A Step-By-Step Guide To The Rituals Of Umrah
The Sacred movement of Umrah is one of the most valuable spiritual experiences of Islam and provides the believers with a great chance to relate to their religion as they follow the steps of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Contrary to Hajj, which is compulsory, Umrah can be undertaken at any given time of the year, therefore, it makes up an easy spiritual pilgrimage to millions of Muslims across the globe. This is all you need to know about the Umrah to go through all its rituals in order to feel prepared, know their meaning and go through this life-altering journey. Umrah rituals involve a number of major elements that are to be rendered one after another and taken consecutively in order to enter the successful course of the pilgrimage. The rituals are brimming with spiritual significance, whereby during the sacred state of Ihram and even the last Tawaf, each rite links the pilgrims to centuries of Islamic culture. Learning these rituals prior to travelling to Israel will help you no longer to pay much attention to the practical part of your pilgrimage and concentrate on the spiritual side of your behavior. Understanding the Rituals of Umrah The Umrah rituals involve a set of sacred practices that become the basis of such a minor pilgrimage. These rituals are the same as they were more than 1,400 years ago, and they allow the contemporary pilgrims to be linked to the tradition and prosperity of the Islamic worship and devotion. All the rituals have a certain meaning in the life of a pilgrim, starting with purification and ending with a farewell to the holy Kaaba. The entire pilgrimage of Umrah is a composition of four super rituals that includes entering the first and the last Friday of Umrah, performing the Tawaf of Kaaba, executing Sa i between Safa and Marwah and finally having undergone Halq or Taqsir. There is a series of rituals one will be required to complete properly; otherwise the pilgrimage will not be considered. The religious significance of all the rituals is high; it is possible to improve relations between the pilgrim and Allah using this aspect. These religious practices affirm e-doctrines of Islam religion and raise the level of spiritual relationship between the Creator and his people. Selection of an appropriate Umrah package to have such religious experience can be a crucial element that can ensure that all rituals are availed conveniently and willingly. Entering the State of Ihram The fact of the rituals of Umrah is that one should enter into the state of Ihram since it is the first and the most significant phase of the rituals; it is the physical and the spiritual work on the path to pilgrimage. Being in Ihram means not only wearing special clothes but also the sacred state of cleanliness and being devoted and, as a result, pilgrims are not able to do or do some certain things. This divine condition changes the pilgrim more than his actual life and earns him a spiritual journey. Ghusl (Taking a ritual bath) will be necessary to cleanse the body and the soul before entering into Ihram. Men have two pieces of white unstitched clothes, one tied around the waist and the other on the shoulder whereas women can wear any piece of simple clothes that covers their body modestly. The white clothes also mean that all pilgrims are equal to one another without concerning their social background or nationality. Niyyah- Effect and intention of doing Umrah should be announced before traversing the Miqat (boundary). A prayer to be said by pilgrims takes a sacred form of Talbiyah, which starts by the words of Labbayk Allahumma labbayk (Here I am, O Allah, here I am). This is a formal initiation of a pilgrimage and it signifies a dedication of the pilgrim that he/she will fulfill his/her pilgrimage. Performing Tawaf Around the Kaaba Tawaf is the most important of Umrah actions, in which the pilgrims go around the sacred Kaaba seven times anti-clockwise. It is a ritual that signifies the unity of the believers in their service of Allah and forms an intense spiritual relationship between the pilgrim and the god. Kaaba is the center of all Islamic worship and completing Tawaf enables worshippers to feel this connection with Kaaba. Pilgrims are supposed to take Wudu (ritual ablution) to remain in the state of purity before starting Tawaf. Men are also expected to do Idtiba whereby they expose the right shoulder through passing the upper clothing below the right arm and above the left shoulder. Raml, which is a brisk walking speed used to show vigor and strength should be used in the first three circuits of Tawaf. This starting point of each of the circuits is the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad) and the ending point is also the Black Stone. Pilgrims are advised to kiss the Black Stone or touch it in case they are unable to kiss should not consider pointing to it instead reciting Bismillahi Allahu Akbar (In the name of Allah, Allah is Great). During the seven circuits pilgrims are obliged to pray, turn to Allah and make their own supplications remembering about the spiritual meaning of his sacred deed. Completing Sa’i Between Safa and Marwah The pilgrims then proceed and undergo Sa i which involves circling seven times between the rivers of Safa and Marwah after Tawaf. The ceremony is a sign of the story of Hagar who was a wife of Prophet Ibrahim and used to run between these hills in search of water to her infant son Ismail. The Sa i ritual means the confidence in the providence of Allah and points the people how the faith can help to cope with the most hard state of affairs within the conditions of life. The Sa i begins at the mount Safa where the pilgrims are to read some demands and faces the direction of the Kaabas. after the pilgrims complete the prayers at Safa, they