Complete Umrah Rules for First-Time Pilgrims
While booking your first Umrah trip from UK is exhilarating, it can also come with a few nervous jitters. So this is where many first-time pilgrims get it wrong, fearing they won’t get the rituals right. With Ihram, Tawaf, Sa’i and do’s and don’ts that surround them, it can feel like so much is at stake to get every step right. This guide is a step-by-step roadmap to the Umrah rules with detailed notes that apply to UK pilgrims, including what you need to prepare before your flight and what will happen at each stage in Makkah; as well as all the mistakes most first timers make so you can avoid them. What Are Umrah Rules? Umrah terms and conditions are the aspects that ensure an Umrah to be valid in accordance with Islamic teachings, including the order of performance (Tarteeb), restrictions on individuals, and other factors. Umrah, on the other hand has a time range throughout the year besides having an approximate few hours for its proceeding but is still performed under a defined schedule of entering the state of Ihram, Tawaf (circumambulation) around Kaaba post which we shall perform a Sa’i (walking or running between Safa and Marwa or back and forth), and finally ending with Halq / Taqsir (shaving/ trimming hair). Getting sequence right matters. Where one step is missed out or performed in a different order each action affects the validity of your Umrah and hence, most guidance like this will walk you through the process in the precise order of things that need to be done. Who Must Follow Umrah Rules? All those who come to Makkah to perform Umrah should follow these regulations, no matter which nationality they belong to or how many times they have done it before. However, there are some categories of pilgrims that should be considered: We will discuss each of these groups in more detail later down. Preparing for Umrah Before You Travel Most of mistakes that occur during Umrah take place due to poor preparations at home rather than misunderstandings in Makkah itself. Before embarking on the journey to Saudi Arabia from the UK, it would be useful to: This would eliminate a great deal of stress when you arrive at Jeddah or Madinah. Ihram Rules Explained Ihram is a state of mind as well as a physical state which the pilgrim must be in order to embark on the pilgrimage. For males, two white, unstitched sheets are required where one is worn on the waist while the other is worn on the shoulders. Stiched clothes, underwear and shoes which cover the ankle bone are not allowed. For females, normal clothes which cover their body parts, but the face and hands should remain uncovered (even though most prefer to cover themselves, which is also alright). During the state of Ihram, both male and female pilgrims are prohibited from doing the following acts: The intention of performing Umrah must be made while wearing Ihram. Miqat Rules Every Pilgrim Should Know A Miqat is a designated boundary point beyond which pilgrims cannot pass without first entering Ihram. For pilgrims flying from UK, the relevant Miqat depends on your route: Not entering into Ihram at Miqat when there is an intention of performing Umrah is a relatively frequent offense committed by pilgrims for the first time, but it does come with some religious repercussions, so better to recheck your route. Step-by-Step Umrah Rules Once you’ve arrived in Makkah in a state of Ihram, core sequence is: Once Halq or Taqsir is done, Umrah is complete and the restrictions of Ihram are lifted. Tawaf Rules for First-Time Pilgrims Tawaf refers to circling around the Kaaba seven times starting and ending from the Black Stone (Hajar Al Aswad). Many beginners do not expect how physically strenuous Tawaf may be. Sa’i Rules Between Safa and Marwah Sa’i re-enacts Hajar’s search for water between the hills of Safa and Marwah, and consists of seven one-way passes (Safa to Marwah counts as one, Marwah back to Safa counts as the next). Counting the rounds in Sa’i can become difficult for newcomers and hence a tasbih or phone app may prove helpful. Hair Cutting Rules After Umrah Umrah concludes with Halq (shaving), or Taqsir (trimming) which is the final procedure to complete the process of performing Hajj in addition to formally ending Ihram. Once this is done, all earlier Ihram restrictions (perfume, cutting nails, marital relations, and so on) are lifted. Things Forbidden During Umrah In the state of Ihram (only), pilgrims must avoid: A number of these prohibitions (for instance, not arguing or behaving badly) should be maintained even after the Ihram has been removed for the duration of the trip. Common Umrah Mistakes to Avoid From the mistakes made by first-timers on pilgrimage: How to Correct Mistakes Made During Umrah In case a mistake is made halfway through: Most UK Umrah package groups travel with an experienced guide precisely so questions like these can be answered immediately on the spot rather than after the trip. Essential Duas to Recite During Umrah Though an exhaustive list of Umrah duas would be best explained separately, the important occasions where duas have to be offered include: In case you need all this in detail, you can check our exclusive guide on Umrah duas for UK pilgrims. Umrah Rules for Women Umrah Rules for Men For men, a few points are worth being specific about: Umrah Rules for Elderly and Disabled Pilgrims Islam allows for reasonable accommodation where physical capability is limited: Final Umrah Checklist Before Leaving Makkah Before heading back to your hotel or on to Madinah: Conclusion: Following Umrah Rules with Confidence Umrah need not be an intimidating journey for someone on their first time doing Umrah. The regulations are there to help make your experience a smooth one rather than confuse you. And once you know about Ihram, Tawaf, Sa’i, Halq or Taqsir, everything becomes simple and easy. If you are planning to make your
