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Fatwa CenterPerformance of Umrah
Question
What is the complete way to perform Umrah according to Quran and Sunnah for both man and woman?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
‘Umrah has three integral pillars without which it is invalid. These pillars are:
- Ihraam: It is a ritual state of consecration in which one intends to assume a state that temporarily prohibits certain matters, like wearing fragrance, cutting hair or clipping nails, sexual relations, etc.
- Performing Tawaaf (circumambulation) around the Ka'bah.
- Performing Sa’i (Marching between Safa and Marwah).
As for the obligations of the ‘Umrah, they are as follows:
- Entering into the state of Ihraam at the place of the Miqaat (One of the several places specified by the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, for the people to assume Ihraam at, on their way to Makkah, when intending to perform Hajj or 'Umrah) in case this Miqaat is between that person and Makkah. And when a person lives in Makkah (within the boundaries of the Haram, i.e. the consecrated circumference of the Holy Mosque), he should go out of it (Haram) in order to assume the state of Ihraam.
- Shaving the head or trimming the hair (shaving the head is only for men).
He who neglects any of these two obligations, he has to offer a sacrifice [slaughter an animal as an atonement].
As regards the recommended and desirable acts to be done before entering into the state of Ihraam, they are many, among which:
- Clipping the nails
- Shaving the pubic hair
- Performing Ghusl (a ritual bath)
- Putting on perfume
In regard to the recommended and desirable acts to be done after entering the state of Ihraam, they are as follows:
- Saying: Labbayka Allahumma ‘Umrah (O Allaah! Here I am for ‘Umrah)
- Talbiyah: Saying Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk (O Allaah! I am obedient to Your Orders, I respond to Your Call) aloud for men and silently for women.
- Ishtiraat (setting a condition or declaring an exception): this is to say: "O Allaah! If any emergent impediment (sickness or the like) prevents me (from completing the rites), then the end of Ihraam will be wherever You will me to be."
As for the things recommended during the Tawaaf (circumambulating around the Ka'bah), they are as follows:
- Kissing the Black Stone provided it does not involve hurting or annoying others.
- Idhtibaa‘ (baring the right shoulder) for men
- Ar-Ramal during the first three circuits. Ar-Ramal means speeding up one's pace with small steps if possible. It is for men only.
- Observing Thikr (mention of Allaah) and supplications excessively.
- Performing two-Rak'ah (unit) prayer after finishing the Tawaaf.
The things recommended during Sa‘i include:
- Ascending the Safa and saying: "We begin with what Allaah began with."
- Trotting between the two green posts.
- Making Thikr excessively.
These are the integral parts, obligations, and recommended acts of ‘Umrah.
As for the description of ‘Umrah, it can be summarized as follows:
- The one intending to make ‘Umrah has to enter the state of Ihraam from one of the Mawaaqeet (plural of Miqaat) or beside it for those who are beyond them, or to enter the state of Ihraam from wherever he sets off. If he is a resident of Makkah, then he has to enter the state of Ihraam from any place outside the Haram zone such as At-Tan’eem.
- Then he is to keep saying Talbiyah till he sees the Ka'bah. He must perform the Tawaaf while in a state of purity, and when he finishes, he is to pray a two Rak'ah prayer behind the Maqaam (the place of the stone on which Ibraaheem (Abraham) stood while he and his son Ismaa‘eel (Ishmael) were building the Ka`bah).
- After that he proceeds to move between Safa and Marwah (Sa’i), then he shortens or cuts his hair. Hereby he finishes all the rites of ‘Umrah, and becomes free to do all the things which were prohibited to him before Ihraam.
The aforementioned integral parts, obligations, and recommended acts of ‘Umrah are applicable to women as they are to men, except for Idhtibaa‘ (baring the shoulder). Upon finishing ‘Umrah and becoming free from the state of Ihraam, a woman is recommended to clip her hair (by cutting a part of her braid as small as a finger tip), but not to shave it.
A woman is not supposed to cover her face with Niqaab (veil), nor to wear gloves when she is in the state of Ihraam, according to the saying of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam: “A woman in a state of Ihraam is neither allowed to use Niqaab (cover her face) nor to wear gloves.” [Al-Bukhari]
Allaah Knows best.
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