may bring them closer to Him in an attempt to gain His reward and
forgiveness. This is indicated by the verses )which mean(:
*.}So race to ]all that is[ good. ToAllaah is your return all
together.{]Quran 5:48[
*.}And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord.{]Quran 3:133[
Among the greatest arenas for this race is visiting Al-Bayt Al-Haraam
)Sacred House in Makkah( to perform 'Umrah)Minor Pilgrimage(, owing to
the great reward and the expiation of sinsinvolved in doing that. The
Prophetsaid:
*."Performing two 'Umrahs expiates the sins committed in the interval
between them."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
*."Alternate between Hajj and 'Umrah, for they exterminate poverty and
sins as the)blacksmith's( bellows removes impurities fromiron, gold
and silver."]Ahmad and others[
The 'Umrah that is performed in Ramadan has a special merit overthat
which is performed in any other month. There are narrations
encouraging Muslims to perform it in this month, showing its merit and
reward and clarifying that it incurs a reward equal to that of
performing Hajj. According to Ibn'Abbaasthe Prophetsaid to Umm Sinaan
Al-Ansaariyyah– as she did not perform Hajjwith him:"…For'Umrah in the
month of Ramadan is equivalent)in reward( to performing Hajj once with
me."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
Another version reads:"An 'Umrah performed in Ramadan is equal )in
reward( to performing Hajj once."]Ahmad and At-Tirmithi[
This was the practice of the righteous predecessors who used to
perform 'Umrah in the month of Ramadan. It was authentically reported
that Sa'eed ibn Jubayr and Mujaahidused to perform 'Umrah in the month
of Ramadan )and observe Ihraam for it( from Al-Ji'irraanah )a place 10
miles from Makkah(. It was also narrated that 'Abdul-Malik ibn Abu
Sulaymaan said that he and 'Ataa'set out in Ramadan)to perform 'Umrah(
and observedIhraam from Al-Ji'irraanah.
This discloses the secret behind the Muslims' race towards the Sacred
House to do this act of worship in the month of Ramadan. With that
great scene, one feels as if in a major season of Hajj.
Hence, we should provide a reminder of some rules of 'Umrah, and how
to do it. Generally, 'Umrah includes four main requirements:
Ihraam)state of consecration(, Tawaaf)circumambulation(; Sa'y
)movingbetween As-Safa and Al-Marawah(, and shaving or shortening the
hair of the head.
Once having the intention to perform 'Umrah, the Muslim is recommended
to have a wash and apply perfume, and then put on the clothing of
Ihraam after removing form-fitting clothes, like trousers and the like
)for men only(.
It is recommended )Sunnah( for men to wear lower and upper garments.
As for women, they may wear whatever clothes they want, provided that
the clothes cover their bodies and are free of adornment. It is
prohibited for women to put the veil on their faces except when men
pass by them. They are also prohibited towear gloves.
After that, one should pray two voluntary Rak'ahs intended as a Sunnah
of ablution.
There is no prayer that should be made especially for Ihraam. After
the prayer, one should make Talbiyah for Ihraam, saying: "Labbayka
'Umrah." Then, one should start Talbiyah, saying:"Labbayka Allaahumma
labbayk, Labbayka lashareeka laka labbayk. Innalhamda wanni'matalaka
walmulk, laa Shareeka lak.")O Allaah, here I am at Your service. There
is no partner to be associated with You. Praise, blessing and dominion
are Yours.There is no partner to be associated with You(.
A person in the state of Ihraam should say Talbiyah as frequently as
possible as it denotes the verbal slogan of the 'Umrah rite. This is
especially emphasized in various conditions and times, as while
ascending a high place or descending to a lower place, or at
nightfall, and the like. Talbiyahshould be said till the onset of
Tawaaf.
When arriving at Al-Masjid Al-Haraam, one should enter withone's right
foot and say:"Bismillaah wa as-salaatu wa as-salaamu 'ala
rasoolillaah. Allaahumma ighfir li thunoobi, waftah li abwaaba
rahmatik")In the Name of Allaah, peace and blessings be upon the
Messenger of Allaah. O Allaah! Forgive my sins, and open to me the
doors of Your Mercy.( One should enter the mosque with humbleness,
glorification of Allaah, The Almighty, and recalling the Grace of
Allaah Who Has facilitated for him/her the arrival at Al-Bayt
Al-Haraam.
Then, one should move toward the Black Stone, starting Tawaaf from
there. One should touch and kiss it if possible. If not, one may
merely point to it from afar, saying:"Bismillaah. Allaahu Akbar!")In
the Name of Allaah. Allaah Is The Greatest(. One should not throng
with others in an attempt to reach it. One is supposed to make seven
rounds starting from the Black Stone andfinishing at it. At the
beginning of each round, one should say:"Allaahu Akbar")Allaah Is The
Greatest(. It is favorable that one touches the Yemeni Corner that
precedes the Black Stone in every round if possible. It is not
permissible, however, to kiss it or point to it if one cannot manage
to do so. Between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone, one should
recite the verse )which means(:
}Our Lord, Give us in this world]that which is[ good and in the
Hereafter ]that which is[ good and protect us from the punishment of
the Fire.{]Quran 2:201[
During Tawaaf, one should remember Allaah, The Almighty, supplicate
Him and recite something from the Quran. Thereare no specific
supplications that should be said in every round.
It is recommended to uncover one's right shoulder, placing the middle
part of the upper garment under the armpit and putting the ends of the
garment on the left shoulder, in all the rounds. It is also
recommended to quicken one's pace with short steps in the first three
rounds. Upon completing the seven rounds, one is supposed to proceed
to the Maqaam]standing place of Ibraheem)Abraham([ and recite the
verse )which means(:}And take,]O believers[, from the standing place
ofIbraheem aplace of prayer.{]Quran 2:125[ Then, one should perform
two Rak'ahs behind the Maqaam if possible. Otherwise, one should make
them elsewhere in the Mosque.
After that, one should proceed tothe do Sa'y, and while approaching
As-Safa hillock, one may recite the verse )which means(:}Indeed,
As-Safa and al-Marwah are among the Symbols of Allaah.{]Quran 2:158[
Then, one is to ascend As-Safa till one can see the Ka'bah, to look at
it and raise one's hands and supplicate Allaah, The Almighty. In this
regard, the Prophetused to supplicate Allaah, The Almighty by
saying:"Laa Ilaaha Ila Allaah, wahdahu laa shareeka lah. Lahulmulku wa
lahulhamdu, wa Huwa 'ala kulli shay'in Qadeer.Laa Ilaaha Illa Allaah
wahdah. Anjaza wa'dah, wa nasara 'Abdah, wa hazama Al-Ahzaaba
wahdah.")There is none worthy of worship except Allaah, to Him no
partners should be associated. To Him are the Sovereignty and Perfect
Praise, and He is Competent to do everything. There is none worthy of
worship except Allaah, Who fulfilled His promise, supported His Slave
and defeated the parties(." This is to be mentionedthrice, with
supplications in between.
Then, one is to descend As-Safa proceeding to Al-Marwah and hurrying
between the two green pillars without crowding others. When reaching
Al-Marwah, one should ascend it, face the Qiblah, raise his hands and
make the supplication that he made on As-Safa, without reciting the
verse )which means(:} Indeed, As-Safa and al-Marwah are among the
Symbols of Allaah .{]Quran 2:158[
With that, one has completed one out of the seven rounds. Then, one is
to descend from As-Safa, walking, where walking is required and
hurrying where hurrying is required, till the end of the seven rounds,
starting with As-Safa and finishing with Al-Marwah.
Upon the completion of Sa'y, menare supposed to shave or shortentheir
hair - shaving is better. As for women, they should shorten their hair
by just trimming an amount equal to a fingertip.
With shaving or shortening one'shair, the acts of 'Umrah are finished,
and the person has come out of the state of Ihraam. Thus, everything
that was forbidden in the state of Ihraam becomes lawful.
Finally, the Muslim should not miss this chance. He should take
advantage of this noble time and place and do many voluntary actsof
worship and obedience, especially in the blessed month of Ramadan and
in the blessed place of Al-Masjid Al-Haraam. The Prophetsaid: "One
prayerperformed in my Masjid)mosque( is better than one thousand
prayers performed in other mosques save Al-Masjid Al-Haraam. Also, one
prayer performed in Al-Masjid Al-Haraamis better than one hundred
thousand prayers performed in other mosques."]Ahmad[
One should be most cautious not to commit any violations or sins that
may eliminate the reward, and cause one to come back withloads of
sins. As reward is multiplied in such a place, sins which are
committed there are not the same as sins that are committed elsewhere.
Allaah, The Almighty Says )what means(:}And ]also[ whoever intends ]a
deed[ therein of deviation ]in religion[ or wrongdoing - We willmake
him taste of a painful punishment.{]Quran 22:25[
The Prophetsaid:"The most hateful among people to Allaah are three … A
person whodeviates in religionat Al-Haram."]Al-Bukhaari[
May Allaah guide us all to good words and deeds, and accept from us.
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