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1. How To Perform Umrah

RULES AND GUIDELINES

All the rules and guidelines listed in this guide are the general rules.
For more details and allowable options, use a reputable Umrah book or consult a scholar.


THE RITES OF UMRAH

The only rites of Umrah are:
· Entering the state of Ihram
. Tawaf of Ka’bah
· Sa’yee between the hills of Safa and Marwah
· Shaving or clipping of the hair


IHRAM FOR UMRAH AND ENTERING MASJID AL-HARAM

1. Ihram: Before wearing the ihram, it is sunnah to trim one's nails, remove unwanted hair and make ghusl. If ghusl is not possible then wudu will be sufficient. Wearing of ihram should be done before entering meeqat. One piece of ihram is tied around the waist and the other thrown over the shoulders. Underwear, head covering (for males), shoes, socks are not permitted. Beach thongs or similar footwear that do not cover the arch of the foot (above the toes) and ankles are permissible. You should be already in Ihram for Umrah before entering Makkah as mentioned above.
Salaatul Ihram After wearing the ihram, perform two rakaat sunnatul ihram. In the first rakaah read: Surah Kafiroon In the second rakaah read Surah Ikhlaas. After the completion of this salah, make the niyyah (intention) of umrah, and recite the talbiyah thrice (Loudly for males, and softly for females).
Intention for Umrah Recite the following dua (with raised hands):
" Allahumma inni uridil umrahta fa-yassisra le wa taqabbalah minni " Thereafter, recite the talbiyah thrice:
" Labbaik allahumma labbaik. Labbaik la sharika laka labbaik. Innal hamda wanaimat laka wal mulk.La sharika lak "(Here I am, O Allah here I am -- here I am, you have no partner, here I am -- Surely all praise, favor and authority belongs to you. You have no partner.) After the talbiyah, the following dua was recited by Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam): O Allah I seek your pleasure and jannah (paradise) and seek protection in you.

2. Entering Masjid al-Haram: While reciting Talbiyah, enter Masjid al-Haram preferably through Bab as-Salam with right foot first. Supplicate to Allah and proceed towards Ka’bah. You may recite the following supplication which is usually used before entering a mosque:

Allah huma aftah li abwabe rahmate ka


3. First Sight: At the first sight of Ka’bah, keep your eyes fixed at Baitullah and standing at one side, it is suggested that you do the following:

· Say Allahu Akbar three times
· Say La Ilaha Illallah three times
· Proclaim Darud on our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) and very humbly and with tears in your eyes supplicate to Allah for whatever you wish. This is a special time for the acceptance of prayers.
The idea is to praise and glorify your Creator before proclaiming Darud and supplications. Therefore, in lieu of Allahu Akbar and La Ilaha Illallah, you may recite some other similar holy verses if you so desire.

After this, while uttering Talbiyah, move forward to perform Tawaf of Ka’bah.


TAWAF OF UMRAH

Tawaf means circling around something . Here it means moving around Ka’bah seven times with extreme love and devotion.

1. Preparation: Pass the upper sheet of Ihram from underneath the right arm and put it on the left shoulder. This act bares the right shoulder and is known as Iztaba. Ablutions (vudu) is essential for tawaf. Reciting of Talbiyah is stopped when you reach Hajar-e- Aswad, the starting point of tawaf.

2. Niyyah (Intention): Stand in front of Ka’bah facing Hajar-e-Aswad (the Black Stone) in such a way that the whole Hajre-e-Aswad is on your right side. To achieve this end, you may get help from the black stripe on the floor. This stripe should be on your right side. Then without raising your hands make Niyyah (intention) for Umrah:

" O Allah, I perform Tawaf of Umrah to please You. Make it easy for me and accept it from me."

3. Istilam: Now moving towards right, come in front of Hajar-e-Aswad and kiss it if possible, or touch it with a stick and kiss the stick; if that also is not possible, raise your hands to your ears keeping your open palms towards Hajre-e-Aswad and say:

" Bismillahi Allahu Akbar Wa Lilla Hil Hamd"

and drop your hands down. Now point the palms of your hands again towards Hajar-e- Aswad and kiss them. This act of kissing Hajar-e-Aswad or pointing towards it is called Istilam.

4. Tawaf Starts: After Istilam, turn right and start tawaf counter clockwise.

WARNING
· The authorities often apply perfume to Hajar-e-Aswad, Rukn Yamani and Multazam. If so, do not touch them while in the state of Ihram, otherwise a dum will be required as a penalty.
· During tawaf, it is not permissible to face or turn your back towards Ka’bah except when you are kissing or pointing towards Hajar-e-Aswad.

5. Ramal: For the first three circuits of Tawaf of Umrah and Tawaf of Arrival, men are required to move their shoulders and walk with quick short steps. This act is called Ramal and is Sunnah. They walk normally during the remaining four circuits.

6. Supplications of Tawaf: There are no fixed supplications for tawaf but there are several recommended supplications listed in the books of Hajj and Umrah out of which the following supplication is easy to memorize:

"Subhan-Allah wal-hamdu-lillahi wa la ilaha ill-Allah wa-Allahu Akbar wa la haula wa la quwwata illa-billah."

If you don’t remember these words, you may glorify Allah by repeatedly uttering:

Subhan Allah,
Al-Hamdu lilla,
Allahu Akbar,
La Ilaha Illallah, etc.

The Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) has said that there are two kalimahs that are light on tongue and (on the day of judgment) they weigh heavy on the scale (Mizan) and are liked by Allah.
These kalimahs are:

Subhan Allah Wabe Hamde hi Subhan Allah Hil Azeem (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmizi)

You may also use supplications used in the daily Salah or you may seek forgiveness of Allah and ask Him whatever you wish in your own language.

7. Hatim: Hatim is a semi-circular half-built portion which was originally a part of the Ka’bah but which could not be included in the main structure when the Ka’bah was rebuilt. It is obligatory to go around Hatim also while performing tawaf.

8. Rukn Yamani and its Supplications: After passing the three corners of the Ka’bah you reach the fourth corner known as Rukn Yamani. Touch it with both hands or with right hand. There is a beautiful supplication to be used while walking between Rukn Yamani and Hajar-e-Aswad:

"Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina azabin-nar."

Our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) has repeatedly recited this supplication. The first circuit is complete when you reach Hajar-e-Aswad.

9.Seven Circuits: At Hajar-e-Aswad, start the second circuit by kissing it or pointing towards it as you started the first circuit, i.e., come in front of Hajar-e-Aswad, raise both hands to your ears with open palms towards it and say:

" Bismillahi Allahu Akbar Wa Lillah Hil Hamd"

Now kiss both palms and drop your hands. After this go around Ka’bah as you did before and similarly complete the seven circuits.

10. The End of Tawaf: At the end of seven circuits, do Istilam of Hajar-e- Aswad or point towards it eighth time which is Sunnat Mu’akidah. Also say:

"Bismillahi Allahu Akbar Wa Lillah Hill Hamd"

11. Iztaba Finished : Now Iztaba is finished, therefore, you cover your both shoulders with upper portion of the Ihram sheet. This does not apply to women.

12. Multazam: Now, come to Multazam which is a place five or six feet in length between Hajar-e-Aswad and the door of Ka’bah. This is a highly sacred place where prayers are accepted. Among a large crowd of people, if it is possible to reach Multazam, cling to it pressing your chest and cheeks, and while trembling and crying with devotion and with all humility seek Allah’s mercy, His blessings and ask Him whatever you wish. If you are unable to come close to Multazam, just face towards it and supplicate from a distance.

13.Maqam Ibrahim: Next offer two rakahs of nafls behind and close to Maqam Ibrahim without covering your head. If it is zawal time when sajdah is not allowed, you have to wait till this undesirable time is passed and then offer prayers.
In the niyyah (intention), say that you are offering 2 rakahs of nafls wajib al- tawaf. Recite Qul ya ayya hal kafroon in the first rakah and Qulhu wallah in the second rakah. After this, supplicate to Allah in Arabic or in your own language. Ask Him whatever you wish and invoke His blessings.
If it is not possible to offer this obligatory prayer near Maqam Ibrahim, it can be offered anywhere in Mataf, or in Hatim or anywhere in Masjid al-Haram or even at any place in Haram of Makkah.

14. Zamzam: Now go to Nearest Zamzam Water places. Zamzam is the best available water in the world. Drink this water to fill while in standing position saying Bismillah. Then supplicate to Allah:

"Allahummah inni as’aluka ilm-an naafi’an wa rizqan waasi’an wa shifa’am min kulli daa’in."

(O Allah! I implore Thee for beneficial knowledge, for vast provisions, and for cure from every disease.)

15. Safa Marwah (S’aee):Safa Marwah (S’aee) Stand on Mount Safa (a rocky hill, a portion of which has been included in the present building), face the Ka'bah, make dua then read: La ilaha illalah and Allahu akbar and then read durood sharif (softly). Descend from the slope and proceed towards Marwah staying to your right side of the area. About 230 feet (70 meters) from Safa are two sets of green fluorescent lights indicating the milain akhdarain. Males have to break out into a slow jog between these lights, a distance of about 160 feet (50 metres). It is sunnah to jog or run this short distance. Engage yourself with dua and zikr and repeatedly recite. On reaching marwah, climb the slope, face the Ka'bah and do the same as you had done at safa. (The Ka'bah is not visible from Marwah). One shawt has now been completed. Commence your return to Safa . On reaching the green light breaks out into a slow jog again till you reach the other green light. On reaching Safa, the same procedure of reciting the duaa is carried out. The second shawt has now been completed. In this manner complete seven shawts ending at Marwah .After completing the seven rounds, return to the mataf area of the haram (i.e. the open area around the Ka'bah ) and perform two rakaat salaah (mustahab). Thereafter, go to the barber and have your hair shaven off (male only). Women will trim the end of the hair (approx: 1 inch or 2.5 cm). The best way is for her mahram (after he has shaven off his hair) to wrap the end of her hair once around his finger and snip off the amount mentioned above.