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  A chapter on the prescribed manner of performing Hajj and `Umrah

(12) The prescribed manner for `Umrah

235- The rites of `Umrah

Praise is due to Allah Alone. The following is a brief description of the rites of `Umrah: [1] 1- The person intending to offer `Umrah is recommended to have a bath when he reaches the Miqat (site for entering the ritual state for Hajj and `Umrah) and clean himself well. This applies to a woman as well even if she is in menstruation or puerperuim periods; though she is not then permitted to perform Tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka`bah) till her period ends and she takes a bath after that.A man should apply perfume to his body; not to his Ihram garment (clothing worn during the ritual state for Hajj and `Umrah). However, there is no harm if a person does not have a bath in the Miqat due to inability to do so there, but it is recommended, if possible, to have a bath upon reaching Makkah and before offering Tawaf.2- A man takes off all his sewn clothes and wears white and neat Izar (garment worn below the waist) and Rida' (garment worn around the upper part of the body), while a woman

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 assumes Ihram (ritual state for Hajj and `Umrah) while wearing her ordinary clothes that should be neither embroidered nor alluring.3- Then, one makes the intention to start `Umrah and says, "Allahomma (O Allah) (Labayk [Here I am! At your service for offering] `Umrah)". Besides, if someone fears that they may not be able to perform `Umrah due to some illness or to fear from an enemy or the like, they are allowed to say as a stipulation, "If anything holds me from that, I will end my Ihram," drawing on the Hadith narrated on the authority of Duba`ah bint Al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with her). They should say the Talbiyah which the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to recite, namely, "Labbayka Allahummah Labbayk, Labbayka La Sharika Laka Labbayk, Inna Al-Hamda Wa-al-Ni`mata Laka Wa-al-Mulk, La Sharika Lak (Here I am at Your service, O Allah, Here I am. Here I am at Your service, You have no partner, Here I am. Yours alone is all praise and all bounty, and Yours alone is the Sovereignty. You have no partner)". It should be said frequently along with Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah; may He be Glorified) and supplication till one reaches the House, the Ka`bah. 4- The person performing `Umrah, when arriving at Al-Masjid Al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque in Makkah), should put forward the right foot and say, "In the Name of Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. I seek refuge with Allah, the Almighty, by His Noble Face and His Most Ancient Sovereignty and Authority, against the accursed Satan. O Allah! Open the gates of Your Mercy for me."5- Then, upon reaching the House (Ka`bah), one should stop recital of Talbiyah and should proceed to Al-Hajar Al-Aswad (the Black Stone in a corner of the Ka`bah).

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 Thereon, one should face it, touch it with ones right hand and kiss it, if possible; though one should not hustle other people or cause harm to them in his way to it. It is also an act of Sunnah to say upon facing Al-Hajar Al-Aswad, "In the name of Allah and Allah is the Greatest". If they could not kiss it, it just suffices to touch it with the hands, a stick or the like and then kiss that with which the Al-Hajar Al-Aswad is touched. Yet, if it is not possible to do so, they can point to it and say "Allah is the Greatest", but should not kiss that with which they point to it. Moreover, it is a prescribed condition for the validity of Tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka`bah) to be ritually pure from major and minor ritual impurities, since Tawaf is counted as prayer but; yet, it is permitted to speak to others during performance of it.6- One should carry out seven rounds of Tawaf, making the House to their left side, and when getting opposite to the Yemeni Corner (southern corner of the Ka`bah facing Yemen), they should touch it with their hand, and say, "In the Name of Allah and Allah is the Greatest," and should not kiss it. If a person cannot touch it, they should complete Tawaf without pointing to it or saying Takbir (Allah is the Greatest), for it was not reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) did so. On the other hand, when facing the Black Stone, a person should touch and kiss it in the manner just illustrated, and if this is unattainable, one should point to it and say Takbir. Moreover, it is recommended for men in particular to observe Ramal (rapid ritual walk for men) in the first three rounds of Tawaf-ul-Qudum (circumambulation of the Ka`bah on arrival in Makkah), and Idtiba` which means that a man places the middle part of his Rida' under his right shoulder and to put the two ends of Rida' on his left shoulder. Anyhow, it is an act of Sunnah to recite Dhikr and supplication frequently during all rounds of Tawaf. In Tawaf, however, no

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 special supplication or Dhikr is recommended to be recited; rather, a person is recommended to say the supplications they know and - when they are between the two corners of Ka`bah - to say, Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire! [2] In every round of Tawaf, as it was authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him). One should then end the seventh round with touching Al-Hajar Al-Aswad and kissing it if possible. Otherwise, it suffices to point to it and say Takbir, as mentioned previously. After finishing Tawaf, a person should put his Rida' on his shoulders and let the ends of it droop on his chest.7- Afterwards, one should offer two Raka`ahs (units of Prayer) behind Maqam Ibrahim (the Station of Ibrahim), if possible. Otherwise, it is allowable to offer them anywhere at Al-Masjid Al-Haram, and it is better, following recital of Surat Al-Fatihah in the first Rak`ah, to recite the Surah (Chapter from the Qur'an) that begins with Say: (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم to these Mushrikûn and Kâfirûn): "O Al-Kafirûn (disbelievers in Allâh, in His Oneness, in His Angels, in His Books, in His Messengers, in the Day of Resurrection, and in Al-Qadar)! [3] And, following recital of Surat Al-Fatihah in the second Rak`ah, to recite the Surah that begins with Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "He is Allâh, (the) One. [4] Yet, there is no harm if one recite other Surahs. Then, after completing the two Raka`ahs, one should touch Al-Hajar Al-Aswad if possible.8- Then, one is to go to Al-Safa, and ascend or stand by it, knowing that it is better to ascend it, if possible, and recite Allah's (Exalted be He) Saying, Verily, As-Safâ and Al-Marwah (two mountains in Makkah) are of the Symbols of Allâh. [5] In addition, it is preferable to direct ones face towards the Qiblah (Ka`bah-direction faced in Prayer), and praise Allah and say, "'There is none worthy of worship but Allah, Allah is the Greatest. There is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, with no

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 partner or associate; His is the Dominion, all praise is due to Him, and He is Able to do all things. There is no god but Allah Alone; He fulfilled His promise, granted victory to His slave, and defeated the Confederates Alone)". Then, one can recite other supplications as much as they can while raising their hands, knowing that it is recommended to repeat such supplications and Dhikr three times. After that, one should descend and walk to Al-Marwah till they arrive at the first banner, and then they should trot till they reach the second banner.A woman, however, is not allowed to hasten in walking, since parts of her body may be exposed during trotting (knowing that this is forbidden). Then, one should walk to and ascend Al-Marwah or stand by it (its versant), though the former is better, if possible, and should do and say at Al-Marwah exactly that which they do and say at Al-Safa. Then, one descends and walks calmly where they are required to do so and should hasten where hastening is required till they reach Al-Safa, and they should do that seven times; counting going to Al-Safa as one round and returning to Al-Marwah another round. There is no harm in performing Sa`y (going between Al-Safa and Al-Marwah during Hajj and `Umrah) while riding, especially if there be a need for riding. It is also recommended to say Dhikr and supplication while making Sa`y and to be ritually free from minor and major ritual impurity. However, if one performs Sa`y while he is not ritually pure, there is no harm.9- After completing Sa`y, a man should shave off his head or shorten his hair, knowing that the former is better. If, however, the time of coming to Makkah is close to the time of Hajj (Pilgrimage), it is better in this case to shorten ones hair so that one could shave it off during Hajj. The woman, on the other hand, is required to gather her hair and cut from it a part equal to the size of a fingertip or lesser. If the Muhrim (pilgrim in the ritual state for Hajj and `Umrah) performs all that which is mentioned, their `Umrah is then fulfilled - praise is due to Allah - and then everything forbidden to them

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 due to Ihram becomes lawful.May Allah grant us and all Muslims understanding of His Religion and adherence to it. May Allah accept such rituals from us all, for He (may He be Glorified)is the Most Bounteous, the Most Generous.May Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon His Slave and Messenger, our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions and those who uprightly follow him till the Day of Judgment. `Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz

Grand Mufty of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

and Chairman of Council of Senior `Ulema

and Administration of Scholarly Research and Ifta'