Things to avoid during Umrah
What is Umrah?
Umrah is often referred to as the ‘lesser’ or ‘minor’ pilgrimage. It is an act of worship undertaken by Muslims. It involves pilgrims traveling to the blessed city of Makkah; where the revered Kaaba stands as the epicenter of the Islamic faith and the focal direction of worship, and performing a set of blessed rituals.
To perform Umrah, you must meet certain eligibility requirements, follow rules during Ihram, and have pure intention.
Eligibility
- Be Muslim
- Be mentally sound
- Have enough money to cover travel, accommodation, and other expenses
- Be physically able to travel to Makkah
- Have access to transportation
- Have a valid passport and any required visas
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) encouraged us to perform Umrah at least once in our lifetime. He, himself (PBUH) performed it four times.
What is forbidden during Umrah?
When you enter the state of Ihram, the following acts become prohibited:
- 1. Hunting
2. Sexual Intercourse
3. Kissing a woman
4. Touching one’s spouse with lust
5. Looking at a woman and flirting with her
6. Masturbating
7. Extracting a tooth
8. Using scent or perfume
9. Wearing stitched clothing (for men only)
10. Applying collyrium (Surma) or henna
11. Looking at oneself in a mirror
12. Carrying arms
13. Lying, boasting and abusing
14. Quarrelling and swearing
15. Killing insects found on the body (such as lice)
16. Beautifying oneself
17. Removing hair from the body
18. Covering the head (for men)
19. Covering the face (for women)
20. Closing of nostrils to avoid undesirable smells or odors
21. Taking out blood from the body
22. Cutting the nails
23. Reciting Nikkah (marriage contract), to be a witness and to justify it
24. Wearing shoes, slippers, or socks (that cover the top part of the feet – for men only)
25. Being under shade (for men) including the wearing of a cap, using of umbrella or traveling in a vehicle
What is haram in Umrah?
As the Almighty said: {Perform Hajj and Umrah for (the sake of) Allah}. With this intention, things that are permissible before entering into the state of Ihram are now forbidden: such as intercourse, shaving the head, clipping nails, covering the head, wearing sewn clothes for men, etc
Why is Tawaf anticlockwise?
Shaykh Hamza Yusuf says that since the heart is more inclined to the left side of the body, performing tawaf counter-clockwise allows the heart to be closer to the house of Allah.
What is the last tawaf called?
Tawaf al-Wadaa. Also known as the Farewell Tawaf. This is the last ritual before leaving the Holy City of Makkah on completion of your Hajj or whatever you came for.
is makeup Haram in Umrah?
Is Wearing Makeup Permissible During Umrah? Islamic scholars generally agree that wearing makeup during Umrah is discouraged for the following reasons: Conflict with Simplicity: Makeup is often associated with beautification, which contradicts the state of humility required during Ihram.
Umrah age rules
If traveling alone, you must be at least 18 years old to obtain a visa to perform Umrah. Travelers under the age of 18 may enter only if accompanied by a parent, grandparent, or adult sibling (over 18 years old).
Expiation for breaking ihram rules
With regard to the one who does any of these forbidden things out of forgetfulness or ignorance or because he is forced to do so, he does not have to offer any expiation, because Allah says:
“And there is no sin on you concerning that in which you made a mistake except in regard to what your hearts deliberately intend.” [al-Ahzab 33:5]
And Allah says concerning killing game or hunting, which is one of the things that are forbidden in ihram (interpretation of the meaning):
“O you who believe! Kill not the game while you are in a state of Ihram [for Hajj or ‘Umrah (pilgrimage)], and whosoever of you kills it intentionally, the penalty is an offering, brought to the Ka‘bah, of an eatable animal (i.e. sheep, goat, cow) equivalent to the one he killed.” [al-Maidah 5:95]
These texts indicate that whoever does one of the prohibited actions out of forgetfulness or ignorance does not have to offer any expiation.
The same applies if he is forced to do it, because Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Whoever disbelieved in Allah after his belief, except him who is forced thereto and whose heart is at rest with Faith; but such as open their breasts to disbelief, on them is wrath from Allah, and theirs will be a great torment”[al-Nahl 16:106]
If that is what is said about being forced into disbelief, it is more likely that no expiation would be required concerning less serious matters.
But if the person who forgot remembers, he has to stop doing the forbidden thing, and if one who was ignorant of it comes to know, he has to stop doing the forbidden thing, and if the pressure is lifted from the one from who is being forced, he has to stop doing the forbidden thing.
For example, if a muhrim covers his head because he forgot, then he remembers, then he has to remove the cover, and if he washes his hand with perfume then he remembers, he has to wash it until the perfume is removed, and so on.
And Allah knows best.
- Is it haram to look at your private parts in the mirror?
- Therefore, a person should not look to his own private parts in the mirror or directly without a necessity, but we do not say that this is forbidden and we do not know any evidence which suggests that it is forbidden.
Pre-Ihram Tips
Regardless of whether one plans to perform the Hajj or Umrah, ihram clothing is a must since it signifies the start of the ihram period. Therefore, it is imperative that both men and women abstain from the ihram restrictions. Here are some crucial pointers for anyone getting ready to do the Hajj or Umrah:
- Shaving the head: It is recommended to shave the head and enter the ihram with appropriate hair length to avoid the necessity of shaving or shortening the hair during the ihram period.
- Trimming nails: It is recommended to trim the nails before ihram to avoid the need to trim them during the ihram period, as trimming nails is considered a prohibition of ihram for both men and women.
- Performing ablution: It is recommended that the pilgrim perform ablution before wearing ihram garments to maintain good personal hygiene.
- Wearing ihram garments.
- Preparing a small bag with necessary medications.
- Using a sunshade, especially when performing Hajj, to avoid heatstroke.
- Paying attention to personal hygiene and taking care of food and drink cleanliness.
- Avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun and staying away from crowded places as much as possible.
- Taking sufficient rest and sleep, as some rituals require physical effort.
- Wearing loose-fitting, light-colored cotton clothes.
- Increasing fluid intake on hot days, especially on the Day of Arafah.
- Consult a doctor if experiencing any health symptoms.