While there are some restrictions on both genders, there are fewer regulations for men. Men can roam freely around the Grand Mosque and perform prayers loudly to praise Allah. Women, on the other hand, are advised to recite their prayers softly. Also, they must be accompanied by a male guardian or a mahram.

Dress code for women during Umrah

Before starting the pilgrimage, every pilgrim must assume Ihram. Ihram for women is a little different from men in terms of the kind of clothing. Women are allowed to wear their regular clothes as long as no piece of styling attracts attention from the surrounding.

Most women prefer to wear an abaya, a white coloured tunic that covers them from head to toe. It leaves only their face and hands uncovered. White is not compulsory but preferable because it symbolises equality before the almighty and protects the body from the extreme hot weather of Saudi Arabia.

Suggested Read: Ihram For Women During Umrah : Attire, Rituals And Restrictions

Step-by-step Umrah Guide for women

Similar to Hajj, Umrah has a series of steps that a pilgrim must follow to make the sacred journey a success. Each of the stages of Umrah brings the pilgrim closer to Allah and his blessings. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to perform Umrah for women:

1. Before entering the Al-Masjid Al-Haram, women must wear Ihram and perform Niyyah and Talbiyah. Niyyah is the intention to perform the service to God, while Talbiyah is a prayer in praise of Him.
2. To become a pilgrim (Muhrim), a woman must cleanse her body, clip nails, wear an abaya, perform two Rakats of Salah al-Haram with heads covered, pronounce approaches to Miqat and keep reciting Talbiyah throughout the process.
3. After Talbiyah comes the ritual of Tawaf, where women circle the Kaaba. During each of the seven circles, the pilgrim recites a prescribed Du’aa. Unlike men, women do not have to run for the first three circles. They have to walk at a slow pace throughout this ritual. After the seventh round, Tawaf is complete, and pilgrims go behind the station of Ibrahim (Maqam Ibrahim) to perform Salat.
4. During Salat, one must offer two shorts of rak’aa’s and drink water from the Well of Zamzam in the basement of the Grand Mosque.
5. After drinking Zamzam water, women move to Multazam to offer du’aa to Allah.
6. The pilgrims then move out of the Al Masjid Al-Haram to perform Sa’iy, followed by completion of seven laps between Safa and Marwah by walking at a normal pace.
7. Pilgrims climb the hill of Safa, face the Kaaba with utmost devotion and pray to Allah.
8. After descending from Safa, women move towards the hill of Marwah and perform dua in praise of Allah while facing the Kaaba.
9. Pilgrims gather at the Grand Mosque and offer Raka of Nafl. After that, they come out with their left foot out first and offer dua.
10. The final step of completing the journey ends at Mina, where women clip strands or locks of their hair. It is called Taqseer and marks complete surrender to Allah.

Do’s and Don’ts for Umrah for Women

A few regulations and guidelines that every woman must keep in mind during the pilgrimage are:

• They must trim their nails and hair before performing Umrah.
• They can wear stitched clothing.
• They must shave body hair before the journey starts.
• They must take a purifying bath before the prayer starts.
• They should keep spare clothing in case the first one gets dirty.
• If travelling without a mahram, women must protect their chastity and pray in the area designated for females.

Prohibitions for ladies performing Umrah

• Same for men – chasing, killing and torturing desert animals are prohibited during Umrah. Swearing, fighting or backbiting is also not permissible.
• Women must refrain from establishing any physical relation with their spouse. The same rule applies to men as well.
• Women on their periods must not take part in the journey of Umrah.
• They must not move freely without the companionship of mahram.
• Women cannot marry anyone during the pilgrimage.
• Except for the face and hands, women must not show any part of their body.
• Jewellery is permissible but not encouraged during the pilgrimage.
• Women must not wear perfume or scent.
• Makeup is prohibited for women during the sacred journey.
• They must avoid wearing glittery clothes to avoid attracting attention from males in the surrounding area.

Visa Regulations for Umrah without Mahram

According to the new set of rules established by the Government of Saudi Arabia, women can perform Umrah alone only if they are above 45 and travelling in a group. Else, every woman and a girl must have a mahram, a male companion picked among the family or relatives, escorting them throughout the pilgrimage. For Umrah without a mahram, women can only apply for a visa while travelling with a group. Not just that, they have to present a notarised ‘No Object Certificate’ from their family stating that they have allowed a woman or women of their house to travel with a tourist group.

Umrah being a significant pilgrimage in Islam, should be carried out with utmost sincerity. Women around the world should stick strictly to the guidelines provided by the authorities and religious scholars. One should remain highly dedicated to the rituals and values of Umrah to benefit immensely from the holy journey.

Umrah For Women FAQs

The post How To Perform Umrah For Women: Rituals, Restrictions And Guidelines appeared first on Zamzam Blogs.

Umrah requires the pilgrim to give up all the worldly pleasures and surrender to Allah. It is the first step towards the journey of purifying the soul of the sins committed in the past. Umrah means visiting the sacred Kabba, the holy house of Allah, to pray in the glory of God. Before entering the second boundary of Makkah, pilgrims have to adopt the state of Ihram. It combines with Niyyah and Talbiyah to complete the Umrah. Niyyah refers to ‘the pure intention to worship Allah’, whereas Talbiyah is a prayer recited repeatedly to extoll the glory of god. However, nothing starts without entering Ihram.

Why Is Ihram Important?

The line/boundary that separates an ordinary Muslim from a pilgrim is called Miqat. As one wears an Ihram, they cross the line of Miqat. Its aim is to avoid attracting attention from the surroundings. It makes everyone equal in the eyes of the almighty. There are no differences in front of God, no one is richer than God and no one is bigger than God. Ihram unites the people who believe in Allah and worship God.

It is an item of clothing that has restrictions for both men and women. The Ihram for ladies during Umrah is different from men. Before entering the state of Ihram, pilgrims bathe, perform a cleansing ritual, and pronounce their intention to start the Umrah or Hajj. After attaining Ihram, the devotee is called a Muhrim. During this state, one cannot kill a living being, hunt an animal, cut nails or hair, wear perfume, put on makeup or perform the physical act of love with anyone.

Rules Of Ihram For Women

Ihram for Umrah for women has no mention of specific garments. There is no guide on how to wear Ihram for Umrah for ladies. Also, there are no restrictions on women regarding unstitched or stitched clothing. During the worship, a pilgrim must devote herself to Allah without attracting eyes from the surroundings. That is the only thing that one has to remember while wearing Ihram.

Dos and Don’ts in Ihram for Women

Ihram clothing for ladies & other rules

Generally, women follow the basic dressing code that Islamic culture prefers, which include:

1. Women must wear light coloured clothes that keep them comfortable.
2. The Ihram for women must be thick and plain, so none of the body parts is revealed during the prayer.
3. If women wear white Abayas (a full-length outer garment worn by some Muslim women), then the underclothing must also be white as coloured underclothes may shine from beneath.
4. Women can also wear black clothes. There is no compulsion for them to wear white, however, many prefer to wear it. It makes everyone appear the same in front of Allah. Also, white helps to keep the body cool when one is praying under the scorching sun.
5. Women are also advised to wear a Hijab, which is large enough to cover their entire body. It is a sign that they have respect in the world of men, and it keeps them secure from the evil eyes of lust.
6. After completion of Umrah, there is a ritual called Taqsir, where women cut an inch of their hair.

Ihram For Women During Umrah: Restrictions

1. There are restrictions from wearing a face veil or gloves to receiving blessings from the almighty.
2. Once in the state of Ihram, women must not comb or clip their hair to avoid hair fall.
3. They must not wear any jewelry or glittery clothes, and should refrain from using cosmetics, scented oils, and perfumes. This is to ensure that one connects with God directly without creating interruptions for other people or attracting attention to them. Also, they are restricted from chanting the Talbiyah loudly. They must recite the prayer softly such that people beside her (except her family member or mahram) cannot hear the voice and get distracted.
4. They must plan the visit according to their menstruation cycles. Menstruating women or bleeding ladies after childbirth are forbidden to perform the ritual or wear Ihram.
5. When in Ihram, women must maintain a safe distance from other men and must stay with their group or mahram. There is a separate space for women to perform the rituals. It keeps them away from unwanted interactions with men who are not their mahram.

In case a women violate any of the mentioned rules for Ihram during Umrah she must pay obligatory Fidya as Ihram penalties.

The sacred state of Ihram brings one a step closer to God and ensures that the pilgrim performs Umrah or Hajj successfully. The primary aim for an Ihram attire for women is to ensure they all appear the same and do not attract any attention. It helps them to feel humble and devoted to the pilgrimage and surrender themselves in front of Allah. To complete the journey peacefully and safely, women should dress accordingly and attain the sacred state of Ihram. Further, they should adhere to the strict guidelines provided by the authorities and religious teachers to avoid negative gazes in the public. There are many other rules that one must be aware of before taking on the pilgrimage of Hajj and Umrah.

Ihram For Women FAQs

The post Ihram For Women During Umrah : Attire, Rituals And Restrictions appeared first on Zamzam Blogs.

Things To Do Before Wearing Ihram

Despite being an important aspect of the pilgrimage, not everyone is aware of how to wear Ihram for Umrah. Before wearing Ihram, pilgrims must:

1. Take ghusl, which is ablution or cleansing of the body.
2. After taking ghusl, he/she must apply fragrance or Itar.
3. Then he/she should trim nails.

Let’s understand a few important things in detail:

Ghusl in Ihram

Ghusl is the term for the ‘main ablution’ in Islam, which is when the complete body is washed with ritually clean water and is necessary for both the living and the dead. Every time a significant ritual impurity has been attained, the ghusl, together with a declaration of purpose, must be done. A person who is junub (impure) is forbidden from participating in the daily ritual prayer, making the main and minor pilgrimages around the Ka’bah in Mecca, touching the Qur’an, reciting its words, or entering a mosque. Because it is known that the Prophet performed ghusl when he was in ihram, it is acceptable for the pilgrim to do ghusl for the sake of cleanliness while they are in ihram. Additionally, it is acceptable for the pilgrim to exchange his ihram clothing for newer, cleaner items. He may also take pleasure in utilising the air conditioning and other comforts.

Niyat for Ihram Umrah

Niyyah or Niyat for Ihram may be defined as the intention in one’s heart to carry out the deed for Allah’s benefit. It simply refers to the desire to carry out a worshipful deed. It is a necessary condition for carrying out any Ibadat. It is justified by Niyyah’s distinction between the sacred acts of worship and routine daily activities. Additionally, it distinguishes between the kind and degree of worship, determining whether the prayer is required or optional.

According to the Prophet, a deed’s outcome depends on the performer’s intentions. And, a person gets rewarded according to what is on their thoughts and in their heart when they perform the deed. Among the rites carried out during Umrah, the Umrah Niyat dua is of the highest importance.

How To Wear Ihram Clothing?

Umrah Ihram for men and women differs in many aspects, including clothing and rules & regulations.

Ihram For Men

The Hajj and Umrah Ihram for men consists of two white unstitched sheets. The cloth used for Ihram is a simple unstitched plain white cloth that must be wrapped around the body. Also, it must be new, otherwise the Umrah will be invalid.

It is believed that the cloth worn as Ihram is used as a Kafan, which is the cloth wrapped around a person when he/she dies. Kafan should not have a single stitch according to the religious rules. The shoes should not be stitched either, hence it is advisable to wear slippers or flip-flops. Men must not cover their hair nor their face while in Ihram. While wearing Ihram, they should make sure that their calves must be visible.

Ihram For Women

The Hajj and Umrah Ihram for ladies is very different as compared to men. Women can wear any ordinary dress for Umrah. They must cover their head but are forbidden to cover their faces. They are not allowed to wear burkha or niqab (an item of clothing used by Muslim women to cover their bodies) while in Ihram. A hijab (a cloth used by women in Islam to cover their hair) is mandatory. Their head dress must not cover their forehead. While in Ihram, women must not cut or trim nails or hair. Application of any type of fragrance or makeup is forbidden while being in Ihram.

Here is everything to know about Ihram for women.

When & Where To Wear Ihram For Umrah?

Ihram is obligatory beyond a certain (geographical) boundary called Miqat. Pilgrims should wear Ihram before or at the time of entering the miqat. Once a person enters a miqat, he/she cannot remove the Ihram clothing until the pilgrimage is completed. The four important miqats in Umrah are:

1. Miqat Qarn al-Manazil

This Miqat is situated 80km northeast of Masjid al-haram and 40 km from the city of Ta’if. It serves as a Miqat for people living in Najd, Ta’if and Riyadh and for people from UAE, India, Pakistan, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore.

2. Miqat Yalamlam

This Miqat is situated 100km southwest of Makkah and 90km north of the city of al-Lith. It serves as a Miqat for people traveling to Makkah from the south and also for pilgrims travelling from countries like Nigeria, South Africa, etc.

3. Miqat Dhu al Hulayfah

This Miqat is located 7km southwest of Masjid- an- Nabawi and was defined by Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) as a Miqat for pilgrims from Madina.

4. Miqat al-Juhfah

This Miqat is located 182km northwest of Makkah, 17km southeast of Rabigh and 15km east of the Red Sea. It is a Miqat for people travelling from North America, Europe, Turkey, Syria, Egypt, Algeria, Sudan, and various other African countries.

After completing Umrah, pilgrims can remove Ihram at the respective Miqat. Before removing the Ihram, men shave their head while women trim their hair by the size of a finger. Ihram for Umrah and Hajj is the same. The only difference is Umrah Ihram is worn till the end of the pilgrimage while Ihram for Hajj is worn for 4-5 days.

Ihram for Umrah conveys that on the day of Qayamat (the day of judgement), Allah will judge every person by his deeds not by his worldly achievements. It is an important ritual that symbolizes equality of all humans, and iterates that whether the pilgrim is a prince or a pauper all are the same in front of Allah. It shows that all should stand united irrespective of their status in society and devote themselves in the service of Allah.

Ihram For Umrah Guide FAQs

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