Umrah Step by Step

There are four stages to Umrah:

1. Al-Ihram - entering the state of consecration by wearing two pieces of unsewn white coffin cotton sheets to signify one's death to the material world. Once you have made the intention, you are bound to all restrictions
2.  At-Tawaf – circumambulating around the Holy Ka’aba seven times
3. As-Sa’i – going back and forth between As-Safa and Al-Marwah
4. Halq – shaving the head or cutting the hair short

Wear Ihram

Prophet of Allah specified 4 Meeqats in 4 directions of Kaaba so pilgrims could don their ihram while entering from any of these four directions. Since we now fly by planes one could wear their ihram when the pilot announces that the plane is passing over the Meeqat. Since plane whizzes by the Meeqat and there is little privacy for hundreds of pilgrims to change en masse, ulemas recommend that one don the ihram at one's home but make the niyyat (intention) of Umrah at the meeqat so restrictions of Ihram begin from this point on. One should perform Ghusl and ablution before donning ihram. A woman wears her normal clothes but she is no longer allowed to wear a face covering (niqab) or gloves on her hands. If a man passes by one can pull headscarf.

How to make intention

Once the plane is passing over Meeqat, stand up and face the Qibla and say “Labbayka Allahummah bi ‘Umrah.” If you are coming down with something and are afraid that sickness might prevent you from completing Umrah they add the following words: “Allahumma mahallee haithu habastanee” “O Allah! May I be freed from this state of Ihram at the point where You have stopped me or prevented me from completing the rites.” If a person makes this condition and is unable to complete Umrah, he does not incur any penalty. If a person does not add this condition to his intention and is unable to complete his or her Umrah, he or she he has to expiate this omission by offering a sacrifice.

Begin Reciting Talbiyah

Once you have made the intention, you begin reciting talbiya aloud and keep repeating them until you arrive at the Sacred Mosque and begin your tawaf.

Talbiyah is:

“Labbayka Allahumma Labbayk. Labbayka La Shareeka Laka Labbayk. Inna-alhamda Wan-n’imata Laka Wal Mulk. La Shareeka Lak.”

(Here I am. O my Lord, here I am. Here I am. No partner do You have. Here I am. Truly, the praise and the provisions are Yours, and so is the dominion. No partner do You have.”

Restrictions of Ihram

• A man must not cover his head until he has shaved his head after completion of his Umrah
• A man may not wear any sown item of clothing. A woman may not wear a face covering (niqab) or gloves.
• One cannot apply perfume
• One must avoid all kinds of minor and major sins. No lying, cheating, dishonesty, backbiting, gossiping, or looking at or touching opposite sex
• No bickering, jostling or fighting allowed. One must not allowed oneself to be angry even though there will be ample opportunity to get roused in such a big crowd
• No sexual relations with even one's spouse
• No hunting or killing of any animal not even an insect. One is only allowed to kill a dangerous animal

Circumambulating around Kaaba

Our very first priority upon entering Mecca is to pay a visit to the Sacred Mosque. There we make seven rounds of the Kaaba, pray 2 units of prayers at Maqam-e Ibrahim and then drink Zam Zam and head to Safa for Sai after saying farewell to Hajre Aswad.

Entering the Mosque

After we are settled in, we make wudhu and head to the Mosque reciting talbiya. We recite the prayer of entering a mosque.

“Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa sallim - Allahumma aftah lee abwaaba Rahmatika”
(“O Allah, may the salaat and salaam be on Muhammad. O Allah open for me the Gates of Your Mercy.”)

Tahiyatul Masjid

We offer two kat of prayer for tahiyattul masjid.

First Look at Kaaba

then we take a look at the Holy Kaaba. It is said that any supplication offered when we first look at Kaaba is accepted. Tears begin rolling down one's cheeks involuntarily but if they don't one must meditate on the extent of the God's Grace upon us that enabled us to be in His House. This was the first House of Worship that the First Man built. It was this House where Father of Mankind and God's First Messenger Hadhrat Adam and Mother of Mankind Hawwa (Eve) worshipped as did their progeny and it was this House that Father of Monotheistic Faiths Prophet Abraham and his son re-built and worshipped in. And it was this very house where God's Final Messenger worshipped after rededicating it to the worship of the One and Only God.

This Blessed House is the Most Sacred place in this Solar System and beyond but you can experience it yourself when you put your first step there. If no supplication comes to mind which may happen as seeing the Kaaba for the first ime can be an overwhelming experience for even the hardiest person, then you may recite the supplication of ‘Umar (radhiallah ‘anhu): “Allahumma antas salaamu wa minkas salaamu fahayyinaa rabbana bissalaam.”

When a person arrives in Makkah the first thing he should do is go directly to the Ka’aba for the performance of Tawaf. At the point of beginning the Tawaf the person should stop reciting the Talbiyah either at the time of arriving at Makkah or entering Masjid al-Haram. Enter the masjid with the right foot saying the dua’a: The person should then begin the Tawaf going around the Ka’aba seven times uncovering the right shoulder (that is for men, of course) and going quickly in the first three circuits in short quick steps called Ramal. This is specifically for Tawaf al-Qudoom (the arrival Tawaf). For any other Tawaf afterwards one should not uncover the shoulder and do the Ramal. Begin the Tawaf at the Black Stone, kissing it you can, saying “Allahu Akbar” or “Bismillah, Allahu Akbar”. This should be done every time reaching or passing the Black Stone. The person should kiss it if he is able to or point with the right hand without stopping. You may touch the Rukn al-Yamani (the last corner of the Ka’aba before the Black Stone) with you right hand if you can without kissing it or without pointing at it. If you cannot do this just pass by without pointing at it. During the performance of the Tawaf the person should not raise his voice with their Zikr or dua’a. Instead they should say in a low voice to themselves whatever remembrance and supplications they know from the Qur’an and the Sunnah or asking for whatever they want from Allah in their own words. Also, between the Yemeni corner and the Black Stone the person should recite: “Rabbanaa, aatinaa fid-dunyaa hasanatan wa fil aakhirati hasanatan wa qinaa ‘adhaaban naar.” (Surah al-Baqarah 2: 201) (“Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire!”)

Maqam-e IGrahim

After completing the seven rounds of Tawaf go to Maqam Ibrahim. While proceeding or on reaching the Maqam Ibrahim it is a Sunnah to recite the ayah: “Wattakhidhoo mim-maqaami Ibraheema musalla.” (Surah al-Baqarah 2: 125) (“And take you the Station of Ibrahim as a place of prayer.”) At the point the person should pray two Rak’ah behind the Maqam Ibrahim if they are able and if not then in any place in the masjid. Read in the first Rak’ah Surah Fatihah and Al-Kafirun and in the second Surah Fatihah and Al-Ikhlas. You may reverse the order: Al-Ikhlas in the first and Al-Kafirun in the second.

Zam Zam and Farewell Kiss

Then drink Zam Zam and pour over the head pondering over the miracle of Zam Zam as Zam Zam was the gift Beloved Allah bestowed on Mother Hajar after her desperate search for water in the then barren desert of Mecca between Safa and Marwa.

If the crowd is thin you may return to Hajre Aswad and kiss it but if crowd is thick you don't want to inconvenience fellow pilgrims, you then kiss your hand and point towards the Hajr with your right hand saying “Allahu Akbar” or “Bismillah, Allahu Akbar” and you are done with tawaf and ready to head for Sai. You may take a brief break now if you feel tried but it is best to keep the momentum going if you are upto it.

Sa'i between Safa and Marwa

Then the person should go towards the mountain of As-Safa which is where the Sa’i begins. As you near Safa you should recite as the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) did: “Innas-Safa wal Marwata min Sha’irallahi... ” (Surah al-Baqarah 2:158)
(“Verily, As-Safa and Al-Marwah are from the  symbols of Allah”)
When beginning to climb As-Safa the person should say as the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:
“Nabda’u bimaa bada’Allahu bihi.”
(“We begin with what Allah began with”)
Climbing the mountain one may be able look at the Ka’aba, only a glance from certain places. Stand up facing the Ka’aba declaring the Oneness and Greatness of Allah and raising their hands as one raises after the Salaat to make supplication, raising the palms saying three times: “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.” Then the Zikr of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam):
“Laa ilaaha illallahu wahdahu laa shareekalahu - lahul mulku was lahul hamdu - wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shai’in qadeer - laa ilaaha illallaahu wahdahu - anjaza wa’dahu wa nasara ‘abdahu wa hazamal ahzaaba wahdahu.”
(Memorise all these supplications in Arabic)
Then make their own supplications or from the Qur’an and the Sunnah. This should be done three times.
At the point proceed towards Al-Marwah. Go quickly between the two green signposts. This is specifically for men to the exclusion of women according to the most correct opinion of scholars, although some scholars say this is also applicable to women except where there is a fear of fitnah caused by a woman’s body movements.
On the mountain of Al-Marwah do exactly the same as you did on As-Safa facing the Qibla, making Takbeer and supplications.
One of the supplications of the Sahaba/Ta’baeen was:
“Rabbighfir warham innaka antal a’izzul akram.”
(“Oh Allah grant us mercy You are most Might and most Honourable.”)
A person may recite this or any other supplication or recitation of the Qur’an or asking for blessings on the Prophet or seeking forgiveness.
From Marwah return to Safa. Safa to Marwah is one back to Safa is two and so on. Do this seven times ending at Marwah

Halaq

The shaving is preferable or one may cut his hair short all over the head not just here and there. Shaving is better unless the time for Haj is near then it is better to have a haircut saving the shaving of the head for the Haj which is the greater rite. For the women it is sufficient just to cut a little piece equal to the fingertip from the end of her hair. With this the rites of ‘Umrah are completed. Then the person may put back on their normal clothing and they are free to everything they normally did.