UMRAH is a spiritual journey that can be performed at any time of the year. UMRAH is no obligatory, but it’s an Islamic journey that has its high importance. UMRAH is an act of worship for ALLAH (SWT). Muslims travel to Makkah from all across the world to do UMRAH. To increase closeness to ALLAH (SWT), UMRAH is one of the best worship that Muslims can do. This year, if you want to perform Umrah you can avail of September Umrah Packages.

Four important steps to perform UMRAH according to Sunnah:

Umrah has four important steps according to Sunnah. First of all, you put on Ihram clothes before the Miqat, perform two Rakahs of Salah and do your Niyyah as the Miqat approaches, then reciting the Talbiyah repeatedly. Secondly, you have to do Tawaf of the Kaaba followed by two Rakahs of Salah, if possible near Maqam Ibrahim. Thirdly, you do Sai of Safa and Marwah. In the fourth step, you shave (Halq) or shorten (Taqsir) your hair letting you leave the state of Ihram and complete your UMRAH. Following is the detail of all four steps.

Step 1- Put on Ihram:

Ihram is basically creating the formal ‘intention’ of carrying out the UMRAH. To enter the dress of Ihram, the haji must change clothes and take an accurate ghusl which reflects an act of washing away all impurities. Men change into the two white clothes one is called Ridaa and the second is called Izaar, while women can attire any type of clothing which covers the whole body and head. At the Meeqat, the haji must make the intention and recite the Talbiyah. It is guided that the haji continues to recite the Talbiyah from the instant he put on Ihram until he/she gets to the performance of the second step Tawaaf.

Step-2-Start the process of Tawaaf:

The haji must reach Masjid al-Haram, and move in with his/her right foot. The haji can then touch the Hajr e Aswad the black stone and start the process of Tawaaf. If possible, the haji should touch the black stone with his right hand and then kiss it. If, however, he is not able to kiss it directly due to the gathering, he can touch it with his hand and then kiss his hand as a ritual. There is an important benefit in touching the Black Stone. A person can easily kiss the black stone by booking cheap Umrah packages 2023 if he desires to kiss the Black Stone because he may not be able to kiss it during Hajj days due to the great rush of people. If he cannot touch the stone with his hands due to a huge crowded situation, the haji should face his hand in the direction of the stone and say “Allah Hu Akbar”.

Then the hajis can start the spiritual Tawaaf, taking rounds and around the Kabah, with the Kabah being on their left. Men hajis must keep their right shoulder naked during the Tawaaf, which is well-known as the term Idtibaa. This is done by placing the Ridaa under the right armpit and taking it up on the other left shoulder. Moreover, the men must practice ‘Raml’ in the first three rounds of Tawaaf, which is walking fast while taking small footsteps. For the rest four rounds, they can walk in their normal place.

The haji should then offer two Rakat of prayer behind the spot of Maqam e Ibrahim. If that is proving hard due to the gathering, the pilgrim can offer the prayers in any spot of the masjid.

Step-3-Perform Sai:

The haji should then go to perform Sai. The pilgrim must then hike up on the Safa hill to a point from where the Kabah is visible. He should look at the Kabah, raise his hand and pray to Allah SWT.

Then the pilgrim should slope down to Marwah hill and the men are to run between the green lights. The distance is marked by two green marks, the men should run till the second mark and then walk up normally to the hill of Marwah and climb up. This procedure will go on and the seventh round will be finished at Marwah hill.

Step-4 Cutting of head Hair:

Finally, upon the completion of the seven-round, the pilgrim is obligatory to cut his/her hair. The men are needed to shave their heads or cut their hair on their entire head equally. The women are advised to cut their hair equal to the length of a fingertip. With this final act, the pilgrim officially completes his/her UMRAH.