Umrah is a sacred pilgrimage that Muslims can perform throughout the year to gain spiritual strength and attain peace. In Islamic culture, it is only second to Hajj and comes with a set of rules for men and women. Each pilgrim is obliged to follow the instruction strictly or the pilgrimage remains incomplete. Therefore, it is important to know how to perform Umrah for women and be thorough with regulations applicable to them.
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- After drinking Zamzam water, women move to Multazam to offer du’aa to Allah.
- 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.
- Pilgrims climb the hill of Safa, face the Kaaba with utmost devotion and pray to Allah.
- After descending from Safa, women move towards the hill of Marwah and perform dua in praise of Allah while facing the Kaaba.
- 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.
- 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
What should women do before starting the pilgrimage?
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.
What is the outfit that women wear before starting the pilgrimage?
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.
What should women do before becoming a pilgrim?
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.
What are the women supposed to do after Talbiyah?
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.
What does Taqseer for women mean during umrah?
Taqseer is the final step of completing the journey that ends at Mina, where women clip strands or locks of their hair. It marks complete surrender to Allah.
What are the mahram rules for women?
A woman should carry out the religious journey with a trustable male companion such as husband or guardian.
Can women carry out umrah without Mahram?
Only the women above 45 years of age can travel without a Mahram under strict guidelines.
