Tawaf:
When a Muslim arrives in Makkah, he should make Tawaf around the
Ka’bah, as a gesture of greeting Al-Masjid Al Haraam. This is
done by circling the Ka’bah seven times in the counterclockwise
direction, starting from the black stone with Takbeer and
ending each circle at the black stone with Takbeer, keeping the
Ka’bah to one’s left.
Then
the pilgrim goes to Maqam Ibrahim (Ibrahim’s station), and
performs two rak’ah behind it, (close to it if possible), but
away from the path of the people making Tawaf. In all
cases one should be facing the Ka’bah when praying behind Maqam
Ibrahim.
Sa’i:
The next rite is
to make sa’i between Safa and Marwah. The pilgrim starts Sa’i by
ascending the Safa. While facing the direction of the Ka’ba he
praises Allah, raises his hands and says Takbeer “Allah-u-Akbar”
three times, then makes supplication to Allah. Then the pilgrim
descends from the Safa and heads towards the Marwah.
One should increase the pace between theclearly marked green posts, but should walk at a normal pace
before and after them. When the pilgrim reaches the Marwah, he
should ascend it, praise Allah and do as
he did at the Safa.
This is considered one round and so is the
other way from
the Marwah to the Safa. A total of seven rounds are required to
perform the sa’i.
Shaving the Head or Trimming the
Hair:
After Sa’i, the Muslim ends his
Umra rites by shaving his head or trimming his hair (women should
cut a finger tip’s length from their hair). At this stage, the
prohibitions pertaining to the state of Ihram are lifted and one
can resume his normal life.
There are no required supplications for Tawaf or for
Sa’i. It is up to the worshipper to praise Allah or to
supplicate Him with any acceptable supplication or to recite
verses of the Qur’an. There are no many specific supplications
that the Prophet (SWS) used to recite during the rites.
|