The Umrah

What is the Umrah?

The Umrah is a type of "smaller Hajj." Essentially, there are two types of Umrah: the obligatory Umrah (Umaratul Tamattu) and the recommended Umrah (Umrah Munfarida). The obligatory Umrah must be performed by every Muslim once in their lifetime, provided they are able. Typically, Muslims fulfill this obligation as part of the Hajj. However, the recommended Umrah can be performed at any time, with the tradition stating that an Umrah performed in the month of Rajab holds the highest merit.

The Umrah is an important means of spiritual self-discipline. The rituals of the Umrah result in the complete removal of arrogance within a person and fill them with loving humility and submission to their Creator. The experience of Umrah is profound and transformative, and pilgrims often return with renewed faith and a stronger bond with Allah (SWT) and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Rituals of the Umrah

The Umrah consists of a total of seven obligatory acts. It begins with the Ihram and concludes with the Women’s Tawaf prayer. The following is a brief explanation of the seven obligatory acts. The detailed method of performing these rituals, along with the associated legal rulings for both men and women, will be explained to the pilgrims before and during the journey.

The pilgrims enter the state of Ihram by wearing the special garments, declaring their intention to begin the Umrah, and reciting the Talbiyah (Labbayk invocation).
Important: Entering the state of Ihram must take place at the designated locations or before entering Mecca.
The first ritual act after entering the state of Ihram is the sevenfold circumambulation of the Kaaba in a counterclockwise direction. During this act, both the body and clothing must be free from any ritual impurity. In addition to being in the state of Ihram, pilgrims must also be in a state of ritual purity.
After the sevenfold circumambulation of the Kaaba, the next ritual obligation is the performance of the Tawaf Prayer in the area behind Maqam Ibrahim. The Tawaf Prayer consists of two units, similar to the Fajr (morning) prayer.
After completing the Tawaf Prayer, pilgrims must walk seven times between the two hills of Safa and Marwa. They begin at Safa and finish at Marwa.
After the Sa'i, the next obligatory ritual of the Umrah is the shortening of the hair (Halq) or nails (Taqsir). Pilgrims must cut a portion of their hair and/or nails to fulfill this obligation and exit the state of Ihram. Shaving the entire head is allowed.
With Halq or Taqsir, pilgrims transition from the state of Ihram back to their normal (non-Ihram) state.
After shortening the hair or nails, pilgrims must perform the so-called Women’s Tawaf (Tawaf al-Nisa). This is done in the same manner as the previous Tawaf. The only difference lies in the declaration of intention, as the intention here is to perform the “Women’s Tawaf” and not the “regular” Tawaf.
The final act of the recommended Umrah is the prayer after the Women’s Tawaf. The manner of performing this prayer is the same as the regular Tawaf prayer. The only difference is in the intention, which should be “the prayer of the Women’s Tawaf” instead of “the prayer of the regular Tawaf.”
Upon completion of this ritual, the recommended Umrah is completed, and the Islamic marital bond between the pilgrims and their spouses is reinstated.

The Holy

Prophet's Mosque

One of the most important pilgrimage sites, besides the holy Kaaba in Mecca, is the Prophet's Mosque and the tomb of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) located within it, in the illuminated city of Medina. It was built under the Prophet's order and is the second oldest mosque in Islam, after the Quba Mosque. Pilgrims typically visit this special site before or after completing the rituals of Umrah.

The Quba Mosque

The Quba Mosque, the oldest mosque in the world, was built on the order of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). With its impressive spiritual value and historical significance, it attracts believers from all over the world. Performing prayers in this revered mosque is associated with great rewards and spiritual benefits. Located on the outskirts of Medina, the Quba Mosque is often visited by pilgrims before or after performing the Umrah.