Umrah Guide for Women

Umrah is a sacred and holy pilgrimage to the land of Makkah where all Muslims dream of going. Although it is not an obligatory part of the religion, many men and women wish to perform this Sunnah of the prophet (PBUH). Here is an easy guide for all those women who wish to perform Umrah 2014:

You should know that Umrah can only be performed in a pure state and that is the meaning of Ihram as well, that a women should be in a state of purity. If you have confirmed that you are pure, then you should know a few guidelines on things to do before you wear the Ihram. You should perform a ghusl or full body bath, wherein you remove any unwanted hair and trim your nails. If you so wish, you can use a very light scent on the body only and never on the clothes. In order to perform Umrah, it is obligatory that you remove your Niqab and any gloves covering your hands. A woman is not required to wear a special garment for Ihram, so wear comfortable clothing in which you can walk and will not irritate your skin. Once you have donned the Ihram, you are required to make the intention of Umrah and this will complete your state of Ihram. You MUST be in a state of Ihram when you are crossing the Meeqat, therefore either change int Ihram at airport or at the various mosuqes or points at Meeqat. Once you are in this state, you are required to be careful that no hair falls from your body, nor do you harm anything or anyone intentionally. You can not trim your nails, use any perfume or scented soap, marry or propose marriage, any act that stimulates desire etc. However, you can take a bath and even change your clothes.

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Once you are in Ihram, start to recite the Talbiyah and keep reciting it until you start the Tawaaf. The Talbiyah is as following:

“Labayk Allahumma labayk, labayka la shareeka laka labayk. Innal-hamda wani’mata laka wal mulk. La shareeka lak.”

For women, it is required to recite the Talbiyah softly and not loudly as men do it. The rest of the Umrah is performed as the men perform it and there is no difference, except you should recite duas softly in a whisper and not loudly. Umrah's tawaf starts at the Hajra e Aswad and you take seven rounds in anti clockwise direction around the Kaabah. After completing that you should pray in the Maqaam e Ibrahim, however if there is lack of space, you can perform it anywhere in the mosque with the intention of 2 Nawafil of Maqaam e Ibrahim. After that, you should head towards the Sa'ee, which is running to and fro between the mountains As-Safa and Al-Marwa. While men are required to run or jog between the green lights or markers, women are required to only walk but at a fast pace at those points.

After completing the Sa'ee, you should go to the barber shops. Borrow a scissor from them and cut a lock of your hair. Women are not required to cut lots of hair and shaving of head is prohibited. Once this process is done you have completed the Umrah. However, make sure that you are given a booklet informing you of the various obligatory duas that are to be recited between Safa and Marwa, as well as during Tawaaf etc.