The Hajj Umrah

Umrah Guidelines & Preparation

Preparations for Ihram

You need to comb your hair, shape your beard, cut your moustache and nails, and cut extra hair from your body.

Purification

You should take bath for performing Ihram or do wudu (الوضوء). You can undertake purification in two ways. The first method is by purifying your body by shower or wudu (الوضوء). Purifying your body internally, through repentance on your sins. You should recite: "O Allah, I sincerely repent on my sins and seek your forgiveness."

Ihram Sheets

Men must wear white cloth around their waist and cover their upper body with the other sheet. Women's simple clothes are their Ihram. Both men and women should wear the flip-flops (hawai chappal), such that the middle bones of the upper part of the feet are uncovered.

Nafl Salah

After you have donned the Ihram garments, it is Sunnah to perform two Rakats of Salah al-Ihram before making the intention to enter into the state of Ihram. This should be performed before the Miqat has been crossed. Provided it isn’t one of the prohibited times for prayer, observe the Salah with the intention of performing two Rakats Nafl for Ihram.

If any other prayer is performed after changing into the Ihram attire and before pronouncing the intention, whether it is obligatory or Sunnah (such as the two Rakats Salah for the greeting of the mosque), it will account for this prayer, even if there is no intention to do so.

Since you’re not in the spiritual state of Ihram yet, you may perform the Salah with your head covered. It is a Sunnah to recite Surah al-Kafirun (Surah 109) in the first Rakat and Surah al-Ikhlas (Surah 112) in the second Rakat after Surah al-Fatiha, although any other Surah may be recited. Once you’ve finished, remove any headwear or anything else that may violate the rules of Ihram and get ready to make your intention.

Women in a state of menstruation should not perform the Salah, rather they should make their intention for Hajj or Umrah and recite the Talbiyah.

Advice

If you are going to Jeddah by air, it is suitable to get into the status of Ihram inside the airplane. The procedure is given as follows. You must do everything at home or at the airport except Niyyah (intention) and “Labbayka Allaahumma labbayk, labbayka laa shareeka laka labbayk, Inna al-hamd wa’l-ni’mata laka wa’l-mulk, laa shareeka lak (لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ، وَالنِّعْمَةَ، لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ) (Here I am, O Allaah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Verily all praise and blessings are Yours, and all sovereignty, You have no partner.

First take shower, then pray two rakahs of nafl. Next, you have to undertake intention, (النية) and “Labbayka Allaahumma labbayk, labbayka laa shareeka laka labbayk, Inna al-hamd wa’l-ni’mata laka wa’l-mulk, laa shareeka lak (لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ، وَالنِّعْمَةَ، لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ) (Here I am, O Allaah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Verily all praise and blessings are Yours, and all sovereignty, You have no partner.

Please note

It is always suggested to ask at the time of boarding, whether the pilot will announce the arrival of Miqat. If the reply is no, then create your intention and say “Labbayka Allaahumma labbayk, labbayka laa shareeka laka labbayk, Inna al-hamd wa’l-ni’mata laka wa’l-mulk, laa shareeka lak (لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ، وَالنِّعْمَةَ، لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ) (Here I am, O Allaah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Verily all praise and blessings are Yours, and all sovereignty, You have no partner. By yourself one hour before you reach Jeddah.

Journey towards Makkah

During the commencement of this sacred journey towards Makkah al-Mukarrama, recite “Labbayka Allaahumma labbayk, labbayka laa shareeka laka labbayk, Inna al-hamd wa’l-ni’mata laka wa’l-mulk, laa shareeka lak (لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ، وَالنِّعْمَةَ، لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ) (Here I am, O Allaah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Verily all praise and blessings are Yours, and all sovereignty, You have no partner frequently during the journey.

How To Perform 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

You must be in Ihram for Umrah before entering Mecca.

Entering Masjid al-Haram - While reciting the holy verse “Labbayka Allaahumma labbayk, labbayka laa shareeka laka labbayk, Inna al-hamd wa’l-ni’mata laka wa’l-mulk, laa shareeka lak (لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ، وَالنِّعْمَةَ، لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ) (Here I am, O Allaah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Verily all praise and blessings are Yours, and all sovereignty, You have no partner, enter Masjid al-Haram from Bab as-Salam with right foot first.

Tawaf of Umrah

Tawaf means going around something in a circle. Here it is defined as moving around Ka'bah seven times with full love and respect.

Preparation – You should pass the upper sheet of Ihram from below the right arm and put it on your left shoulder. This act makes your right shoulder bare and is known as Iztaba. Purifications (vudu) is essential for tawaf. Chanting of “Labbayka Allaahumma labbayk, labbayka laa shareeka laka labbayk, Inna al-hamd wa’l-ni’mata laka wa’l-mulk, laa shareeka lak (لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ، وَالنِّعْمَةَ، لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ) (Here I am, O Allaah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Verily all praise and blessings are Yours, and all sovereignty, You have no partner is stopped once you arrive at Hajar-e-Aswad, the beginning point of tawaf.