Umrah is a sacred journey where Muslims go to the House of Allah to seek forgiveness and blessings. This pilgrimage is an act of worship that brings many rewards. Not only this, but it also deepens faith. When done sincerely, Umrah helps purify the soul. Do you want to do Umrah this year? Get the best Umrah Packages for a memorable experience. It is important to understand the major pillars to perform your Umrah correctly. If you don’t know them, you may face difficulties during the pilgrimage. Continue reading this guideline for more information!
Explore the Major Pillars of Umrah in Islam
The following are the four major pillars of Umrah in Islam you should be well-familiar with;
Ihram
Ihram is the first and most important pillar of Umrah. It is a special state of purity that every Muslim must enter before starting the pilgrimage. Men wear simple two white pieces of clothing. One of them is worn on the lower body and is known as Izar. The upper part is covered with the cloth called Rida, which is worn like a shawl. The shoes you wear should not cover your heels and ankles. Women wear modest clothing that covers the whole body except for the face and hands. After wearing the Ihram, pilgrims perform two Rakkat of Salah al-Ihram. Afterward, pilgrims enter the Miqat to start the pilgrimage. They make the Niyyah and recite the Talbiyah;
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْك، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
“Here I am, O Allah, here I am. You have no partner, here I am. Indeed, all praise and blessings belong to You. The Kingdom is Yours. You have no partner.”
Allah Almighty says in the holy Quran;
وَأَتِمُّوا الْحَجَّ وَالْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ
(البقرة: 196)
“And complete Hajj and Umrah for Allah.”
Generally speaking, Ihram reminds Muslims that they are all equal before Allah, whether poor or rich. It is a time to speak kindly, stay away from bad intentions, and focus only on worship.
Tawaf
The second step of Umrah is doing Tawaf at Masjid-al-Haram. Pilgrims stop reciting the Talbiyah and start circling the Kaaba seven times. This act is performed in the state of Idtiba’a, which means keeping the right shoulder uncovered for men. Tawaf begins at Hajar al-Aswad and ends at the same spot after completing seven rounds. The only purpose is to seek Allah’s mercy and pleasure. Pilgrims recite many duas when performing Tawaf. Allah says in the Quran;
وَلْيَطَّوَّفُوا بِالْبَيْتِ الْعَتِيقِ
(الحج: 29)
“And let them circumambulate the Ancient House (Kaaba).”
Pilgrims perform Istilam at the end of each round. This means touching or kissing the Hajar al-Aswad (Black Stone). Once the Tawaf is completed, two Rakat prayers are performed at Maqam Ibrahim. Multazam is the last part where pilgrims drink the Zamzam water. It is a 2-meter-wide door between the door of the Kaaba and the Black Stone. Muslims pray and make heartfelt duas at that sacred place while touching it with their cheek or hands. Whenever you plan the pilgrimage with your family, get the best Family Umrah Packages for a phenomenal experience.
Sa’i
After Tawaf, Muslims head towards the Masaa to perform Sa’i. Sa’i is one of the essential rituals of Umrah. This act honors Hazrat Hajar (AS), who ran between Safa and Marwah in search of water for her son. Despite the harsh desert, she trusted in Allah, kept praying, and seeking His help. Pilgrims begin Sa’i at Safa, facing the holy Kaaba with sincerity and devotion. They walk between Safa and Marwah while reciting ‘Subhanallah’ at each step. Women walk at a normal pace while men run in the middle section. The final round of Sa’i ends at Marwah. This is the place where Muslims run towards the Kaaba and also recite supplications, exactly like at Safa.
إِنَّ ٱلصَّفَا وَٱلْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ ٱللَّهِ
(البقرة: 158)
“Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah.”
Tahallul
The final step of Umrah is Tahallul. It is mandatory for men and women alike. Men need to completely shave their heads while women trim only a small portion of their hair. This ritual is a symbol of humility and submission to Allah Almighty. It simply shows that a believer is separated from physical appearance and surrenders to the will of Allah. Once Tahallul is completed, all the restrictions of Ihram are lifted. Now, Muslims can return to their normal clothing and routine activities. Through Tahallul, pilgrims express their complete devotion to Allah. They acknowledge that the true beauty merely lies in the obedience of Allah Almighty.
Tahallul reminds us that faith holds greater value than outward look. After this step, pilgrims make dua and thank Allah for granting them the chance to complete Umrah. Umrah is a great opportunity to renew your soul and ask for the forgiveness of your sins from Allah. That is why you must plan the pilgrimage with your loved ones, whether they are your family or your friends.
In A Crux
There are four major pillars of Umrah, including Ihram, Tawaf, Sa’i, and Tahallul. You need to perform all these rituals with love and care to complete the pilgrimage. Ihram is wearing simple white clothes and making the intention. Tawaf is walking around the holy Kaaba while praying and remembering Allah. Sa’is is to run between Safa and Marwah just like Hazrat Hajar (AS) did. Tahallul means to cut or shave the hair. This marks the end of Umrah. If you want to get a memorable pilgrimage journey, get affordable Umrah packages. From flights to hotel booking and accommodations, everything is covered in these deals. It doesn’t matter when you go to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, you must know the essential rituals. May Allah Almighty accept the Umrah of all those who perform it and bless them with the chance to visit His holy house again.
