Obligations of Umrah

Umrah is a religious event; it is performed by the millions of Muslims every year from around
the world. Our beloved prophet (PBUH) performed Umrah first time in 7th hijri, thats why it is
also goes to all people who can afford to perform Umrah. Umrah is all about worshipping
ALLAH, Umrah is not wajib but its a Sunnah, Umrah can be done many times in year. Umrah is
considered as a minor pilgrimage, Umrah has some specified acts that are can be done on
specific place throughout the year. Threre are some particular obligation of performing Umrah,
Umrah is actually based on 5 main acts that should be done by pilgrims.
Necessary acts for doing Umrah:
* Wear Ihram when enter in Meeqat.
* Perform Tawaaf.
* Proceed for doing Saee (running between safa and marwa mountains).
* Trimming or shaving of hairs.
Now we are going to discuss these acts in detail that how should be these are performed.
(1) Niyyat & Ihraam:
Niyyat is most important before starting Umrah. Niyyat can be done in heart or in mind or it
can be expressed through words i.e. O ALLAH; I am wearing ihram with the intention of
performing Umrah, please guide me to perform Umrah in righteous way and make things easy
for myself and accept my Umrah

Wearing ihram is a fundamental act and a primary condition of Umrah that can not be
ignored it is also known as Shart-e-Ada (first and basic condition). Ihraam is a specific dress that
is compulsory for Umrah and hajj. Ihram condition starts from Meqaat, it is necessary to be in
ihram before entering in Mecca.
* Our beloved Prophet (PBUH) said do not pases through the meeqaat unless you in a state of
ihraam (sahi-al-Bukhari).
After wearing ihram recite 2 rakat of nafil salat for Ihraam
(2) Perform Tawaaf:
The second compulsory act of Umrah is Tawwaaf, if any one doesnt perform tawaaf
because of any reason than its Umrah will not be considered. Tawaaf meaning is to take round of
any object that is fixed, Tawaaf is based on 7 rounds, Pilgrim should have to take 7 rounds of
KAABA. After completing Tawaaf it is compulsory for pilgrim to perform 2 rakat salat
immediately on Muqaam-e-Ibrahim.
Tawwaf has some conditions:
* Intention for tawaaf:
Before starting tawaaf pilgrim should make intention as O ALLAH; I am doing the
tawaaf of KAABA seven times accept my tawaaf and make this easy for me.
* Purification of pilgrim ( tahaarat):
Tahaarat means the purification of pilgrim either to do wazu or take ghusal
(shower if needed), without this tawaaf will not be done.
(3) Proceed for doing Saee:
Saee meaning is to run between the mountain of safaa and marwaa. Saee is wajib in
Umrah and in hajj too. Hazrat Hajra ran in between 2 mountains in search of searching water for
his son Hazrat Ismaeel (as), pilgrims perform saee in memory of this.
(4) Trimming or shaving hairs (halq):
Halq is also the very compulsory act of Umrah, after doing all above steps you
should have to do go for shaving your hairs.