Umrah Rituals Explained

By Author: david lee
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Umrah is a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Muslims, all over the world, can perform Umrah at any time of the year, however, it is mostly performed the days before, during and after the Hajj and during the last ten days of Ramadan. While Hajj is compulsory for every abled-body Muslim, at least once in his/her lifetime, Umrah is not at all compulsory. It’s up to the wish of the person, but, is highly recommended. The rituals performed in Umrah are as follows:

♦ Tawaf: Herein, you circle the Kaaba seven times in an anticlockwise direction. If you are a man, then, you should do this circling three times at a hurried pace, followed by four times, more closely, at a leisurely pace.

♦ Sa'i: Herein, you’ll be required to rapidly walk seven times back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwah. This is a re-enactment of Hajar's frantic search for water. It is said that the baby Ishmael cried and hit the ground with his foot, and water miraculously sprang forth. This source of water is now called the Well of Zamzam.

♦ Halq or Taqsir: Halq or Taqsir refers to cutting ...
... of the hair. A taqsir is a partial shortening of the hair, whereas a halq is a complete shave of the head. Women, however, cut only a little amount of hair.

The above mentioned rituals complete the Umrah, and the pilgrim can choose to go out of ihram.

If you too wish to perform Umra this year, you should better look for a suitable Umrah package. Though there are a number of tour operators around, you should trust an experienced one. Search online for an Umra package this year, and you’re likely to find hundreds of such packages.

Take your time to decide the best Umrah package for your specific needs; make a rough estimate of the costs that you’ll have to incur, so that you better enjoy the pilgrimage instead of worrying about the hidden costs. That’s why you should always go with a trusted tour operator. Ask people who have been to Mecca before; they can help you choose an operator.

Last but not the least, do make sure you go for Umrah at least once in your lifetime; it’s a beautiful feeling being there; you come home as a pure soul, devoid of pain and sufferings. So, look for a suitable Umrah package this year and visit the holy Mecca. May the blessings of Allah be upon you!