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What are the main rituals of Umrah?
Umrah is such a sacred practice in the religion Islam. It is one of the most beloved Sunnah of our Prophet (PBUH). Like all the other worships in the religion Islam, Umrah also has a certain set of rituals that are meant to be followed for its acceptance. These rituals are crucial for the spiritual purification, forgiveness of sins and drawing one closer to the Allah Almighty. The rituals serve as a powerful act of worship that renews the faith of the pilgrims, strengthens their connection with God and fosters a certain level of unity among the Muslims.
The reward of performing Umrah in the holy month of Ramadan is usually equal to that of going on Jihad for the sake of Allah Almighty. This is the reason why Ramadan is the peak season when most Muslims travel to the holy city of Makkah in order to perform the holy pilgrimage of Umrah. During the peak season the prices of flights, transport and hotels drastically. For Muslims who are travelling from UK and Canada could find it difficult to manage everything regarding flights, hotels and logistics. This is when the Umrah packages by the Islamic travel agency come in handy. Islamic Travel Agency offers many Umrah packages that could cater to the pilgrims according to their own needs. To tackle the situation of the expensive prices during Ramadan, they offer Umrah in Ramadan packages that will offer reasonable prices for the pilgrims who are looking forward to performing Umrah in the holy month of Ramadan, so that the pilgrims are able to focus on performing the rituals of Umrah and focus on the spiritual journey. The following guide articulates these rituals and their significance.
Rituals of Umrah
The holy pilgrimage of Umrah is a composition of several physical and spiritual steps which eventually leads you towards the completion of pilgrimage. These rituals are described according to the order that they must be completed.
1. Entering the State of Ihram
The first ritual that must be followed is that one must enter into the state of Ihram. This is the most significant phase of the rituals of Umrah. Entering the state of Ihram not only means wearing special clothes but it also signifies the sacred state of cleanliness and being devoted. As a result of this devotion, pilgrims are obliged to do certain things to maintain the state of purity.
· Ghusl
Taking a ritual bath is the stepping stone for entering the state of Ihram. It is necessary to cleanse the body and soul before entering into Ihram.
- Men usually have two pieces of white unstitched clothes. One cloth is tied around the waist and the other one is on the shoulder.
- Women can wear any piece of simple clothes that covers their body modestly.
- The white clothes symbolize that all the pilgrims are equal to one another and everyone has the same significance regardless of their culture and social status or nationality.
You will be instructed about all these rituals by the expert agents of Islamic Travel Agency. In case you are travelling with your family and want to explore the historical places as well, you can plan an itinerary with ease by booking the all-inclusive Umrah packages with flights.
· Niyyah
As much as the physical purity is significant, the spiritual transparency cannot be neglected. The intention of doing Umrah should be announced before transversing the Miqat. All the pilgrims are meant to repeat the supplications that start by the words Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk. This is a formal initiation of a pilgrimage and it signifies a dedication of the pilgrim that he/she will fulfill his/her pilgrimage.
2. Performing Tawaf around the Kaaba
Tawaf is one of the major actions of Umrah. In this ritual, the pilgrims go around the sacred Kaaba seven times in an anti-clockwise direction. This ritual mainly signifies the unity of believers in their service of Allah.
- Pilgrims are supposed to take Wudu to remain in the state of purity before starting Tawaf.
- Men are expected to do Idtiba where they have to expose their right shoulder through passing the upper clothing below the right arm and above the left shoulder.
- Raml is done after this which is brisk walking speed used to show the vigor and strength in the first three circuits of Tawaf.
- The starting and ending point of each of the circuits is a Black stone also known as the Hajar al-Aswad. The pilgrims are advised to kiss the Black stone or touch it after every circuit if it is possible for them.
3. Completing Sa’i between Safa and Marwah
The pilgrims then proceed and undergo Sa’i which involves circling seven times between the mountains of Safa and Marwah after tawaf. This ceremony signifies the story of Prophet Ibrahim’s wife and her perseverance. She ran between these hills in search of water for her infant son. The ritual of Sa’i signifies her confidence in the providence of Allah and has proved to people that faith can help one cope with the most turbulent conditions of life.
4. Concluding with Halq or Taqsir
The final ritual of Umrah is Halq or Taqsir, which is a total or partial removal of hair on the head. This step signifies the spiritual rebirth or purification of one’s soul. This action is a sign that the pilgrims are ready to forget their past sins and start fresh with a clean slate.
- Halq in the case of men entails the cutting of all the hair off their heads.
- Women mostly carry out Taqsir by cutting about one-inch hair at the ends.
An Umrah pilgrimage is an investment in one’s self, soul and community that will retrieve the returns in years that are yet to come. Umrah is the starting point of this new life that will be led by the improved knowledge of teachings of Islam.
