Description of ‘Umrah Rites

 

Description of ‘Umrah Rites

It is an act of Sunnah (tradition) for the person intending to perform 'Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) to bathe and clean himself upon reaching the Meeqaat (boundary). He also should perfume his body, head, and beard. Bathing for Ihraam (sacral state) is an act of Sunnah for both men and women, including menstruating women and those experiencing postnatal bleeding.

The man must wear the clothes of Ihraam which are the lower garment (Izaar) and the upper garment (Ridaa‘) after taking off his form-fitting clothes such as chemises, trousers and the like. As for the woman, she may wear any clothes that cover her body without any adornment or unlawful exposure of adornment. However, she should avoid wearing gloves and Niqaab (face cover) while assuming the state of Ihraam, but she should cover her face in the presence of non-Mahram (marriageable) men by lowering her headcover over her face

Having done this, the person prays the obligatory prayer if it is its due time. Otherwise, he performs two Rak‘ahs (units) as an act of Sunnah for commencing the state of Ihraam.

When he finishes performing prayer, he should start his state of Ihraam by intending to perform 'Umrah, and saying: “Labbayka ‘Umratan.” Then he should say: “Labbayk-Allaahumma labbayk. Labbayka laa shareeka laka labbayk. Inn-al-hamda wanni’mata laka wal-mulk. Laa shareeka lak (Here I am at Your service performing ‘Umrah. Here I am at Your service, Oh Allaah; here I am at Your service. Here I am at Your service. You Have no partner. Here I am at your service. Surely all praise, grace and dominion is Yours, and You Have no partner.”

A man should raise his voice when saying this, while a woman should only say it loud enough that the women beside her may hear.

By this, the person has started the rites of ‘Umrah, and he is therefore prohibited to do any of the restrictions of Ihraam until he finishes the rites of ’Umrah and ends his state of Ihraam.

A person in the state of Ihraam should say the Talbiyah frequently, as it is a declaration that indicates the rites of 'Umrah, especially when changing times and places, such as descending or ascending or when day or night approaches. One should keep saying the Talbiyah until the time when he will start Tawaaf.

When one approaches Makkah, he should bathe before entering it, as the Prophet did so. It is also a Sunnah for one to enter Makkah form the area of Kadaa' “Ath-Thaniyyah Al-‘Ulya” (higher place) and leave it form the area of Kudayy (‎Ath-Thaniyyah As-Sufla‎) (lower place), as the Prophet did so.

When the person performing the rites of 'Umrah enters Al-Masjid Al-Haraam, he proceeds with his right foot first and says, “Bismillaah, was-Salaatu was-Salaamu ‘alaa rasoolillaah. Allaahumm-ighfir li, waftahli abwaaba rahmatik. (In the Name of Allaah, may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allaah. Oh Allaah, Forgive my sins and open the doors of Your Mercy before me.)” Just as he does when entering any other mosque.

He should approach the Black Stone to start his Tawaaf (circumambulation) from that point. Before starting Tawaaf, it is an act of Sunnah for one to place the middle of his upper garment under his right arm and the ends of it over his left shoulder, which is known as Idhtibaa‘ (uncovering his right shoulder).

Upon reaching the Black Stone, he should touch it with his right hand and kiss it. If he could not, then he should touch it with his hand and then kiss his hand. If this also was not possible, he should face the Black Stone and point to it with his hand without kissing it. When touching the Black Stone, one should say, “Bismillaah, Allaahu Akbar (In the Name of Allaah, Allaah is The Greatest)”

Then, one should start the Tawaaf until he reaches the Yamaani Corner – the corner before the corner of the Black Stone – he should touch, but not kiss it. If he could not, then he should not point to it. One should say between the Yamaani Corner and the Black Stone, “Rabbana Aatina fid-dunyaa hasanah, wa fil-aakhirati hasanah, wa qina ‘athaab an-naar.” {"Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire."} [Quran 2:201[

During the rest of the Tawaaf one may say what he pleases of supplications, Thikr, and recitation of the Quran, knowing that there is no specific supplication or Thikr for each circumambulation.

He must make seven rounds of circumambulation starting from and ending at the Black Stone, and what he does in the first round of circumambulation applies to the rest.

During the first three rounds, one should make Ar-Ramal (hastening). One should walk at a normal pace during his last four rounds, taking into consideration that this ruling is confined to men.

When he completes the seven rounds of Tawaaf, he should put his upper garment to its normal position then approach the Standing Place of Ibraaheem and recite: {And take, [O believers], from the standing place of Ibraaheem (Abraham) a place of prayer} [Quran 2:125] He should then perform two Rak‘ahs (unts) behind the Standing Place of Ibraaheem if it is possible. However, if he was unable to, he can perform them in any other place in Al-Masjid Al-Haraam. During the first Rak‘ah, he should recite – after Al-Faatihah – the Soorah of Al-Kaafiroon [Chapter 109], and during the second Rak‘ah – after Al-Faatihah – the Soorah of Al-Ikhlaas [Chapter 112].

When he completes the two Rak‘ahs, he should proceed to the the place for performing Sa’y between As-Safa and Al-Marwah   mounts), and when he is close to As-Safa mount, he should recite: {Indeed, As-Safa and Al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allaah} [Quran 2:158[

Then he should say, “I start with that with which Allaah started.”

He should ascend As-Safa until he is able to see the Ka’bah. Facing the Ka’bah and raising his hands, he should praise Allaah and supplicate to Him saying:

La ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu la shareeka lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay‘in qadeer. La ilaaha ill-Allaahu wahdah, anjaza wa’dah, wa nasara ‘abdah, wa hazama al-ahzaaba wahdah. (There is none worthy of worship except Allaah Alone without any partners, His is all dominion and praise, and He is over all things Competent. There is none worthy of worship except Allaah Alone without any partners, He fulfilled His promise, granted victory to His Slave, and defeated the allied forces Alone).

He should say this three times, supplicating with what he wills in between.

He should descend from Mount As-Safa and head to Mount Al-Marwah at a normal pace until he reaches the green mark. He should then run as fast as he can without harming others until he reaches the next green mark. He continues toward Al-Marwah at a normal pace. During this, one should occupy himself in remembering and praising Allaah The Almighty as well as making supplications or reciting the Quran. It should be known that running between the two green marks is confined to men and not for women.

When he reaches Al-Marwah, he should ascend it, face the Qiblah (direction of the Ka'bah), raise his hands and repeat what he said on As-Safa mount without reciting: ‎{Indeed, As-Safa and Al-Marwah are among the symbols of ‎Allaah… } [Quran 2:158]. By this, a person would have accomplished one of the seven rounds of Sa’y.

He should then descend Al-Marwah and head towards As-Safa, taking care to walk where walking is designated and to run where running is designated. He continues this procedure until he completes seven rounds of Sa’y going from As-Safa to Al-Marwah is considered one round and returning is another.

Upon completion of Sa’y, men should shave or shorten their hair, but shaving is more preferable for them. A woman should only shorten her hair the length of a fingertip. By this, the ‘Umrah is complete, and the person performing ’Umrah terminates his Ihraam and is free to do the things he was prohibited from during his state of Ihraam.

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Rulings for Women on Hajj and ‘Umrah

Rulings for Women on Hajj and ‘Umrah

 It is a communal obligation upon the whole Ummah to perform Hajj annually to the Sacred House of Allaah The Almighty. Hajj is obligatory once in the lifetime of every Muslim who meets the conditions of Hajj. The extra times will be considered voluntary Hajj. Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam and the share of woman in Jihaad. ‘Aa’ishah may Allaah be pleased with her narrated that she once asked the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), "Should Muslim women participate in Jihaad?" The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) answered her:"Yes, but their Jihaad is free of fighting; it is performing Hajj and ‘Umrah.” [Ahmad and Ibn Maajah]
The general conditions of Hajj that apply to the man and woman are: Islam, sanity, freedom, puberty and financial ability.

1-Mahram (non-marriageable male): it is a condition for the woman who wants to perform Hajj to have a Mahram accompanying her who may be her husband or whoever is not allowed to marry her forever either by blood relation such as her father, son, brother or by a permissible reason such as brother from a suckling relation, her stepfather or stepson.

Ibn ‘Abbaas may Allaah be pleased with him said that he heard the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), delivering a Khutbah saying: “No man should be in seclusion with a woman except in the presence of a Mahram and no woman should travel except with a Mahram."A man stood up and said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, my wife has set out for Hajj, and I have signed up for such-and-such military campaign.’ The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said: ‘Go and perform Hajj with your wife.’” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

Ibn ‘Umar may Allaah be pleased with him narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said: “A woman is not allowed to travel for three days without the company of a Mahram.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

There are many Hadeeths that forbid the woman from travelling for Hajj or any other purpose without a Mahram. The woman is weak and prone to face a lot of hardships and troubles that only men can overcome. Moreover, wicked and immoral men look at women as prey, so there must be a Mahram accompanying the woman to protect and guard her. The Mahram who accompanies the woman has to be sane, adult and Muslim. If she cannot find a Mahram, she has to send someone to perform Hajj on her behalf.

2-If the woman is going to perform voluntary Hajj, she needs to have the permission of her husband because her travel for Hajj deprives him of enjoying his right. So, he has the right not to allow her to go for voluntary Hajj.

3-It is permissible for the woman to perform Hajj or ‘Umrah on behalf of a man as well as another woman according to the consensus of scholars.

4-If the woman on her way to Hajj has her monthly period or postpartum bleeding, she should continue her way and fulfill her Hajj like the ritually pure women. However, she should not circumambulate the Ka‘bah. If she has menses or postpartum bleeding when entering the state of Ihraam, she is allowed to enter Ihraam because it does not require purification.

5-Upon entering Ihraam, women are permitted like men to make Ghusl (ritual bath) and clean themselves by cutting hair that needs shaving and clipping nails. There is no harm if the woman applies non-fragrant perfumes, for ‘Aa’ishah may Allaah be pleased with her said, “We pasted our foreheads with Musk at the time of assuming Ihraam. When one of us perspired, it (the perfume) came down on her face. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) saw this, and did not forbid it.” [Abu Daawood]

6-When making the intention of entering the state of Ihraam, the woman should take off her Niqaab (face veil) or Burqu’ if she was wearing any before Ihraam. The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said: “The woman in the state of Ihraam is not allowed to wear Niqaab.” [Al-Bukhaari] The woman should cover her face with anything other than Niqaab by putting her Khimaar or garment over her face when non-Mahram (marriageable) men look at her. She should also cover her hands with anything other than gloves by putting a garment or cloth above them. The woman’s face and hands are ‘Awrah that must be covered before non-Mahram men either in case of Ihraam or other cases.

7-During Ihraam, it is permissible for the woman to be dressed in any kind of clothing that has no adornments, and does not look like men's clothes. Such clothes should not be tight to outline the shape of her body, or transparent that reveal whatever is beneath them, or short that unveil the feet or hands. The clothes should be loose and thick. Scholars unanimously agree that the woman in the state of Ihraam is allowed to wear Qamees, Dir‘, Sirwaal, Khimaar, and leather socks and she does not have to wear a certain color. She is allowed to wear any color she likes.

8-It is recommended for the woman to raise her voice with Talbiyah after Ihraam only to the extent that she can hear herself. It is disliked for her to raise her voice to a higher level in order to avoid Fitnah. By the same token, it is not recommended for her to pronounce the Athaan or Iqaamah. In addition, whenever she wants to draws the attention of the Imaam to something in prayer, it is recommended for her to clap, not to say Subhaan Allaah loudly like men.

9-The woman has to be completely covered, lower her voice, lower her gaze, and not to crowd with men especially at the Black Stone, and the Yemenite Corner. It is unlawful to crowd together with men because this is Fitnah. Moreover, it is Sunnah to be closer to the Ka‘bah and to kiss the Black Stone in case that is possible. She should not commit an unlawful act in order to fulfill a Sunnah (Prophetic tradition). The Sunnah for the woman is to point to the Black Stone from afar when she is facing it.

10- All the Tawaaf (circumambulation) and Sa‘y of the woman is done while walking. Scholars unanimously agree that women should not walk quickly in Tawaaf or between As-Safa and Al-Marwah and they do not have to make Idhtibaa‘ (uncovering the right shoulder).

11-The menstruating woman is permitted to do all the rituals of Hajj including Ihraam, staying at ‘Arafah, spending the night in Muzdalifah, throwing the pebbles, and so on, with the exception of making Tawaaf until she becomes purified. The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said to ‘Aa’ishah may Allaah be pleased with her: “Do what the pilgrim has to do but do not make Tawaaf until you become purified.”The menstruating woman should not make Sa‘y between As-Safa and Al-Marwah because Sa‘y is not valid without performing the Tawaaf of the Hajj or ‘Umrah because the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), did not make Sa‘y except after Tawaaf. The majority of scholars said that Sa‘y is not valid if the pilgrim made Sa‘y before Tawaaf.
If the woman has her menses after finishing Tawaaf, then, it is permissible to perform Sa‘y because purification is not a condition for Sa‘y.

12-It is permissible for women to proceed from Muzdalifah to Mina with the weak people after the setting of the moon and to throw Jamrat Al-‘Aqabah upon arriving at Mina out of fear of overcrowding.

13-The woman should trim her hair the length of a fingertip from the end of the hair after Hajj and ‘Umrah. It is impermissible for the woman to shave her hair.

14-If the menstruating woman throws Jamrat Al-‘Aqabah and trims her hair, then, her Ihraam is ended and she is allowed to do whatever she was not permitted to do during Ihraam except having intimate relations with her husband. She is permitted to have such relations after Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah. If she has sexual relations with her husband before performing Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah, then, she has to pay expiation: slaughtering a sheep in Makkah and distributing its meat among the poor of the Sacred City.

15-If the woman menstruates after Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah, then, it is permissible for her to leave for her home whenever she likes and she does not have to perform the Farewell Tawaaf. ‘Aa’ishah may Allaah be pleased with her narrated that Safiyyah bint Huyayy may Allaah be pleased with her started menstruating after Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah and I mentioned this to the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ). He said: “‘Will she keep us from leaving?’I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, she performed Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah and then she had her menses.’ He said: ‘Then, let her leave.’” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
Ibn ‘Abbaas may Allaah be pleased with him said, “The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) commanded the pilgrims that the last thing they should do in Makkah is to circumambulate Al-Bayt (the Ka‘bah), but he exempted the menstruating woman and the one who has postpartum bleeding.”

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