period. You can get an umrah package for yourself as well as your family. You can find Umrah Packages from Canada and Umrah Packages from USA. 

HOW LONG IS THE UMRAH?

The Umrah trip is of significant importance in a Muslim’s life. Umrah’s duration is a minimum of seven days and a maximum of thirty days. During this time, Muslims ask for the forgiveness of Allah. They devote their time to Allah’s worship leaving aside all worldly affairs. 

You can find several Umrah Packages. All of the different durations, some of ten days, some of fifteen, etc. You should choose as per your needs. As such, there is no specific time during which Umrah can be performed, however, a lot of people prefer the month of Ramadan for doing Umrah.  

RITUALS TO BE PERFORMED IN UMRAH

There are some rituals one needs to perform during Umrah. The Umrah is said to be completed when all the rituals are performed. We have listed down important rituals one needs to perform during Umrah. The rituals in Umrah are few and quite simple. Let’s know more about them :

1. The Tawaf  

• Once you have reached the holy city of Mecca, then you have to change your clothes and wear Ihraam, which is a white cloth with which you have to cover your body. After performing abulation, you should head to the Kaaba. On your way, you should recite the tawaaf. Upon reaching the Kaaba complex, enter with your right foot and ask for Allah’s mercy and forgiveness. 

• Then you will have to circle the Kaaba seven times in an anti-clockwise direction. The starting point is the “ Hajar Al Aswad.” From there, you face the Kaaba and before you start to circle the Kaaba, recite “ Bismillah” and “Allahu Akhbar.” Then start to circle the Kaaba seven times. 

• For the first three rounds, you have to be steadfast and during the next four rounds at a slower pace. There can be a lot of people performing the Tawaf, so it might take you some time. But it won’t take you more than 30 minutes to do the Tawaaf.

• After the Tawaf is completed, you can pray if it is prayer time and make dua. After that, you head to “Maqam Ibrahim,” which is the Place of Abraham. You have to recite a few verses of the Quran there. You can then drink the Zamzam water, which can be available easily. The “Zamzam” water has many benefits and is considered to be holy. 

2. The Sa’i 

• Just near the Kaaba are the two mountains, Mount Safa and Mount Marwa. After performing the Tawaf, you have to walk forth and back between the mountains seven times. The men are advised to walk faster. 

• By performing Sa’i, Muslims honor one of the stories mentioned in the Quran, of Haajar, who is said to have searched for water for her son in between the two mountains. The baby, Ismail, was crying, and then water came out from the ground. 

• The holy water is called “Zamzam,” and it is still present there. Pilgrims can drink water from that same area. You can also find the water of Zamzam easily in the Kabba complex. While performing Sa’i, you can recite supplications and then make dua as this place is very holy. 

   3. The Halq or Taqsir 

•  After performing Sa’i, you have to perform Taqsir. Taqsir involves shortening your hair. You can find out many barber shops across the city and cut your hair short. Taqsir means cutting short your hair which is done by women, and “halq” is shaving the hair on your head.” Halq is usually performed by men. 

• This is the last step, and after completing it, you exit the state of Ihram. While in the state of Ihram, you are not allowed to wear normal clothes or cut your nails. There are also some other rules which you have to follow. But after “Halq” or “Taqsir,” you are free to dress as you usually do. Halq or Taqsir aims to devote yourself to Allah. 

After completing these three stages, your Umrah is complete. You can pray and ask for Allah’s forgiveness. 

SOME RULES DURING UMRAH

While performing Umrah, there are some rules which you need to follow. These are mandatory for everyone to follow. While in Umrah, you have to follow Ihraam. It means that you are not allowed to use bad language or cut your hair or nails. You cannot even apply perfume. You cannot use beauty products as well. You cannot quarrel or curse anyone. Even killing animals or even insects is not allowed. If you break any rules, you will not be in the state of Ihraam. Hence, it becomes important to follow these rules. 

Muslims should also recite supplications and perform the five prayers. During Umrah, you should stay away from worldly affairs and devote yourself to Allah. There are some recitations that you should recite while performing Umrah.

CONCLUSION

The pilgrimage of Umrah makes it mandatory for you to perform Hajj. Hajj lasts for a longer duration. You need visas to travel for Umrah. Many Hajj or Umrah packages include visa facilities. If you are from the USA or Canada, you can check out Umrah Packages from USA and Umrah Packages from Canada for the best deals.

FAQS

Q1. How long is the Umrah ?

The Umrah has a shorter duration and can be performed in a few days. However, you can even stay as long as you wish, depending on your Umrah Package. You need a visa to travel, which can give you an idea of how long you can stay. Visa for Umrah is usually for 90 days or less, depending on different locations.

Q2. Is there a specific time for Umrah?

No, as such, there is no specific time to perform Umrah. However, some Muslims consider performing Umrah during the holy month of Ramadan. However, during the five days of Hajj, Umrah cannot be performed.