A complete guide to performing Umrah

Umrah is a set of activities that include the Tawaf and the Sayee between Mount Safa and Marwah. The one who performs Umrah has to enter into the state of Ihram and has to cut or shave hair while leaving the Ihram.

Fard acts of Umrah

There are 4 fard acts of Umrah. If you miss any of the Fard acts of performing Umrah, your Umrah is not performed. In fact, you would be penalized for that if you have done it without any excuse.

1. Entering the state of Ihram.
2. Performing Tawaf of the Holy Kaaba.
3. Performing Saee between the mounts of Safa and Marwa. 
4. Performing the Qasr or cutting your hair.

Sunnah acts of Umrah

Sunnah Acts of Umrah are 3 in number. 

1. To start the tawaf from the black stone i.e. Hajr-e-Aswad.
2. During Tawaf-e-Qudoom or Tawaf-e-Ziyarat perform Ramal. Recommended: How to do Ramal?
3. Running among the two green lights during Saee of Mount Safa and Marwa.

How do we perform Umrah?

1. Ihram

One needs to reach Meeqat in order to enter the state of Ihram. Ihram is a set of 2 white sheets that is the dress of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.  Recommended: 5 Miqat Locations to wear Ihram for Umrah

Men cannot wear anything like undergarments, hat, turbans or so. Recommended: 6 things that are Haram for people wearing Ihram

Once you have entered the state of Ihram and make an intention to perform Umrah, you should recite Talbiya as much as you can. لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ لاَشَرِيْكَ لَكَ

2. Tawaf
   

Once you reach the Holy Kaaba, make Tawaf around the Kaaba for 7 times. You can make an effort to reach the black stone and kiss it. Otherwise, just raise your hands towards Hajr e Aswad every time you cross it.

• Recommended: 10 common mistakes committed while performing Umrah

When you reach the Yamaani corner of the Holy Kaaba, you shall touch it with the right hand (if possible) yet do not kiss it. Recommended: 6 facts about the Rukn Yamani of the Holy Kaaba

Ar-Raml: During the first three tawafs one shall speed up the pace of walking by talking small and speedy steps. Recommended: How to do Ramal?

3. Wajib al Tawaf Nafal

Once you are done with the Tawaf, you need to offer 2 rakah of Nafal behind the Maqam-e-Ibrahim. These 2 Nafal are the Wajib acts of Tawaf and one has to perform it with every Tawaf.

4. Saee

In the next step to perform Umrah, you need to perform the act of Saee i.e. going from Safa to Marwa and Marwa to Safa for 7 times.

When you walk from Safa to Marwa, it is counted one and the walk from Marwa to Safa is counted the second. In this way, you will start your Saee from Safa mount and end it at Marwa mountain.

5. Qasr

Performing the Qasr or cutting your hair. Qasr for men and women are different. Men need to shave their head or cut their hair from the entire head while females have to clip their hair from the bottom.

If you have missed one of the rituals of performing Umrah, you need to offer a sacrifice which is called Damm or Fidya.