Whether you have performed Umrah before or this is your first time, we provide you with a comprehensive guide to Umrah and a detailed explanation of the different steps and stages in performing Umrah rituals so that you can perform it to the fullest extent, God willing, and receive its full reward. What are the steps, how to enter ihram, how to exit your ihram, and what to say and do. Whether for men or women? We will learn about all this and more now.
How do you perform Umrah?
If you intend to perform Umrah and your health and financial condition permit this holy journey, the steps in detail include the following:
Umrah permit
This is different in every country. Whether you book with a tourism company or alone with a government agency, you must obtain a permit from the Saudi authorities to be able to enter the Two Holy Mosques, and the Nusk application helps you obtain this permit or the tourism company you have contracted with.
Ihram is one of the first rituals of Umrah
You can enter into ihram from your place or country if you are not a resident of Mecca, but if you are a resident of Mecca, you must leave it to a nearby place such as Arafat or the Aisha Mosque, may God be pleased with her, in Tan’eem. Intending for Umrah and entering into ihram for it, and ihram means making the intention to perform Umrah and then bathing from the two events. The largest, the smallest, and the perfume in the body.
Then the man wears only a loincloth and a robe, without any sewn clothes at all, and it is desirable that they be white and clean, exposing his head. As for the woman, she can wear any loose, modest clothing that does not show the private parts or indicate fame, without any adornment, and with only the face and hands exposed. .
Then, from the completion of ihram, uttering the Umrah supplication, which is “Labbayk Umrah” or “O Allah, hereby I have a lot of respect” or “Labbayk Umrah, hereby O Allah, hereby, here we have no partner, hereby. Praise and blessings are yours, and dominion, you have no partner.” The man says it in a loud voice, while the woman says it. In secret or in a low voice that only those next to her can hear.
Arrival to Mecca, the Sacred House, and Tawaf
As soon as the pilgrim arrives at Mecca and the Sacred House, he enters with his right foot and enters into the intention of circumambulating the 7 rounds around the Kaaba, and he must perform ablution and purity. Tawaf is like prayer, even if speaking is permitted. He begins the circumambulation from the Black Stone and says, “In the Name of God and God is Great,” and whenever he reaches He tries to kiss the Black Stone or touch it from afar with his hands or a stick, then kiss the thing that touched the stone. If he is unable, he points to it from afar with his finger and says, “Allahu Akbar,” but without kissing what he pointed to the stone with.
Once you finish kissing the Black Stone or pointing to it, you can pray to God for whatever you want, and God willing, the supplication will be answered. One of the most beloved supplications is saying, “Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the Fire.”
It is strictly forbidden to crowd with pilgrims to reach the Black Stone, but if it is not possible to approach it, it is sufficient to point to it, because crowding may invalidate your Umrah.
It is necessary for a man to speed up when circumambulating and to be careful to show his right shoulder, which is known as “al-istidbaa”. As for speeding, it is “sanding” and is desirable in the first three rounds. As for a woman, she should not speed up and walk with her normal step, and the pilgrim must keep the house on his left until he reaches The Yemeni Corner greets him with his right hand if it is possible for him to do so and says, “In the name of God and God is great.”
After completing the 7 rounds, he goes to Maqam Ibrahim and prays two rak’ahs behind him with Surahs Al-Kafirun and Al-Ikhlas after Al-Fatihah. If the place is crowded, he prays anywhere in the Haram.
Sa’i is the third ritual of Umrah
After the pilgrim prays the two rak’ahs, he goes to the gate of Al-Safa, exits it, and recites the noble Qur’anic verse, “Indeed, Al-Safa and Al-Marwah are among the rituals of God. So whoever makes the Hajj to the House or performs the Umrah, there is no blame on him if he circumambulates them. And whoever volunteers good deeds, then God is Grateful and All-Knowing.” Then he praises God Almighty and raises his hands to pray to Him. Saying, “There is no god but God, alone, with no partner. He fulfilled His promise, gave victory to His servant, and defeated the parties, alone, with no partner.” He repeated it 3 times.
Then he descends from Mount Al-Safa to Al-Marwah until when he reaches the place of the two green flags, he begins to jog quickly, and this is for men only. Then he walks with his normal step until he reaches the other green flag, and he supplicates to God Almighty and says the same previous phrase that he said on Mount Al-Safa, and it is counted as one way from Mount Al-Safa. To Al-Marwah, he continues to pray to God and recite the supplications or what he has memorized from the Holy Qur’an.
Decommissioning from ihram by shaving or cutting hair
It is the fourth ritual of Umrah. After completing the seventh round of sa’i, the man goes to the place where the hair is shaved or shortened, while the woman gathers her hair and takes only one centimeter of it on all sides of the head.
Thus, the pilgrim has performed his Umrah to the fullest extent if he abstains from the prohibited things, such as wearing perfume, intercourse, and other things. He can visit the Prophet’s Mosque, whether before or after the rituals, for the same amount as visiting the Prophet’s Mosque, and not with the intention of performing the Umrah rituals. It is not part of Hajj or Umrah, but praying in it is equivalent to a thousand prayers in any other place. Except in the Grand Mosque.