Description of ‘Umrah Rites

23/11/2009| IslamWeb

It is an act of Sunnah (tradition) for the person intending to perform 'Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) to bathe and clean himself upon reaching the Meeqaat (boundary). He also should perfume his body, head, and beard. Bathing for Ihraam (sacral state) is an act of Sunnah for both men and women, including menstruating women and those experiencing postnatal bleeding.

The man must wear the clothes of Ihraam which are the lower garment (Izaar) and the upper garment (Ridaa‘) after taking off his form-fitting clothes such as chemises, trousers and the like. As for the woman, she may wear any clothes that cover her body without any adornment or unlawful exposure of adornment. However, she should avoid wearing gloves and Niqaab (face cover) while assuming the state of Ihraam, but she should cover her face in the presence of non-Mahram (marriageable) men by lowering her head cover over her face.

Having done this, the person prays the obligatory prayer if it is its due time. Otherwise, he performs two Rak‘ahs (units) as an act of Sunnah for commencing the state of Ihraam.

When he finishes performing prayer, he should start his state of Ihraam by intending to perform 'Umrah, and saying: “Labbayka ‘Umrahthan.” Then he should say: “Labbayka Allahumma Labbayk, Labbayka laa Shareeka laka Labbayk, Inn-al-Hamda wanni’mata laka wal-mulk. laa Shareeka lak (Here I am at Your service performing ‘Umrah, Here I am at Your service, Oh Allah; here I am at Your service. Here I am at Your service. You Have no partner. Here I am at your service. Surely all praise, grace and dominion is Yours, and You Have no partner.”

A man should raise his voice when saying this, while a woman should only say it loud enough that the women beside her may hear.

By this, the person has started the rites of ‘Umrah, and he is therefore prohibited to do any of the restrictions of Ihraam until he finishes the rites of ’Umrah and ends his state of Ihraam.

A person in the state of Ihraam should say the Talbiyah frequently, as it is a declaration that indicates the rites of 'Umrah, especially when changing times and places, such as descending or ascending or when day or night approaches. One should keep saying the Talbiyah until the time when he will start Tawaaf.

When one approaches Makkah, he should bathe before entering it, as the Prophet did so. It is also a Sunnah for one to enter Makkah form the area of Kadaa' “Ath-Thaniyyah Al-‘Ulya” (higher place) and leave it form the area of Kudayy (‎Ath-Thaniyyah As-Sufla‎) (lower place), as the Prophet did so.

When the person performing the rites of 'Umrah enters Al-Masjid Al-Haraam, he proceeds with his right foot first and says, “Bismillaah, was-Salaatu was-Salaamu ‘alaa Rasoolillaah. Allahumma-ighfirlee, waftahlee abwaaba Rahmatik. (In the Name of Allah, may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. Oh Allah, forgive my sins and open the doors of Your Mercy before me).” Just as he does when entering any other mosque.

He should approach the Black Stone to start his Tawaaf (circumambulation) from that point. Before starting Tawaaf, it is an act of Sunnah for one to place the middle of his upper garment under his right arm and the ends of it over his left shoulder, which is known as Idhtibaa‘ (uncovering his right shoulder).

Upon reaching the Black Stone, he should touch it with his right hand and kiss it. If he could not, then he should touch it with his hand and then kiss his hand. If this also was not possible, he should face the Black Stone and point to it with his hand without kissing it. When touching the Black Stone, one should say, “Bismillaah, Allahu Akbar (In the Name of Allah, Allah Is The Greatest).”

Then, one should start the Tawaaf until he reaches the Yamaani Corner – the corner before the corner of the Black Stone – he should touch, but not kiss it. If he could not, then he should not point to it. One should say between the Yamaani Corner and the Black Stone, “Rabbanaa Aatinaa fid-Dunyaa Hasanah, wa fil-Aakhirati Hasanah, wa qinaa ‘athaab an-Naar.” {"Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire."} [Quran 2:201]

During the rest of the Tawaaf one may say what he pleases of supplications, Thikr, and recitation of the Quran, knowing that there is no specific supplication or Thikr for each circumambulation.

He must make seven rounds of circumambulation starting from and ending at the Black Stone, and what he does in the first round of circumambulation applies to the rest.

During the first three rounds, one should make Ar-Ramal (hastening). One should walk at a normal pace during his last four rounds, taking into consideration that this ruling is confined to men.

When he completes the seven rounds of Tawaaf, he should put his upper garment to its normal position then approach the Standing Place of Ibraaheem and recite (what means): {…And take, [O believers], from the standing place of Ibraaheem (Abraham) a place of prayer….} [Quran 2:125] He should then perform two Rak‘ahs (units) behind the Standing Place of Ibraaheem if it is possible. However, if he was unable to, he can perform them in any other place in Al-Masjid Al-Haraam. During the first Rak‘ah, he should recite – after Al-Faatihah – the Soorah of Al-Kaafiroon [Chapter 109], and during the second Rak‘ah – after Al-Faatihah – the Soorah of Al-Ikhlaas [Chapter 112]

When he completes the two Rak‘ahs, he should proceed to the place for performing Sa’y between As-Safa and Al-Marwah mounts), and when he is close to As-Safa mount, he should recite (what means): {Indeed, As-Safa and Al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allah….} [Quran 2:158]

Then he should say, “I start with that with which Allah started.”

He should ascend As-Safa until he is able to see the Ka’bah. Facing the Ka’bah and raising his hands, he should praise Allah and supplicate to Him saying:

La ilaaha ill-Allahu wahdahu la Shareeka lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-Hamd, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay‘in Qadeer. La ilaaha ill-Allahu wahdah, anjaza wa’dah, wa Nasara ‘abdah, wa hazama al-ahzaaba wahdah. (There is none worthy of worship except Allah Alone without any partners, His is all dominion and praise, and He is over all things Competent. There is none worthy of worship except Allah Alone without any partners, He fulfilled His promise, granted victory to His Slave, and defeated the allied forces Alone).

He should say this three times, supplicating with what he wills in between.

He should descend from Mount As-Safa and head to Mount Al-Marwah at a normal pace until he reaches the green mark. He should then run as fast as he can without harming others until he reaches the next green mark. He continues toward Al-Marwah at a normal pace. During this, one should occupy himself in remembering and praising Allah The Almighty as well as making supplications or reciting the Quran. It should be known that running between the two green marks is confined to men and not for women.

When he reaches Al-Marwah, he should ascend it, face the Qiblah (direction of the Ka'bah), raise his hands and repeat what he said on As-Safa mount without reciting (what means): {Indeed, As-Safa and Al-Marwah are among the symbols of ‎Allah…} [Quran 2:158] By this, a person would have accomplished one of the seven rounds of Sa’y.

He should then descend Al-Marwah and head towards As-Safa, taking care to walk where walking is designated and to run where running is designated. He continues this procedure until he completes seven rounds of Sa’y going from As-Safa to Al-Marwah is considered one round and returning is another.

Upon completion of Sa’y, men should shave or shorten their hair, but shaving is more preferable for them. A woman should only shorten her hair the length of a fingertip. By this, the ‘Umrah is complete, and the person performing ’Umrah terminates his Ihraam and is free to do the things he was prohibited from during his state of Ihraam.