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And be obedient to your Lord

All praise be to Allah, to whom we owe  a “pilgrimage to the house, whoever is able to find the way”.¹ Peace and blessings be upon his messenger Muhammad ﷺ who said “Umrah to ‘Umrah atones for the sins between them, and for Al-Hajj Al-Mabrur there is no reward except Paradise”².  And blessings be upon his companions who followed suit. Everything comes from Allah and to him we shall return. The pilgrimage to the house of Allah is a duty upon every Muslim. Remember Allah, and he will remember you in the hereafter. Labbaik Allaahumma bi‘Umrahti

Linguistically Umrah means obedience; legislatively, Umrah is to visit the House of Allah, Al-Haram and to perform specific actions. Legally, there is no specified time to perform.  The appointed times for Umrah are none. Its performances is permitted throughout the year although it is disliked during five days: The day of Arafah, the day of Nahr (10th Dhul Hijjah) as well as the days of Tashriq (11th, 12th, 13th Dhul Hijjah). However, it is highly rewarding doing the month of Ramadhan, for ‘Umrah during it, is equivalent to Hajj’.³

So what are the conditions of Umrah. Adopt Ihram, and adopt it from one of the miqaat sites. If he is a resident then to observe the Ihram from a place called Al-Hill. However, if he is travelling from a distant region then he is to adopt Ihram from one of the miqaat’s of Hajj. Umrah is established as a Sunnah 4, though some scholars deem it to be Wajib. It is to be performed optionally by a  Muslim who is mature, sane, free who possess enough provisions and has financial means to endure the journey.

The pillar of Umrah is to make tawaf around the Ka’bah seven times 5. It’s specific actions being the pace walking between  Safa and Marwa 6 (the seven circuits made, beginning at mount safa and ending at mount marwa) and shaving 7 or cutting of ones hair. To perform these wajib acts seals one Umrah and satisfies the completion of the pillar. For the male, they are to uncover their head and for the female the face and hands 8. Another requirement, that he 9 wears unstitched clothes, for the garments of hajj (and Umrah) must be seamless containing no sewing in them 10. So remember Allah and he will remember you. Labbaik Allaahumma bi’Umrahti.

How to perform Umrah. If a person wishes to perform Umrah, he is to perform ghusl (cleanse himself). Thereafter, he is to utter the words ‘Oh Allah, indeed I wish to perform umrah, so make it easy for me and accept it from me’ 11  after which he recites the talbiyyah 12. When he enters Makkah, he is to do tawaf  of the Ka’bah, which is seven circuits. After he is to pace between Safa and Marwa, seven times (sa’y). Thereafter, he is to shave his head or cut his hair to complete his Umrah.  Labbaik Allaahumma bi’Umrahti. 

Visiting the graves of the dead is to take heed. The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Visit the graves, for verily you will remember death’ 13. Visiting the graves is a Sunnah and visiting the mosque of the Prophet ﷺ is deemed more significant. Whomsoever, Allah has bestowed His blessing to perform Hajj or Umrah, that he is to travel to Madinah and visit the mosque of the Prophet ﷺ, The Prophet ﷺ has said: ‘Whosoever made Hajj and does not visit me, has turned away from me’ 14 Perform the sunnah. And perform it with sincerity. Verily, the Prophet ﷺ has said: ‘You will be with those, whom you love on the day of Judgement’15.  Labbaik Allaahumma bi’Umrahti. 

Footnotes:

  1. Quran 3:97
  2.    Jami` at-Tirmidhi 933 Chapter 9, Hadith 126
  3. Sunan an-Nasa’i 2110, Chapter 22, Hadith 21
  4. Nur ul Iddah, p.400
  5.  Nur ul Iddah, p.401
  6. Quran 2:158 “The knolls of Safa and Marwah are among the rites decreed by God. Anyone who observes Hajj or `Umrah commits no error by traversing the distance between them. If one volunteers more righteous works, then God is Appreciative, Omniscient.”
  7.  For men
  8. It is reported that, Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi’ that Abdullah ibn Umar (ra) used to say that ‘women in Hiram should neither wear a (face) veil nor gloves’ Muwattah, chapter of Hajj, 15 
  9.  This is only for men
  10.  And a woman is to dress modestly with simple clothing.
  11. Allahumma Inni Ureedul Umrah fayassir haali  wa taqabbalha minni
  12.   Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar La ilaha illallah. Allahu akbar. Allahu akbar wa lillahil-hamd. 
  13.   Sunan Abi Dawud 3235, Chapter 21, Hadith 147
  14.  An-Nawawi
  15.  Sahih al-Bukhari 3688 chapter 62, Hadith 38

Author: Halima Bint Muhammad Abdul Hannan

Halima Bint Muhammad Abdul Hannan

H. Abdul Hannan graduated as an Alimah from Madani Girls School and is currently teaching Religious Studies and Alimiiyah subjects. She  also holds a degree in English literature and Creative writing. H. Abdul Hannan enjoys reading and writing during her free time;She has a passion for writing and currently pursuing a career path in this field. She believes writing to be more than just putting words on a paper, the act of writing is to share your knowledge with the audience.

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