What is Umrah and how important is it?
For those of you who are just joining us, it's not surprising that the Muslim community outside of the Holy Land has strong ties to it (Saudi Arabia). It always leans toward the outstretched arm of Makkah and the strange things it has to offer. Cheap umrah packages Manchester means "lesser pilgrimage." Hajj, on the other hand, means "greater pilgrimage." This sunnah is a very important religious duty that can be done at any time of the year. This is true, except for the three months before Hajj. And it's meant to be a mock pilgrimage that gets people ready for the bigger Hajj gathering. It is without a doubt the most important ritual in Islam. A Muslim is expected to do it many times over the course of his or her life. It is a search for forgiveness, a journey for glory, and an investment for the next world.
But the reward of Umrah in the next world isn't important. This is a promise from Allah the Almighty to those who believe. There are many other social and mental benefits of Umrah that we shouldn't forget. The Muslim Diaspora comes together on pilgrimages to Makkah. People from any side of politics can easily get to know each other and form bonds. This is a very good argument for religious fraternities. Analysts have lost track of how many people are in the holy cities' lounges and on their terraces. This is why people in Saudi Arabia are so friendly all the time and around the clock.
Now that you've decided to do Umrah, it's best to think about how great this blessing is. And what a blessing it is to be so high in God's eyes. Recognize it, feel it, go through it, and be thankful for it. Take pride in the fact that this great service has been done just for you. Be thankful that it occurred to you at the right time and that you could afford it. Allah put a seed of desire in you so that you would know when to show up at His gates. It's your turn now.
How to do Umrah step by step?
Invocation for Umrah: As with all Islamic religious practises, cleanliness is the most important thing. Pilgrims must take a full bath before they can start their holy journey. And a bath isn't done until the nails are trimmed close to the fingers and the pubic hair is shaved close. Men can wear their beards in a variety of ways, as long as they do so in a decent and classy way. Even though women are allowed to wear henna (mehndi) and some jewellery, it is best to avoid these things. Now, say your prayer of invocation, which should be 2 rakats long.
How to dress for Umrah: Getting to Meeqat and putting on Ihram:
Ihram isn't just a piece of clothing; it's a state. Before getting to Meeqat, every pilgrim, man or woman, must reach this state of minimalism. As with the rest of the rites and rituals, this is done after giving up and becoming very simple. This is shown by the fact that they wear simple clothes. Ihram for men and women is about the same thing, but the way it's done is different. The ihram for men is plain and simple. It is white, has no seams, and is made of a material that looks a lot like a towel. It has that special something. But women can wear any colour of stitched ihram. Scholars agree that the ones that are easiest to understand are the ones that people want. Now you can say what your intention is for your Umrah Ihram Niyat:
اَللَّهُمَّ نَوَيْتُ الْعُمْرَة وَاحْرَمْتُ بِه فَتَقَبَّلْه‘ مِنِّیْ
Ihram should be taken as soon as possible after reaching Meeqat. If it is hard to put on ihram while still in the air, pilgrims can wear it from the airport where they are leaving. But when they get to Meeqat, they have to say what their state is by saying what their intention is. When pilgrims from the UK reach Rabigh, which is the Meeqat, they can say what they want to do.
اَللَّهُمَّ اِنِّیْ اُرِيْدُ الْعُمْرَة فَيَسِّرْهَالِیْ وَتَقَبَّلْهَا مِنِّیْ وَاَعِنِّیْ عَلَيْهَا وَبَارِکْ لِیْ فِيْهَا نَوَيْتُ الْعُمْرَة وَاَحْرَمْتُ بِهَا ِﷲِ تَعَالٰی
By saying this prayer, you are now a pilgrim, which means you are a guest of Allah. You will stay there until your Umrah is over and you go back home. Make sure your goal is pure and not tainted by a foolish desire to impress others. If your only goal is to do what the Almighty says, you may continue. During this time, you shouldn't miss your regular prayers, which you should say five times a day.
Note that the Meeqat is not the King Abdulaziz International Airport. Only people who live in Jeddah are allowed to start from here. At this airport, many foreign pilgrims make the wrong assumption that they are in ihram, which is wrong. If a pilgrim is careless, he or she may have to pay the Dam penalty. To get rid of the sin, the pilgrim must kill an animal.
After this, you will say the Talbiyah, which is a reminder of what you just said:
لَبَّيْکَ اَللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْکَ، لَبَّيْکَ لاَ شَرِيْکَ لَکَ لَبَّيْکَ، اِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَة لَکَ وَالْمُلْکَ، لاَ شَرِيْکَ لَکَ
It's best to keep mp3s of Umrah duas on your phone and listen to them from time to time, preferably a few days before you leave for your trip. Talbiyah should also be kept in mp3 format (or whichever you prefer).
Men are told to say the Talbiyah loudly and clearly, but women can do so without raising their voices. In both cases, it must be said with the utmost respect, which means it must be said three times. Your whole way of acting should show commitment and modesty. This Talbiyah is the pilgrim's special song while he is in the Haram. It is the best way for him to remember God. This will stay the same for a long time. If this Talbiyah is said, every time the pilgrim meets someone, goes up or down a hill, or does anything else, it will be remembered and emphasised. No matter where you are or what you're doing, it reminds you to be humble but sure of yourself, exciting but steady. Keep walking and reciting until you reach the Grand Mosque and pay your respects.
When the Bait Ullah first comes into view: When pilgrims enter the Masjid Al Haram, their already strong feelings reach new heights. Pay close attention to the little things. Don't walk in with your left foot first, and make sure to say this dua:
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وسلم, اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
When the pilgrim looks at the Kaaba for the first time, he or she becomes a show. Take a moment to really enjoy the beauty of what you're seeing. Stand away from the crowd and say the following three times out loud:
الله أكبر لا إله الا الله
Then make as many wishes as you can, since this is a special time when prayers are heard. Ask for anything you really want.
When people from other countries ask what Muslims do on a pilgrimage, they mean the Tawaf, or going around the Kaaba seven times. Starting from where the Hajr e Aswad is set, pilgrims walk around the Holy Kaaba seven times in a counterclockwise direction. Pilgrims will naturally be drawn to this black stone, which is the centre of the Kaaba. They can show their devotion in different ways, such as by kissing, touching, or just staring at it. Before you start your Kaaba Tawaf, you need to do a few things. The Talbiyah, which started when you put on Ihram, is over when you start your first tawaf. Again, it is very important that circumambulation is done in a clean state. Even if only one round is done in error, the punishment for not washing would be dam. But the dam penalty doesn't apply if the tawaf is done again after washing properly.
Then, if you can do it without making yourself or anyone else uncomfortable or hurting anyone else, do the Istilaam of Hajr Aswad. Istilaam is when a pilgrim puts both palms on the black stone in a way that looks like he is kneeling down. Then, put the stone between your palms and kiss it. If you can't kiss it, kiss the hand that touched it instead. But if this isn't possible, the last thing you could do is put both hands in the air (as described above) and act like you're kissing it from far away. While you do this, say this:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ, اللّهُ أكبر
Pilgrims end up sinning when they miss out on a chance to get something good out of it. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that pilgrims shouldn't try to kiss this stone if it would hurt other pilgrims.
From here, the tawaf starts in a formal way. Make sure you don't turn your back on the Kaaba when you're making your rounds. During the Tawaf of Umrah, men are told to leave one shoulder uncovered. We call this Iztabaa'. Here, it's important to note that Iztabaa' is only for men, not women. Men are also told to do Ramal or walk quickly for the first three tawaf sessions and then take it easy for the next four. That is as exciting as a ritual can get, and it makes you feel good so you don't get tired. You will get close to a place called the Yemeni Corner by the government. You cannot miss it. So don't worry that you might walk by it and not notice. Try to touch it with both hands or just your right hand, depending on what you're doing. Pilgrims are not allowed to kiss it or touch it with their left hand under any circumstances. This prayer will be said over and over again:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَة ً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَة ً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّار
Since the tawaf began at the spot where the Hajr e Aswad is, it makes sense that it should end there as well. Repeat the Istilaam now that you've reached the stone for the second time. Just like before, you should act like a pilgrim. In total, a pilgrim will have to go to Istilaam eight times during one Umrah. When pilgrims first see the stone, they only need to put their hands to their ears. The next time it's their turn, they don't have to raise their hands. During the circumambulations, there is also no specific recitation. Any prayer a pilgrim has learned by heart can be said in a rhythm, or he can ask God for something he wants. Or, if a person wants to, he can say nothing at all. When you get back to the same spot and see the Hajr e Aswad again, you know that your tawaf is done. Now, men can cover both shoulders. After that, pray a dua and two rakats at Maqam e Ibrahim. First, though, the dua:
وَاتَّخِذُوْا مِنْ مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ مُصَلًّى
When Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) first built the Kaaba, he started from this corner. During busy times, it's hard to find a quiet place to pray. And it is understandable. Anywhere in the Masjid al Haram is a good place for pilgrims to pray. There's nothing wrong.
Praying at Multazam: Multazam is the name of the wall that connects the door of the Kaaba to the wall where the Stone is fixed. At this point, prayers can't be turned down. Beg for forgiveness.
A brief break at the Zamzam Well:
A short break has been set up so that pilgrims can drink water and quench their thirst after all the walking. Umrah worship also includes drinking this water. It makes the body clean and the soul pure. The well is no longer open to the public. Pilgrims today see water coolers lined up in long rows, and after their tawaf, they reach for one. While standing and facing the Kaaba, say this prayer:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمَاً نَافِعَاًً وَرِزْقَاً وَاسِعَاًَ وَشِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ
Then drink as much as you want. Those who are sick or old can drink while sitting if there is enough room. But people who are healthy should drink it while they are standing.
The Sai: The first half of Umrah was Tawaf. The next stop is Sai, which is between the legendary Safa Marwa Hills. Here, all pilgrims refer to Hazrat Hajara (peace be upon her) as an example of how to behave. Pilgrims would have to leave the Grand Mosque in order to do this. The Sai is a 7-loop, back-and-forth walk between the two figurative hills. It's a good way to spend time before you call it a day. The Sai, like Ramal before it, shows that the Islamic view of durability and perseverance has been around for a long time. If you need to, do your ablution. If not, go to the Hajr e Aswad, Istilaam for the ninth and last time, and then leave the mosque:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ, وَ الصلاة والسلام عَلَى رسول الله, اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ,
On your way up, say hello to the Safa Hill:
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَآئِرِ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا وَمَنْ تَطَوَّعَ خَيْراً فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيْم نَبْدَأُ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللَّهُ بِه
Climb it until you can see the Kaaba best. Then, with your back to the Qibla, raise both arms and call out three times in a loud voice:
اللّهُ أكبر, اللّهُ أكبر, اللّهُ أكبر
As much as you can, pray. This is the right place. Next, go up the Marwa Hill. For men, the pace is fast, especially in that green corridor, but it slows down after they pass that green stretch. This dua is not required:
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
As soon as they reach the Marwa Top, both men and women must face the Kaaba and raise their hands three times to sound the call:
اللّهُ أكبر, اللّهُ أكبر, اللّهُ أكبر
Your first Sai is now over. Back up to the Safa Hill you go. Men must walk quickly through the green-lit passageway and then slow down when they reach it. Women don't have to move quickly. The second lap is over when they get to Safa. Keep this pattern going for seven circuits in a row, and then finish at the Marwa Hill. Here, you are free to say your prayers, which are called 2 nafal rakats. Thus ends your Sai. Not the Umrah, though. Men have to shave their heads or at least trim their hair to finish it, while women can just cut their hair an inch shorter. You can get out of the ihram whenever you want. There are no more limits.
Umrah Mubarak: Your whole time in Makkah, as well as stops at famous places like Masjid an-Nabawi, the Quba Mosque, Mount Uhud, and the cemetery of Al-Baqi', can be some of the best times you'll ever have. After everything is said and done, just remember that your worship is a direct reflection of how pure your intentions are. Say Bismillah at every step, whether you are looking at the Kaaba for the first time or touching the Hajr e Aswad during cheap umrah packages 2023. Don't talk about things that don't matter. Like a real Muslim, spend your time and energy worshipping Allah.
