Assignment # 1

UMRAH AND HAJJ

Umrah
Umrah or Omra is an Arabic word. The direct translation is "to visit a populated place".
In Islam, Umrah is an act of worship. Umrah is performed at Masjid al-Haram in Mecca.

Unlike Hajj, which is a mandatory act for Muslim who can afford it, Umrah is not a farz.
Umrah is a Sunnah and farz means compulsory, and Sunnah means an act of worship
performed by the Prophet (‫)ﷺ‬.

Difference between Hajj and Umrah:

The difference between Umrah and haj is that. Hajj is performed only in a specific month
in the Islamic calendar. It is the month of Dhu al Hijja.
Umrah can be performed throughout the year.

HAJJ
The Hajj is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca that Muslims are expected to make at least
once in their lifetime. The word Hajj is an Arabic word, meaning ‘to intend a journey’.

Who should go on the Hajj?

It is mandatory for Muslim adults to go on Hajj at least once in their lifetime. Hajj is the
fifth and final pillar of Islam, but is only a requirement for those who are able to afford
the trip and are physically strong enough to complete the pilgrimage.

Those who complete the pilgrimage can add the title Hajji to their names. The rites of
Hajj are performed from the 8th to the 12th of Dhu al Hijjah.

Every year about 2 to 3 million people from across the world gather in Mecca for the
Hajj. It is the largest single gathering of people on the planet.

Why do Muslims go on Hajj?

The rites performed at Hajj today were established by the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu
alaihi WA sallam) but, based on the Qur’an, they can be traced back to the Prophet
Ibrahim, (alaihis salaam), also referred to in English as Abraham.

Hajj hearkens back to the time of Prophet Abraham. Muslims believe that Ibrahim
(alaihis salaam) was ordered by Allah to leave his wife Hajra and his son Ismail alone in
the desert of ancient Mecca. In search of water, Hajra desperately ran seven times
between the two hills of Safa and Marwah but found none. Returning in despair to Ismail,
she saw the baby scratching the ground with his leg and a water fountain sprang forth at
the site.

This is the Well of Zamzam in the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. Pilgrims visit the well
while performing Hajj or the Umrah pilgrimage to drink its water.

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KINDS OF HAJJ
There are three ways of performing the Hajj:

1. Hajj al-Tamatt'u (Interrupted)

People who come to Saudi Arabia from other countries usually perform Hajj al-Tamatt'u.
The Ihram they wear on or before Miqat is for Umrah only and perform Umrah first, then
they slip into their ordinary clothes and on 8 Zil Hijjah they put on Ihram for Hajj at their
residence in Makkah and perform the rites of Hajj. It is taken off on the day of sacrifice.

2. Hajj al-Qiran (Combined)

This denotes entering into ihram for both Umrah and Hajj at the same time, not taking it
off until the day of sacrifice at Mina. In Qiran one has to stick to the long-lasting
restrictions of Ihram.

3. Hajj al-Ifrad (Single)

This means entering into ihram only for the Hajj and taking it off only on the day of
sacrifice.

Rituals:
Umrah and Hajj have almost same rites and rituals. Umrah rituals comprises of Ihram,
Tawaf, Sa’yee, drinking Zamzam water and shaving/cutting hair of head. These ritual are
also part of Hajj, but, pilgrims performing Hajj have to do some additional rites like
spending time in Mina, Muzdalifa and Arafat, Stoning the Devil and slaughtering an
animal for ALLAH.

How to Perform Umrah:

There are four (4) Rites of Umrah:
1. Putting up of Ihram
2. Tawaf
3. Sa’yee between the hills of Safa and Marwah
4. Qasar / Halaq

I. Ihram

A pilgrim sets Niyyah (intention) of Hajj & Umrah and recites Talbiya before Meqat. A
person should enter the state of ihram before Meqat.
Procedures of Ihram
1. Take a bath (Ghusal) with the intention of Ihram. Comb your hair, shape the beard, trim
your mustache, cut your nails, and remove unwanted body hair.
2. Wear Ihram sheets.

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3. Offer two Rakat of Nafal by covering your head.

4. With your head uncover declare your intention / Niyyah :

‫اَللَّ ُه َّم اِنِ ْي ا ُ ِر ْي ُد ا ْلعُ ْم َرةَ فَيَس ِْر َها ِل ْي َو تَقَبَّ ْل َها ِمنِ ْي‬

“O ALLAH! I intend to perform Umrah, please make it easy for me and accept it from
me”
5. After leaving home start reciting below mention Du’a and Talbiya continuously. It is
compulsory to recite Talbiya loudly once.

َّ ِ‫ الَ َح ْو َل َوالَ قُ َّوةَ إِالَّ ب‬،ِ‫َّللا‬

ِ‫اَلل‬ َ ُ‫بِ ْس ِم ال َلّ ِه ت َ َو َّك ْلت‬
َّ ‫علَى‬

“In the name of ALLAH, I place my trust in ALLAH, and there is no might nor power
except with ALLAH”
6. Enter Masjid Al Haram: Recite Darud e Sharif and Supplicate to ALLAH any Du’a in
Arabic or in your own language and proceed towards Kaaba.

II. Talbiyah:

‫ب ْيكَ الل ُه َّم لَبَّ ْيكَ َّ – لَبَّ ْيكَ َال ش َِر ْيكَ لَكَ لَبَّ ْيكَ – إِنَّ ا ْل َح ْم َد َوالنِ ْع َمةَ لَكَ َوا ْل ُم ْلكَ – َال ش َِر ْيكَ لَك‬

“Here we come, O Allah, here we come! Here we come. No partner have You. Here we
come! Praise indeed, and blessings, are Yours---the Kingdom too! No partner have
You!”
7. Keep your eyes fixed at Baitullah and Say:
َّ‫ و َِلل الحمد‬,‫ َّللاُ أكبر َّللاُ اكبر‬,‫ ال إلَهَ اال َّللا‬,‫َّللاُ أكبر َّللاُ أكبر‬
(ALLAH is the Greatest, ALLAH is the Greatest, there is no God, but ALLAH, ALLAH is the
Greatest, ALLAH is the Greatest, to Him belongs all Praise.)
8. After this recite Talbiya and move forward to perform Tawaf.

 Prohibitions of Ihram
o Cutting Nails
o Hair cutting or removing extra hair from any part of the body.
o Wear perfume
o Wear stitched clothing (men) / (Women can wear their ordinary clothes )
o Sandals and flip flops must not be stitched either and should allow the ankle and back
of foot to be exposed.
o Cover head (men), cover face (women)
o Hunting of animals even of lice.
o Sexual activity

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Assignment # 1

TAWAF OF UMRAH
This means moving around Kaaba seven times with respect and devotion. The pilgrims
must walk keeping Kabah on their left. Upon arriving at the Kaabah, stop reciting the
Talbiyah. You must be in Wudu (ablution). Men to leave their right shoulder bare ONLY
during the entire Tawaf, this is called Idtiba’a, after the tawaf men need to cover both
shoulders.

1. Start at the Black Stone (Hajar-e-Aswad), either

2. Kiss it if you can, if not.
3. Touch it with your right hand, if not
4. Face the Black Stone and point at it with your right hand

Say;

‫أكبر‬
ِ ُ‫ َوَّللا‬,ِ‫َّللا‬
َّ ‫س ِم‬
ْ ‫ب‬

(Just before kissing it/or just before or whilst touching/pointing) For men, to Raml
(hasten/briskly walk) during the first 3 rounds of Tawaf and walk normally during the
other 4 rounds. Once you reach the Yamani (the fourth corner of Kabah) corner, either
Touch it with your right hand (do not kiss it), and say ‫ َّللاُ أكبر‬,ِ‫َّللا‬
َّ ‫س ِم‬
ْ ‫ ِب‬or if unable, then
continue without gesturing or saying anything from the Yamani corner to the Black
Stone, recite :

َ َ‫عذ‬
‫اب النَّار‬ َ ‫سنَة ً َوقِنَا‬ َ ‫َربَّنَا آتِنَا فِي ال ُّد ْنيَا َح‬
ِ ‫سنَة ً َوفِي‬
َ ‫اآلخ َر ِة َح‬

(Our Lord, grant us good in this life and good in the hereafter and save us from the
punishment of the Hellfire. [Quran; 2:201])

 Supplications of Tawaf: There are no fixed supplications for tawaf but The Prophet of
Islam (peace be upon him) has said that there are two kalimahs that are light on tongue
and (on the Day of Judgment) they weigh heavy on the scale (Mizan) and are liked by
Allah. These kalimahs are:

(Subhan Allah Wabe Hamde hi Subhan Allah Hil Azeem (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmizi)

5. After Completing Tawaf, proceed to Maqaam‐e Ibrahim ‐ (Prophet Ibrahim’s station). At

the End of Seven circles they will do Istilam (touch or kiss the Black Stone) and say

‫أكبر‬
ِ ُ‫ َّللا‬,ِ‫َّللا‬
َّ ‫س ِم‬
ْ ‫ب‬

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6. Recite this verse (which means):

َ ‫َوات َّ ِخذُ ْوا ِم ْن َّمقَ ِام إِب َْرا ِه ْي َم ُم‬

‫صلًّى‬
(And take you (people) the Maqaam (place) of Ibraheem as a place of Prayer. [Quran;
2:125])

7. The pilgrims will offer 2 Rakat of Nafal close to Maqam-e-Ibrahim without covering
their heads. Recite Qul ya ayya hal kafroon in the first rakah and Qulhu wallah in the
second rakah.

8. Zamzam
The pilgrims will go to Zamzam, which is situated in the basement of Haram to drink the
water (Zamzam) while standing and saying “ِ‫َّللا‬
َّ ‫س ِم‬
ْ ِ‫ ب‬and (supplicate to Allah)
‫شفَا ًء ِم ْن ك ُِل دَاء‬ ِ ‫سأَلُكَ ِع ْل َما ً نَا ِف َعا ً ًّ َو ِر ْزقَا ً َوا‬
ِ ‫س َعاًَّ َو‬ ْ َ ‫اللَّ ُه َّم ِإ ِني أ‬
“O Allah! I implore for the beneficial knowledge, vast provisions and cure from every
disease.”

III. Sa’yee
The meaning of Sa’yee is to run/ walk back and forth seven times between the hills of
Safa & Marwah which are situated to the North and South of Kabah.
Upon approaching Mount Safa, the following Ayaat (verse) is recited

َّ َّ‫ع َخيْراً َف ِإن‬

َ‫َّللا‬ َ ‫علَ ْي ِه أ َ ْن يَ َّط َّو‬
َ ‫ف ِب ِه َما َو َم ْن ت َ َط َّو‬ َ ‫َّللا فَ َم ْن َح َّج ا ْلبَيْتَ أ َ ِو ا ْعت َ َم َر فَالَ ُج َنا َح‬ َ ‫صفَا َوا ْل َم ْر َوةَ ِم ْن‬
ِ َّ ‫شعَآ ِئ ِر‬ َّ ‫إِنَّ ال‬
‫يم‬ْ ‫ع ِل‬
َ ‫شَا ِك ٌر‬
(Verily, As‐Safa and Al‐Marwah are from the symbols of Allah. So it is not a sin on him
who performs Hajj or 'Umrah of the house (ka 'bah) to perform the going (tawaaf)
between them. And whoever does good voluntarily, then verily, Allah is the All‐
Recognizer, All‐Knower. [Quran; 2:158])

َّ َ ‫نَ ْب َدأ ُ بِ َما بَ َدأ‬

‫َّللاُ بِه‬
(I begin with what Allah began with.)
Then ascend upon Mount Safa, face the Kiblah, raise your hands and recite 3 times:

‫ َّللاُ أكبر‬,‫ َّللاُ أكبر‬,‫َّللاُ أكبر‬

(Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest.)

َّ َّ‫علَى ك ُِل ش َْيء قَ ِديْر؛ الَ إِلَهَ إِال‬

ُ‫َّللاُ َوحْ َده‬ َ ‫ لَهُ ا ْل ُم ْلكُ َو لَهُ ا ْل َح ْم ُد يُحْ يِي َو يُ ِميْتُ َو ه َُو‬،‫َّللاُ َوحْ َدهُ الَ ش َِر ْيكَ لَه‬
َّ َّ‫الَ إِلَهَ إِال‬
َ ‫ع ْب َدهُ َو َه َز َم األَحْ َز‬
‫اب َو حْ دَه‬ َ ‫ أ َ ْنج ََز َو ْع َدهُ َو َنص ََر‬،‫الَ ش َِر ْيكَ لَه‬

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Assignment # 1

(There is nothing worthy of worship except Allah, Alone. He has no partner, To Him
belongs the kingdom, & all praise belongs to Him, & He has power above all things,
There is nothing worthy of worship except Allah, He fulfilled His promise, Granted
victory to His servant, and alone He defeated the allied army.)
The seventh trip will end at Marwah. After this the pilgrim will offer two (2) Rakat Nafal.

4. Qasar / Halaq
After Sa’yee male pilgrims will get their heads completely shaved, females will clip their
hair equal to a length of a fingertip.

Rites of Hajj
The rites of Hajj center on complete the submission and devotion to Allah almighty. At
the same time, they serve as an example of total submission and obedience of Prophet
Ibrahim (A.S), especially his willingness to sacrifice what he loved most in the world,
his son Ismail (A.S), at Allah’s command. The main rites of Hajj are as follow:

 Hajj Preparations:
The date 8 Zil Hijjah starts after the Maghrib prayer of 7 Zil Hijjah. Complete all the Hajj
preparations during these night hours.

 Meqat:
It is the place beyond where from no one can proceed to Mecca to perform Hajj and
Umrah without putting on the Ihram otherwise he shall have to offer sacrifice.

 The Ihram:
Two white sheets of unsewn cloth is the prescribed dress of Hajj.

 Tawaf:
The literal meaning off tawaf is to go round. The pilgrims walk 7 times around Kaaba.

 Prohibitions of Ihram
Now the prohibitions of Ihram start. Recall their detail and follow the rules. From this
point on men cannot cover their heads for the duration of Ihram.

 In Mina
In Mina on 8 Zil Hijja offer Zohar, Asr, Maghrib and Isha prayers. Spend that night in
Mina and on 9 Zil Hijjah, offer Fajr prayer there.

 Wuquf-e-Arafat

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Assignment # 1

Only 9th of Zil Hajj which is called Yaum-e-Arafah the pilgrims should leave Mina after
the Fajar prayer and move on to the plane of Arafat. The stay in the plane of Arafat is
called Wuquf-e-Arafat. The stay at Arafat is the supreme experience of Hajj and is also
the most important part of Hajj. Without it, Hajj would be incomplete.

 Departure for Muzdalifa

When the sun sets in in Arafat, proceed to Muzdalifa without offering Maghrib prayer
reciting Zikr and Talbiyah on the way.

 Maghrib and Isha Prayers

In Muzdalifah offer Maghrib and Isha prayers together at Isha time. For both prayers
there is one adhan and one iqamah.

 Rami of Jamarat
Rami is the symbolic ceremony of stoning the Satan held at Mina. Rami is performed on
10, 11 and 12 Zil-Hajj. Pick up forty-nine pebbles of the size of big grams (chick peas)
if Rami is to be performed for three days and seventy if for four days.

 Return to Mina
Proceed to Mina when the sun is about to rise.

 Qurbani
There are three days designated for qurbani, i.e., 10, 11 or 12 Zil Hijjah. It can be done
any time during day or night. It is usually easy to sacrifice an animal on 11 Zil Hijjah. At
Mina the pilgrims offer a sacrifice in memory of Hazrat Ibrahim A.S who was willing to
sacrifice his son Hazrat Ismail A.S at the command of Allah Almighty.

 Halq or Qasr
After qurbani men should preferably get their whole head shaved (Halq) but it is
permissible to cut the hair (Qasr) of their whole head equal in length to a joint of a finger
(about an inch). It is also permissible to cut the hair (about an inch) of one fourth of the
head. A woman is prohibited to shave her head. She can cut about an inch long hair of
one fourth of her head. After this the pilgrims are no longer in Ihram.

Essence
Hajj is such a prayer as contains the essence of all other prayers. From the point of
departure for Hajj till his return a Muslim offers his Namaz regularly and gets closer to
Allah almighty. When he spends money for Hajj it is similar to payment of Zakat. When
he controls his sensual desires and avoid moral evils he undergoes a state of fasting.
Leaving his home enduring the hardships of travel and similar to the efforts of Jehad.

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Hazrat Ayesha Siddiqah (R.A) quotes the Holy Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬as under:

“The greatest Jehad is the performance of Hajj.”

Keeping in view the saying of the Holy Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬Hazrat Umar (R.A) used to say:

“Be prepared for Hajj because it is also a kind of Jehad.”

Muslims perform Hajj with the aim to cleanse their souls and revive their relationship
with God. It is also meant to strengthen the bonds among Muslims, since pilgrims come
from the four corners of the earth for the pilgrimage.

A significant aspect of Hajj is that it removes all markers of class, wealth and
materialism, which is why the pilgrims dress in simple cloth for the duration of the
pilgrimage. Men wrap themselves in two pieces of white cloth called the ihram, which
also means the sacred state.

Sovereignty:
According to Sovereignty:

The major difference between Umrah and Hajj is the fact that Hajj is the pillar of Islam.
Prophet Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬said:

“Islam has built on five pillars, testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except
ALLAH and that Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬is the Messenger of ALLAH, establishing the Salah
(prayer), paying the Zakat (obligatory charity) , making the Hajj (pilgrimage) to the
house and fasting in Ramadan”. https://sunnah.com/nawawi40/3

ALLAH made Hajj one of the Islamic pillars, without its completion, the faith of believer
is incomplete. In Holy Quran, ALLAH said:

“And pilgrimage to the house is a duty unto ALLAH for mankind, for him who can
find a way thither”. http://corpus.quran.com/translation.jsp?chapter=3&verse=97

References:
https://www.scribd.com/doc/24601141/Notes-Islamiat-compulsory-for-First-year-in-English-
Objective-Subjective

http://corpus.quran.com/translation.jsp?chapter=3&verse=97
https://sunnah.com/nawawi40/3
http://www.hajjumrahguide.com/hajj_stepbystep.html

https://www.islamichelp.org.uk/what-we-do/seasonal/qurbani/what-is-hajj/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/hajj