Performing Umrah for the first time is a great experience. Though it’s not an obligatory Ibadah, Allah loves when believers put efforts to please him. And above all, performing Umrah is a Sunnah of our Prophet. Since it’s a whole journey that isn’t like any other vacation trip, there are travel agencies that facilitate pilgrims on the way. For example, these offer cheap Umrah packages all-inclusive for pilgrims that cover all the essentials. The purpose is to relieve the pilgrims from managing services and make them focus on Ibadah only. Even these discount Umrah packages organize the pilgrimage at best.
However, it’s the way of performing Umrah rituals that you have to understand on your own. And it’s even more important while performing the first Umrah while having no prior understanding. So, here is a detailed guide of rituals and steps that you have to follow on your journey. Also, there are Dua’s to recite meanwhile. So, let’s understand each in detail ahead.
How to Perform Umrah?
Planning an Umrah journey involves two steps. One is booking an affordable Umrah package to ensure the availability of basic facilities. The other is the understanding of Umrah rituals. On the whole, Umrah is a combination of four important rituals e.g. niyyah, Tawaf, Sa’i, and Halq or Taqsir. However, the whole journey of pilgrimage also involves some Sunnah steps that pilgrims often overlook. For example, the recitation of Sunnah Dua’s, being conscious about ihram restrictions and the completion of each ritual at its best. This is the reason the following guide includes all such steps. So, follow each of these to get the most of your journey.
Making Niyyah
Having niyyah behind any good deed is of huge importance in Islam. This is because it shows the dedication and purpose of believers of doing a particular deed. The same works for Umrah and thus making niyyah is the first step of performing an Umrah. However, it doesn’t involve any physical effort but only the intention from the heart.
So, the niyyah of Umrah is only the affirmation of a pilgrim to perform Umrah for the sake of Allah. The best part is that you can make niyyah in many ways with ikhlas. For example, it would be fine to further revive that you are going to follow the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet as they performed Umrah in his life too.
In short, it’s a condition of your heart that you actively undertake this journey with a purpose. So, there’s no need to say it loudly. Similarly, the prayer of Umrah niyyah is also not supported by any authentic Hadith. But you can offer fard prayer if any before departure and then make niyyah which is a Sunnah. Here are the words one can also say:
لَبَّيْكَ اَللَّهُمَّ عُمْرَةً
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ الْعُمْرَةَ
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ الْعُمْرَةَ فَيَسِّرْهَا لِي وَتَقَبَّلْهَا مِنِّي
Entering Ihram
Entering Ihram is the next step after making niyyah. Here it’s worth noting that entering Ihram is a state of purity which is completely a spiritual act. So, wearing ihram only doesn’t mean that you are in the state of ihram.
There’s no restriction whether you want to make niyyah before or after wearing the ihram. However, the restrictions of the state of ihram become valid after making niyyah.
So, it’s better to wear ihram before departure but make niyyah as soon as reaching meqat during flight. It’s also Sunnah to recite Talbiyah after making niyyah which is the acknowledgement of the greatness of Allah. Men should recite it loudly but women should whisper as they can hear their voice themselves.
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
Reciting Talbiyah validates the state of ihram and now pilgrims have to abide by the restrictions of ihram too.
Entering Makkah and Masjid al-Haram
Though Masjid al-Haram is a place of performing Umrah rituals, Makkah itself is a sacred place. It’s the birthplace of our beloved Prophet Mohammad and also the religion Islam. So, it’s an honorable place that you should cross mindfully. Here’s a Sunnah Dua in this regard:
اللّٰهُمَّ هٰذَا حَرَمُكَ وَأَمَانُكَ فَحَرِّمْ لَحْمِي وَدَمِي وَعَظْمِي عَلَى النَّارِ
Also, recite talbiyah until the first sight of Kaabah. After entering Makkah, pilgrims have to finalize their accommodations and manage their belongings. One can also take rest for a while or take a shower while not using scented soap or shampoo. After that, enter Masjid al-Haram and recite:
اَللّٰهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِیْ اَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
After entering, reach the Mataf area to perform Tawaf there. Also take a while to make Dua’s after seeing Kaabah for the first time. Here’s the Sunnah Dua to recite at that time:
بِسْمِ اللهِ اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ اللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَافْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ ﷺ
أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ الْعَظِيمِ وَبِوَجْهِهِ الْكَرِيمِ وَسُلْطَانِهِ الْقَدِيمِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
Performing Tawaf
Tawaf is an important ritual which is the part of Umrah after making niyyah. It’s a ritual of seven circuits around the Kaabah in an anticlockwise direction. The starting point is the corner of the Kaabah having Hajar al-Aswad. So, start with the niyyah as:
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ طَوَافَ بَيْتِكَ الْحَرَامِ فَيَسِّرْهُ لِي وَتَقَبَّلْهُ مِنِّي
There are also green lights in the direction of Hajar al-Aswad for ease. Start the first circuit with Istilam of Hajar al-Aswad by raising right hand towards it while saying:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Recite any of the Sunnah or Quranic Dua and keep walking around the Kaabah. However, your heart should be focused towards Allah. However, recite the following Dua through rukn al-yamni which is the corner of the Kaabah prior Hajar al-Aswad:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً، وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً، وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
This first circuit will be completed after reaching the corner of Hajar al-Aswad again. Then, repeat the whole process again like do istilam, walk again making Dua’s, recite rukn al-yamni Dua and end up your seven circuits like this. Also, end your seventh circuit with Istilam.
Offering Salah and drinking Zam Zam
It’s Sunnah to offer two Rak’ah salah after completing Tawaf. For this, find any place near Maqam e Ibrahim. If it’s not possible, offer Salah anywhere with the niyyah of Salah of Tawaf. Meanwhile, drinking Zam Zam is also a Sunnah. It’s not just water but a blessing from Allah that brings spirituality to the soul. Recite this Dua while drinking Zam Zam:
اللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا وَرِزْقًا وَاسِعًا وَعَمَلًا مُتَقَبَّلًا وَشِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ
Performing Sa’i
Sa’i is another important ritual of Umrah. It’s also the process of completing seven circuits between Safa and Marwah. So, start your first circuit from Safa while making Dua’s and walk towards Marwah. Men walk rapidly under green lighted area while women walk normally throughout. It marks as the one completed circuit after reaching Marwah.
Then, start the second circuit from Marwah to Safa and so on. This way, the seven circuits will be completed at Marwah. After this, you can leave Masjid al-Haram reciting the following:
بِسْمِ اللهِ وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَّامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ اللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
Cutting Hair
Cutting hair is the final ritual of Umrah, which also marks the end of the state of ihram. Men can either shave their heads or cut parts of their hair as a ritual, while women cut a small portion of hair. With this, pilgrims get out of the restrictions of ihram. For those planning with an Umrah travel agency, this is an important step to complete. So, ask Allah for acceptance of your efforts in His path.
Final Words
In conclusion, planning your first umrah is a wholesome experience. It involves booking the right Umrah package all-inclusive from the USA with the best travel agency out there. Similarly, the understanding of rituals and the etiquettes of this journey are part of this planning.
This is because the pilgrimage is nothing like a regular holiday trip rather it’s a complete experience. And how can one maximize the reward of his efforts when he doesn’t know anything about what’s right or wrong?
So, you must understand the Sunnah way of performing Umrah to maximize your time and effort. We hope that you get an idea of the basics by the end of this post. Besides, following video lectures and animations of performing rituals is the best way to understand it all better.
