How to perform Umrah Step by step guide

Introduction

Like all journeys in life, the more you put into it the more you will get out of it and the journey of a lifetime for Umrah is no different. Study well and your efforts will pay off inshallah.

Travel Preparations

I would highly recommend purchasing and reading the following two books on how to perform Umrah and how to perform the Ziyarat of Madinah Al Munawwarah by Hazrat Maulana Saleem Dhorat Sahib.

To make it easy I have added the links to the PDF format of the book so it can be accessed by anyone in the world.

Please click on the link below to read the book:

I would recommend listening to session 2 and 5 from the lectures of Hazrat Maulana Saleem Dhorat Sahib from the link below for all those intending to perform Umrah. These are downloadable as well.

Please click on the link below to listen to the audio guides:

The best book for women in English (Hanafi Fiqh) is:

The book is available to purchase by clicking on the link below:

Prior to departing from your home

Try to pay off any outstanding debts.

Sort out any bills or tasks that will be due soon – this will keep your head clear during and after Umrah

Meet your family and friends and seek forgiveness from people whom you might have wronged. Ask people to make dua for your journey especially the elderly and the pious.

What to take with you to Umrah

Click on the link below for the suggested Packing for Umrah checklist:

How to perform Umrah

Please use the webinar recordings to prepare for your Umrah trip.

Click on the link below for the October 2022 Umrah Webinar:

Click on the link below for the December 2022 Umrah Webinar:

Click on the link below for the January 2023 Umrah Webinar:

Before entering into the state of ihraam

Take a bath. Remove unwanted hair under the armpits, below the navel and trim the moustache

Where should one wear the Ihraam from?

If you are planning to go to Makkah first then you will need to in the state of ihraam when you cross the Meeqaat boundary before you arrive at Jeddah Airport. You can wear the Ihraam from home or the UK airport. If you have a stopover of 3 hours or more then you can tie your Ihraam at your stopover..

How to tie the Ihraam

In the video below Mufti Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf Sahib shows how to tie the Ihraam.

I would recommend practicing how to tie the Ihraam before you travel so you get used to it. Also adjust your Ihraam belt from beforehand so that you not messing around with it or the day that you depart for Umrah.

I would also recommend wearing your flip flops from now at home.

The woman will not wear the two sheets of Ihraam. They will wear their normal clothes.

Entering into the state of Ihraam

Wear the two sheets of ihraam.

For the women, they will wear their normal clothes.

Read two rakats of salaat

Make sure it is not makruh time when reading the two rakats

In the first rakat recite Surat Al Kafiroon after Surat Al Fatihah

In the second rakat recite Surat Al Ikhlaas after Surat Al Fatihah

Make intention for Umrah (This can be done in any language)

The intention for Umrah is ‘Oh Allah I intend to perform Umrah, Make It easy for me and accept it from me.

Recite the Talbiyah

The men will recite the Talbiyah in a loud voice and women will recite it softly.

Those things that are not allowed in the state of Ihraam

Sexual intercourse: Sexual intercourse, or any acts of courtship that could lead to it like kissing, embracing and talking about sex, is forbidden.

Perfumes / Fragrances / Scents: Anything with a scent is forbidden. This includes scented soaps, toothpastes, deodorants etc. If you can’t live without them, unscented soaps, toothpastes and deodorants can be purchased from Makkah and Madinah. Applying scent to your clothes, body, food and drink is also not allowed

Sewn clothes: It is prohibited for men to wear sewn or stitched clothes in Ihraam

Make up / Surma / Henna.

Lying / Abusing / Swearing / unlawful acts (e.g. obscenity, transgression, conflict etc.)

Shaving / Clipping hair from any part of the body / Clipping nails

Men must not cover the central bone of the upper part of the foot

Men must not cover their face or head

Women should not cover their faces but in the presence of men, they may cover in a way that the covering does not touch their face

Do not cause harm to any Muslim, be it verbally or physically

Those things that are permissible in the state of ihraam

To wear a watch

To wear glasses or contact lenses

To wear an hearing aid

To shade yourself using an umbrella

To wear a money belt

Leaving your house

Recite the following Dua when leaving home:

Bismil-lah, tawakkaltu alal-lah, wala hawla wala quwwata illa billah

Travelling

Recite the following Dua when travelling towards the airport (Journey).

Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, Subḥaan-alladhee sakhkhara lanaa haadhaa wa maa kunnaa lahu muqrineen, wa innaa ilaa rabbinaa la munqaliboon,

Allaahumma innaa nas’aluka fee safarinaa haadhal-birra wat-taqwaa, wa minal-‛amali maa tarḍaaa, Allaahumma hawwin ‛alaynaa safaranaa haadhaa waṭwi ‛annaa bu‛dah,

Allaahumma antaṣ-ṣaaḥibu fis-safar, wal-khaleefatu fil-ahl, Allaahumma innee a‛oodhu bika min wa‛thaa’-is-safar, wa ka’aabat-il-manẓari, wa soo’-il-munqalabi fil-maali wal-ahl

At the UK Airport

Make sure the you don’t pack any liquids over 100ml or sharp objects such as scissors, razors or a tweezers in your hand luggage. Liquids under 100ml must be put into a clear bag, which you can pick up as you enter the security check area and must be kept out of your suitcase until you pass the security.

On the plane

Once in the state of Ihraam you are not allowed to use anything that is fragrant or scented including soap.

If you need to pray salaat on the plane then the direction of this Qibla will be towards the nose of the plane on your outward journey and in the opposite direction on your return journey.

Arrival at Jeddah Airport

You can exchange some money, but not too much. You will get a better rate in Makkah. This will allow you to purchase a Saudi SIM card, buy food and drinks at the service station. You can also use this money to pay the cutting or shaving of your hair after your Umrah.

Arrival at the hotel

Make sure you give all of those traveling with you the hotel address card even if they are children and the elderly and write the number on the card.

If you are tired then take a rest, but bear in mind the you can not cover your face with a quilt, blanket or bed sheet etc.

If you are hungry then have something to eat. If you already exchanged some money then that will come in handy now (or if you have bought food from home.)

Bear in mind that you can not use soap and toothpaste in the state of Ihraam unless it is non scented.

Leaving the hotel to go for Umrah

Take with you:

• Your mobile phone (You will need this for the Tawakana & Eatmarna Apps)
• Your hotel address card
• Your tawaaf tasbeeh
• Your shoe bag
• Some Money to pay for your hair cut

Don’t take lots of money with you are going for tawaaf in the Haram.

Entering Masjid Ul Haraam

Put your slippers (men) or shoes (women) in a shoe bag and place the bag in safe place such a shoe rack and remember the shoe rack number.

Enter the masjid with the right foot

Recite the dua for entering the Masjid

“Bismillaahi was-salaatu was-salaamu ’alaa rasoolil-laah. Allaah-hum-maftah-lee abwaaba rahmatik”

“In the name of Allaah. May the peace and the salutations (of Allaah) be upon the Messenger of Allaah. O Allaah, open the doors of your mercy”.

Make intention for i’tikaaf. This can be made in any language

One seeing the Ka’ab for the first time make dua. This is a moment of acceptance. Make dua for yourself, your family, your friends and the whole ummah especially those that have requested you to make dua for them.

Performing Tawaaf

Before performing tawaaf

• Uncover the right shoulder
• Make intention for performing the tawaaf by saying

“Oh Allāh I intend to perform Tawaaf, make it easy for me and accept if from me”.

The intention for tawaaf can be made in any language.

For a complete guide on how to perform Hajj, Umrah and the Ziyarat of Madinah Al Munawwarah please click on the link below.