Call for Labbaik
Umrah is a journey to Muslim’s most sacred place; the holy Kaaba in Makkah. Umrah is known as the minor pilgrimage, while Hajj is the main pilgrimage and one of the pillars of Islam. Unlike Hajj, Umrah is a voluntary spiritual journey that Muslims of every gender, ethnic group, color, social status and culture take in visiting the sacred place as a sign of their devotion to Allah. This performance is known to be a cleanse of one’s soul and an opportunity for Muslims to ask for forgiveness and pray to God.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) once said “The pilgrims of Hajj and Umrah are the guests of Allah. They visited His home on His call, therefore Allah will grant them what they ask for.”
Umrah Guide
Called the lesser or minor Hajj because it’s not obligatory, Umrah is nevertheless considered commendable because it pleases Allah. This guide to Umrah explains the steps and requirements.
Umrah is similar to Hajj but can be performed at any time. To maximise pilgrimages, believers often perform Umrah during the holy month of Ramadan.
Unlike Hajj, Umrah rituals are shorter and simpler.
These are the essential steps of Umrah:
• Enter into Ehram (State of Purity and Devotion) by washing your body and donning Ehram garments
• Recite the Talbiyah in the Miqat station to declare intention to make the pilgrimage
• Travel to Makkah
• Enter Al Masjid Al Haram (Holy Mosque) and perform Tawaf – circling the Kaaba seven times in a counterclockwise direction
• Perform Sa’ay – walking 7 times between the hills of Safa and Marwah beside the Kaaba
• At the end of Umrah, men exit from Ehram by shaving their head (Taqseer). Completing Umrah for women requires cutting off a short lock of hair
Note that while you can perform this pilgrimage at any time of the year outside of Hajj, international pilgrims still need Umrah visas and must travel with authorised tour operators. Saudi and GCC citizens do not need special permits for Umrah.
The following is a sample itinerary, with required Umrah procedures and side trips to deepen your understanding of Islam.
CONTACT