Q&A: Performing the Umrah

What is Umrah?
Umrah is the act of undertaking a pilgrimage to Makkah at any time of the year. It is usually done at a different time of the year than the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The word Umrah actually means ‘to visit a populated place’.

Umrah performed during Ramadan is considered equal to performing Hajj and offers the same rewards. Nevertheless, performing Umrah during Ramadan is not a substitute for Hajj

What are the rituals?
To perform Umrah, you should be in a state of Ihram. Ihram is a state of purity and holiness. A man in Ihram is called muhrim; a woman is called muhrima.

There are five places some distance from the Holy City of Makkah which pilgrims must not cross before they are in a state of Ihram if they intend to enter Al Masjid Al Haram for Umrah or Hajj. These points or stations are called Miqats

During Ihram, sexual activity, shaving, and cutting one's nails or skin all are forbidden. There are also prohibitions against killing animals, except those that can harm people, fighting or quarreling, using perfumes, washing hair with shampoo, wearing gloves or socks, or uprooting oats or trees. Those who do these knowingly or unknowingly or by forgetting have to pay a penalty by sacrificing an animal or giving alms.

Pilgrims undertaking Umrah must complete three rituals which symbolise the lives of the Prophet Ibrahim and his second wife Hajar.

Firstly they must perform ‘tawaf’ by circling the Kaa'ba (the large black cube shaped building which is the holiest site in Islam) seven times counter clockwise. They then perform the Sa'i, walking back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwah and finally perform the 'halq' or 'taqsir', where males shave off their heads and females cut a few locks of hair. 

How long does it last?
Umrah can be as long or as short as you wish. It can be performed in one day or you can stay for several days.