Rituals Of Blessed Umrah Journey

Umrah is an undescribed spiritual journey as Hajj and these both journeys are ended at the House of Allah. The differences between the Hajj and Umrah are their level of importance and the method of observance. In Islam, Hajj worship is one of five parts, therefore it is the duty for Muslims who have the capability to perform Hajj (financially and physically) and whereas Umrah is only Sunnah.

Umrah is called as a minor pilgrimage and Hajj is called as a major pilgrimage. According to Sahi Hadiths, the rewards of Umrah is equal to rewards of Hajj in the month of Ramadan. Nobody wants to leave the opportunity of performing Umrah at any reason in his/her life if Allah Almighty gives him/her at least one chance. People can get Umrah Packages 2022 from any trustable travel agency this year if they really want to perform Umrah with best 3, 4, and 5-star services.

Umrah procedure:

1: Ihram-

Ihram is an essential dress for Umrah spiritual journey. Pilgrims should wear this dress before entering the city of Makkah.

This dress is different for a woman and a man. A man wears two unsewn white sheets whereas a woman can wear the normal dress which she wears in normal days of life.

2: Talbiyah-

Talbiyah is a prayer invoked by the Muslims as a conviction that they intend to perform the Umrah only for Allah Almighty. Muslims should stop the reciting of Talbiyah when they reach the al-Haram mosque.

3: Istilam-

This is such act in which pilgrim kisses the Hajre Aswad, touch it with his/her hands or says a prayer while the palm of his/her hands towards the Hajre Aswad and this act is called Istilam.

4: Tawaf-

Pilgrim starts his Tawaf after Istilam rather it is part of Tawaf. Tawaf consists of seven circles around the Kaaba. He/she repeats the act of kissing and touching the Hajre Aswad but it can be performed without touching and kissing due to rush. Islam gives permission that anyone can complete this ritual by raising hands at the point of Hajre Aswad due to the crowd of pilgrims. The direction of each circle will be anticlockwise.

After completing all circles, Muslims man should cover his right shoulder.

5: Multazam-

This is a sacred place between the Hajre Aswad and the door of Kaaba and it is a good place to pray.

6: Maqam Ibrahim-

Pilgrims should offer 2 rakats of prayer in front of Maqam Ibrahim after completing seven circles.

7: Safa and Marwa-

These are two mounts which are also situated in al-Haram mosque. Pilgrim runs seven times between Safa and Marwa and this act of running between two mounts is called Saee.

8: Cut Hair-

When pilgrim completes his/her act of Saee then he/she should cut the hairs. Men cut their hairs completely and shortly while women only cut their hairs for one inch.

After completing these rituals pilgrims leave the state of Ihram because their Umrah is done. In the Umrah Journey, the intention is very important if anyone has no intention to perform Umrah then his/her Umrah is not valid. Every worship is based on the intentions in Islam.

Proper Umrah Guide For Women

Umrah is a holy journey, in which Millions of Muslims move towards the “House of Allah” as our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) completed it four times in life. Umrah is called minor pilgrimage while Hajj is called a greater pilgrimage. Hajj is essential to worship and it is applicable to all people who have the capability (Physically & financially) to perform it at least one time in life period. Umrah is not essential and there is no restriction to perform it at least one time in life. There are some people who perform multi Umrahs in one year.

Today, most people say that Umrah is getting difficult because of expenses. If you have the intention to perform Umrah this year then you should perform Umrah with 5 Star Umrah Packages 2022 London. These packages are best for a family and those people who do not want to miss any prayer in al-Haram Mosque and Masjid e Nabvi because if anyone offers one prayer in al-Haram mosque then he/she will get the rewards of 10,000 prayers and if anyone offers one prayer in Masjid e Nabvi then he/she will get the rewards of 1000 prayers.

It all depends upon the person that he/she wants to perform Umrah alone or with a group. People should get proper gaudiness from the concern travel agent who is managing the Umrah journey.

Some rules of performing Umrah are the same for men and women but there are some rules which are different for a man and a woman.

A woman cannot perform Umrah without the Mahram. According to the rule of Saudi Arabia, a woman can perform Umrah without the Mahram when her age will equal to 45 years and above. If any woman performs Umrah without the true Mahram then she makes a sin.

A widow or a divorced woman cannot perform Umrah in the period of Iddah which consists of 4 months and 10 days.

Muslims men and women should wear the Ihram before performing the other rituals of Umrah. If any (man & woman) breaks the rules of Ihram then he/she would not complete Umrah.

Man’s Ihram consists of two unsewn white sheets, one sheet covers the upper part of the body whereas the second sheet covers the lower part of the body because the main purpose of Ihram is to cover the body organisms but woman’s Ihram does not consist of any unsewn white sheet rather a woman can wear such a dress which she wears in her normal life but she should wear this dress with an Abaya (Arabic Veil).

A woman should cover her head but it is prohibited for man. A woman can bind her hair with a small handkerchief but she cannot cover her forehead with anything and she can’t cover her hands.

 During the Umrah, women should not recite Talbiyah in a loud voice.

Some women perform Ramal during Tawaf which is not part of Umrah for women rather it is part of Umrah for men.

It is better for a woman to perform Tawaf at a distance from Kaaba due to the crowd of men. Women can perform Umrah when the rush of men is low around the Kaaba. It is not essential for a woman to offer the two rakats in front of Maqam e Ibrahim.

Women should not perform the ritual of Saee as the men perform, therefore women should not run between 2 green pillars of Safa and Marwa. Women should not ascend the two hills of Safa and Marwa.

Man cuts the all hairs from the head whereas the woman cuts the hair for a finger joint.

In the state of menses, women should not perform Umrah and she can perform Umrah after the period of menstruation.

All main issues have been mentioned in this article, so that, our sisters, mothers, and daughters can perform Umrah with true Islamic method. If anyone wants to perform Umrah from the UK then he/she will need Cheap Umrah Package from UK.

May Allah helps us to perform Umrah this year. (Ameen)

Amazing Facts About Hajj

Muslims from all world gather to perform the compulsory (fard) part of Islam in Saudi Arabia and the name of this the compulsory part is Hajj. Hajj is the fifth part or fifth pillar of Islam and it is not essential for those Muslims who are not able (physically and financially).

Every Muslim wants to perform it at any cost because one reward of the rewards of Hajj is Jannah and it is a wish of everyone.

Nowadays, it is very easy for every person to perform Hajj as it was hard some centuries ago. In past centuries, traveling was very hard. Travel was completed by animals and ships but nowadays travel is completed by airplanes, and cars, buses and etc. therefore it is a little bit costly.

Best travel agencies have a solution of this problem which is called Cheap Hajj Package. In this Hajj Package, anyone can get the cheapest flights, transports, and hotels with the cheapest fare from anywhere.

There are some Hajj facts which are discussed here.

The duration of Hajj consists of 5 days of last month (Dhul Hijjah) of Islamic Lunar Calendar and that is continued from 8th to 12th day. 

1st day of Hajj:

1st day of Hajj, Muslim wear their Ihrams and after that, they perform Tawaf and Saee.

In the Tawaf, Muslims walk seven times around the Kaaba with the touching or kissing the Hajre Aswad which is fitted in wall of Kaaba and direction of each circle is in counter-clockwise. After completing every circle, Muslims offer two rakat in front of Maqame Ibrahim and it can be offered at any place of mosque due to a great rush of pilgrims in days of Hajj.

In the Saee, Muslims run seven times between the two hills Safa and Marwa.

After performing the two rituals, Muslims go to Mina and Muslims pass the reaming time of day in tents there, therefore, Mina is also known as the City of Tents. Muslim men and women stay in tents separately.

2nd day of Hajj:

2nd day of Hajj, Muslims leave the Mina after dawn and they go to the field of Arafat where Muslims ask from Allah for forgiveness and making different supplications. There is the Mount of Arafat from where our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) had delivered his last sermon. Muslims offer here two prayers of zuhar and asar. They leave this place after sunset and go to the field of Muzdalfah where they pass the night in sleeping and praying. They collect the small stones there.

3rd Day of Hajj:

3rd day of Hajj, Muslims leave the Muzdalifah field before the sunrise and they go again back to Mina due to Ramy ceremony. In this ceremony, they throw the stones towards pillars and the number of pillars are three which represents the Satan (devil). The names of three pillars are Jamrat al-Aqaba (largest pillar), Jamrat al-Wusta (middle pillar), and Jamrat al-Sughra (small pillar). The story of throwing stones is related to Hazrat Ibrahim (AS). After Ramy ceremony, Muslims sacrifice animal and this day is also known as Eid al-Adha.

After scarifying animal, Muslims perform the Halq/Taqseer. This is an important rite of Hajj. Men cut their hairs completely and this act is called Halq. Women cut the tips of their hair and this act is called Taqseer.

After performing Halq or Taqseer, they go to Makkah for tawaf which is called Tawaf al-Ifadah and after this, they go back to the Mina and spend the whole night there.

4th day of Hajj:

4rth day of Hajj, pilgrims again throw 7 pebbles at each of 3 pillars in Mina.

5th day of Hajj.

5th day of Hajj, pilgrims continue the same process of stoning. Pilgrims may leave the Mina before the sunset, if they do not leave the Mina then they again repeat the process of stoning and they leave the Mina before the sunset.

The final rite of Hajj before leaving Makkah, Muslims perform a farewell Tawaf which is called Tawaf al-Wadaa.

After completing Hajj, Muslims visit the different ziyarah places, in which some are placed in Makkah and some are placed in Madina. Hajj is compulsory whereas Umrah is a Sunnah. In the Umrah, Muslims perform the Tawaf and Saee. Those Muslims should perform Umrah who do not perform Hajj at any reason. 

During the Umrah, Muslims can also visit all Ziyarah places by the travel agency. It is a good opportunity for every Muslim because many travel agencies provide Umrah Packages 2022 with the amazing price which is capable for everyone.

May Allah helps us, to perform Hajj and Umrah at least one time in life.

Important Umrah Visa Requirements

Umrah is not mandatory worship in Islam whereas Hajj, Sallah, Fast in Ramadan, and Zakkah are mandatory worships. Umrah is a Sunnah but it is great than the other Sunnahs because, in this, you visit the two holy mosques and several Ziyarah’s places. The process of visiting makes Umrah a great Sunnah.

Millions of Muslims want to perform it at least once in their lives. Many Muslims spend their whole lives in saving money to perform this Sunnah. They want to see those things and places which are related to the life of Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).

There are some rules and regulation to perform Umrah because it is not a simple journey. The best way for every Muslim to complete this Sunnah is to contact with the travel agency. Travel agency helps the Muslims to get the Umrah Visa from the Embassy of Saudi Arabia and provides Cheap Umrah Packages which include cheap flights, hotels, and transport.

Some important information for Umrah performer:

Every pilgrim requires a Visa which is called Umrah Visa but its cost is different for pilgrims as it describes below.

The first-time pilgrim will pay a normal fee according to Saudi's rule. The second time pilgrim will pay 2000 Saudi Riyal for Umrah Visa if he/she has performed Umrah in the last 24 months (2 years).

Everyone should carefully fill the application form by using the black ink, he/she should attach two passport size photographs with white background.

Passport is a very important document for Visa and it is an official document which is issued by a government. For Umrah visa, pilgrims must have passport or residential proof which should be valid of 6 months.

Umrah visa is not issued to this a pilgrim who has a non-Muslim name then he/she will submit a certificate from a mosque or an Islamic center which will confirm that the applicant is a real Muslim.

Umrah visa will not be issued to a woman without a Mahram who’s under the 45 years old. It will be issued to such woman who’s above or equal the 45 years old, in this condition when her Mahram has no objection to performing Umrah alone or with the group. So in this way, a woman can perform Umrah in an organized group.

A vaccination certificate must be required to perform Umrah there because, during the Umrah, Millions of Muslims gather into a small place. It is checked at the airports of Madinah and Jeddah because these are only two terminals for all pilgrims who come to Saudia for Umrah and Hajj.

Note: A business visa holder cannot perform Umrah in Saudi Arab. Umrah Visa is valid for 30 days and its real meaning is not here that anyone can stay in Saudi Arab for 30 days but its real meaning is here that everyone has to depart within two weeks of the date of entry. Umrah Visa is not issued after the 15 days of Ramadan and this period will continue till the Hajj. Umrah Visa process will start from the first month of Muharram of Islamic Lunar Calendar.

Can A Person Perform More Than One Umrah In One Journey?

Umrah means a visit to the Kaaba. Muslims from the whole world want to perform Umrah at any time, as much as possible for them. Allah did not make it obligatory for Muslims. In these days, The journey has a little bit expensive from one country to another country due to increasing the rate of oil’s price and etc.

Verily, Muslims also want to perform Umrah with little expenses. There is good news for them that they can perform it by the help of best travel agencies. These agencies provide Cheap Umrah Packages, from which they can perform their Umrah easily.

Muslims want to perform multi Umrah only in one journey. Most of the Muslims ask a question that they can perform Umrah on behalf of a deceased person (parents and relatives).

The short reply to the above question is that Yes! Anyone can perform many Umrahs as he/she wishes.

Briefly note, for performing the multi Umrahs only in one journey:

One who comes to Makkah for the Umrah to perform more than one Umrah on the same/one journey then If he/she want to perform the 2nd or 3rd Umrah, then he/she must begin his/her 2nd Umrah from a point outside the Haram area.

There are three Miqats where he/she can start his/her 2nd and 3rd Umrah, this is only one way to perform the multi Umrahs on the same journey. Most of the Pilgrims choose the nearest mosque which is located in the place of Taneem.  

There is one example when our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) performed pilgrimage with his all wives (total number of wives were eleven). Hazrat Ayesha (RA) who was the third wife of Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), she was in her period and was unable to perform the Umrah on her arrival.

She told to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) about her condition, then Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) told her brother, to take her to the nearest point outside the Haram area. He took her to Taneem where she wore her Ihram again. She came back to perform the Umrah.

Now there is a mosque where Hazrat Ayesha (RA) wore Ihram which is Ayesha Mosque.

For the second Umrah:

After completing the first Umrah, you should leave the boundary of Haram for the second Umrah. You can wear Ihram again at the place of Ayesha Mosque which is nearest miqat for wearing the Ihram. It is not mandatory for you that you wear Ihram at nearest Miqat you can wear Ihram on any other Miqat.

If you travel to the Makkah only for Umrah from any other country, then your plain can be land on the airports of two cities (Madina and Jeddah).  If you reach in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah and Hajj, you must enter the Ihram.

There are two suggestions:

1-Before boarding the place.

2-Inside the plane before the plane flies over the miqat (most of the pilots announce this point).

Most of Muslims think that the boundary of Haram means Al-Haram Mosque but it is not right. The actual meaning of the boundary of Haram that is deemed holy land in Islam and it extends for several miles in all directions (East, West, South, and North) around the city of Makkah. The boundary of Haram is marked by signs placed on major roads.

A Hadith about the Umrah that Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) performed “4” Umrahs and “1” Hajj. He (PBUH) performed 4 Umrah in different years.

There is no doubt that Umrah removes the sins, as it is narrated by Abu Hurayrah (RA) that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed between it and the previous Umrah.”

When you wear the Ihram again for the second Umrah then you will perform Tawaf, Sai, and cut some of your hair or shave your head. So in this way, you can complete your second and third Umrah on behalf of someone else but it will only allow for those people who are unable to do it because of a long-lasting illness or a deceased person. It is not allowed as if your parents are healthy but can’t afford the journey, you can’t do the Umrah on their behalf.

History Of Hajjre Aswad | Brief Story About The Black Stone

According to Islamic tradition, Hajjre Aswad is a black stone which was brought down to earth from Heaven. It is the most sacred or holy stone on the earth.

A famous hadith about the black stone which is narrated from the Ibn-e-Abbas (RA), “The Black Stone was brought down from heavens and it was whiter than milk. But the sins of the sons of Adam (AS) made it black.”

Black stone or Hajjre Aswad is great Holy stone on our earth. Muslims from all over the world gather to perform their Umrah in the city of Makkah at any time of year, it is not difficult for everyone who wants to perform the Umrah because nowadays, travel agencies provide best Cheap Umrah Packages so that you can easily perform Umrah without taking any tension.

According to Islamic traditions: Black stone fell from the paradise as a guide for Hazrat Adam (AS) and Hazrat Eve (AS) to build an altar, which became the 1st temple on our earth. Hazrat Adam’s (AS) altar and stone were lost during Hazrat Noah’s (AS) great flood and forgotten. Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) later found the Hajjre Aswad at the real site of Adam’s (AS) altar when the angel Gabriel (AS) revealed it to him.

Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) ordered his son Hazrat Ismail (AS), to build a temple, the Kaaba, into which the Stone was to embed.

An another Hadith it was mention such as Hazrat Abdullah ibn Amr (RA) says, “I heard the Prophet of Allah (PBUH)” saying, ”Verily the Hajjre Aswad and the Maqam e Ibrahim are 2 precious stones from amongst the precious stones of Heaven. Allah Almighty took away its light. Had Allah not taken away its light then these 2 would have brightened up the east and west.”

Location of Hajjre Aswad (Black Stone):

Hajjre Aswad is located at the east corner of the House of Allah (Kaaba) in Al-Haram Mosque. During the Tawaf, Muslims stop at this place of Hajjre Aswad where it is fitted and kiss the stone saying “Bismillah-Allahu Akbar” and “Allahu Akbar”. In this way, Muslims walk seven times around the Kaaba and complete their important part of Hajj and Umrah.

Why do Muslim Kiss Hajjre Aswad:

The 2nd Caliph Hazrat Umar (RA) came to kiss the Black Stone, he said in front of all presented (assembled): “No doubt, I know that you are a stone and can neither harm anyone nor benefit anyone. Had I not seen the Prophet of Allah, Muhammad (PBUH) kissing you, I would not have kissed you.”

Hazrat Ali (RA) who is 4th and last Caliph responded to Umar (RA), saying, “This is stone can indeed benefit and harm.”

 Allah says in Holy Quran that He created human beings from the progeny of Hazrat Adam (AS) {First Prophet of Allah on the earth} and made them witness over themselves and asked them, ‘Am I not your creator?’ Upon this, all of them confirmed it. Thus Allah wrote this confirmation. And this stone has a pair of eyes, ears and a tongue and it opened its mouth upon the order of Allah Almighty, who put that confirmation in it and ordered to witness it to all those worshippers who come for Hajj.

When you go to perform Hajj then you should remind it, what is a great stone, who will confirm at Day of Judgment. If you contact the best travel agency for Hajj then it will provide you the best Cheap Hajj Package in which it provides many facilities with a scholar who will help you to perform your Hajj.

In Book of Tirmidhi, Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) said:

By Allah! On the Day of Judgment, Allah will present the Hajjre Aswad in such a manner that it will have 2 eyes and a tongue to testify to the faith of all those who kissed it.

In the time of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), a dispute arose when the Quraish reconstructed the Kaaba. On this moment, Banu Abdu’d-Dar brought a pot full of blood and all of the tribes inserted their hands in it, to fight one another.

But Abu Umayya Ibn al-Mugheera, their elder asked Quraysh to agree on the judgment of 1st person to come through the Bani Shaibah gate and they all agreed on this suggestion. Muhammad (PBUH) was the first person who came through this gate.

Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) put the Hajjre Aswad in the middle of a piece of cloth and asked a representative of each tribe to hold one of the edges of the cloth and He (PBUH) picked this stone and fitted in the wall of Kaaba.

Best Tips And Preparations For Umrah For Everyone | Best Umrah Tips

Umrah is a holy journey that can be performed at any time of the year. Umrah is a lesser pilgrimage and goal of this journey is simple to gain rewards from Allah and receive forgiveness for sins committed in the past. It is not mandatory but prescribed, on the other side Hajj is compulsory worship.

When anyone has decided that he/she wants to make an Umrah trip then he/she should be prepared for it. There are some needs to be met before you actually go on this holy trip. There are some preparations that you require to do as you have to travel overseas for some days.

1: Recite the verses of the Holy Quran with translation and Tafseer.

2: You should try to understand the meaning of the Surahs and Duas that you recite in Salah.

3: You should ask your family and friends for forgiveness and forgive those who have done wrong with you, before leaving for Umrah.

If you are going to Umrah then you should contact a company that makes the best package according to your requirements. If you want to stay near the Al-Haram Mosque then you will require a 5-Star Umrah Package.

You should plan your trip at least 2 or 3 months before and you should avoid going for it during the month of Hajj.

If you go to any Umrah travel agency then it will need your 2 recent passport size photos, your passport (validity of at least six months). If you have not a visa then the agency will help you. It will arrange the ticket and flight as you wish. You will require meningitis certificate for Umrah.

There are only four important rites of Umrah.

Ihram

Tawaf

Sai

Halq and Taqsir

Ihram:

Ihram is an unstitched dress which is consisted of two simple white sheets, for a man, in which one covers the upper body and second covers the lower body. But for a woman, there is no unstitched cloth. A woman wears a normal dress but she covered herself with a burqa (abaya).

There are some rules for Ihram.

You should cut your nails and should remove unwanted body hairs.

You should take a bath with the intention of entering into Ihram.

You should make the intention of entering into Ihram

On the way to Umrah you should repeat:

“Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik

Labbaik La Shareeka Laka Labbaik

Innal-hmmda Wan-n’imata

Laka wal-mulk

La Shareeka Lak.”

Tawaf:

You should prepare for Tawaf. Tawaf means circumambulation of the Kaaba by walking. You should complete your tawaf by walking 2000 steps (approximately a mile). You should walk anticlockwise around the Kaaba 7-times. You should start your moving from the Black Stone (Hajr e Aswad) which is fitted in the wall of Kaaba.

You have to kiss or touch it and if you do not kiss or touch it by a large crowd then you can held up your hand to the Black Stone on each circle. You should also recite the Takbir prayer each time when the circle completes. After the Tawaf, you offer the 2-Rakts (nafls) in front of Maqam e Ibrahim.

This tradition goes back to the time of Ibrahim (AS) and Ismail (AS), who walked around the Kaaba 7-times after they had rebuilt the Kaaba. You should make this exercise specifically to prepare yourself for Umrah.

Sai:

Sai means 7-times walk (fast) or run between the two hills which names are Safa and Marwa. The total distance between two hills is approximately 450 m (1480 ft) so that 7-times back and forth amount to roughly 3.15 km. you should practice for fast walking to cover the distance between Safa and Marwa.

Halq and Taqsir:

Man and woman who complete the above parts (Ihram, Tawaf, and Sai). A man completely shaves the hair whereas woman only clips the hair.

After complete the Umrah:

You should have some information about Ziyarh places which is included in your Cheap Umrah Packages 2022. If you want a guide then agency also provide a guide so that you can visit great historical and holy sites in cities of Makkah and Madina.