You’re excited to perform Umrah, I know.
I still remember the mixed feelings of joy, excitement, nervousness, and anxiety when I performed Umrah for the first time in my life.
I couldn’t believe I’d finally get the opportunity to walk around the Kaaba and see its wonders with my own eyes.
But I was confused and worried because I didn’t want to make any mistakes in my Umrah.
Like you, I read several books and watched many videos to understand how to perform Umrah.
But it wasn’t until I actually completed my Umrah that I fully understood how it was done.
So, let me make it easy for you.
There’s nothing to be worried about.
Umrah isn’t complicated. But to make it even easier for you, I’ve summarized its most critical steps in this easy-to-read guide.
Just keep it with you during Umrah, and you’ll be able to perform all the steps perfectly insha Allah.
Let’s begin.
Note: The rulings mentioned in this article have been taken from the books of eminent scholars like Mufti Muhammad Shafi and Mufti Abdur Rauf Sakharvi (Jamia Darul Uloom Karachi)
Here’s the list of chapters in this guide.
- Chapter 1: Umrah Preparation
- Chapter 2: Ihram For Men And Women
- Chapter 3: Ihram Niyat And Talbiyah
- Chapter 4: Entering Masjid ul Haram and the First Sight of Kaaba
- Chapter 5: Performing Tawaf of Kaaba
- Chapter 6: Making Dua at Multazam
- Chapter 7: Performing Saee of Safa and Marwa
- Chapter 8: Cutting Hair To End Ihram Restrictions
- Chapter 9: Umrah For Ladies – Some Differences From Men
You can also download the complete Umrah Guide as a single PDF file.
What Is Umrah?
Umrah is an act of worship in Islam where you visit the Kaaba and perform a set of tasks within its premises to please Allah SWT.
It is called Hajj e Asghar or the Mini Hajj (minor pilgrimage) because it gives you a glimpse of what it feels like to perform Hajj. This is why many people who perform Umrah for the first time in their lives desire to perform Hajj as well.
Umrah is a Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad, ﷺ and he has mentioned several virtues of performing it.
For example, in one hadith Prophet ﷺ said,
الْعُمْرَةُ إِلَى الْعُمْرَةِ كَفَّارَةٌ لِمَا بَيْنَهُمَا، وَالْحَجُّ الْمَبْرُورُ لَيْسَ لَهُ جَزَاءٌ إِلاَّ الْجَنَّةُ
“(The performance of) `Umra (minor pilgrimage) is an expiation for the sins committed (between it and the previous one). And the reward of Hajj Mabrur (the main pilgrimage accepted by Allah) is nothing except Paradise.” (Bukhari 1773)
Performing Umrah In Ramadan – Benefits & Fazilat
Unlike Hajj, Umrah can be performed at any time of the year. However, performing Umrah in the month of Ramadan has an even greater reward, as apparent from this hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
فَإِذَا كَانَ رَمَضَانُ اعْتَمِرِي فِيهِ فَإِنَّ عُمْرَةً فِي رَمَضَانَ حَجَّةٌ .
‘Perform `Umra when Ramadan comes, for `Umra in Ramadan is equal to Hajj (in reward),’ (Bukhari 1782).
This doesn’t mean it’s a substitute for Hajj.
But since every deed has a greater reward in Ramadan, performing Umrah in this blessed month also becomes so virtuous that it has the same reward as Hajj.
Can You Perform Umrah Before You Have Performed Hajj?
Hajj is mandatory for every Muslim man and woman who has the health and financial resources to do so.
However, if a person does not have the resources for Hajj or gets an opportunity to perform Umrah before Hajj for any reason, there’s no harm in doing it.
This is clearly narrated by Ibn Umar
`Ikrima bin Khalid asked Ibn `Umar about performing `Umra before Hajj. Ibn `Umar replied, “There is no harm in it.” `Ikrima said, “Ibn `Umar also said, ‘The Prophet (ﷺ) had performed `Umra before performing Hajj.’” (Source)
However, a person who has performed Umrah should look to gather the resources for Hajj, as it is mandatory and has a much greater reward than performing Umrah.
The Four Main Components Of Umrah
Let’s begin our Umrah guide by understanding its main components and their importance.
Umrah consists of four main parts.
| Umrah Component | Importance | Ruling |
|---|---|---|
| Ihram, Niyat & Talbiyah | Fardh (mandatory) | Umrah will be invalid without it |
| Tawaf Of Kaaba | Fardh (mandatory) | Umrah will be invalid without it |
| Saee Of Safa And Marwa | Wajib (Critical) | If a person leaves it, offering Dam (sacrificing a goat) within the boundaries of the Haram is mandatory for the Umrah to be valid. |
| Halaq (shaving the head) or Qasar (equally trimming the hair) | Wajib (Critical) | If a person leaves it, offering Dam (sacrificing a goat) within the boundaries of the Haram is mandatory for the Umrah to be valid. |
These four components are the crux of Umrah.
If a person performs them, their Umrah will be valid. All other aspects of Umrah are Sunnah or Mustahab (preferable), which beautify your Umrah and must be followed if possible.
In the next chapter, we will explain how you should prepare for your Umrah journey and the details of Ihram for men and women.
Leave a Reply