Introduction
Every Muslim has a deep-seated desire to have a sincere relationship with Allah. A Muslim’s opportunity to purge themselves of sin, reaffirm their belief in Allah, and establish connections with Muslims around the world is the Umrah. Umrah is frequently described as a scaled-back pilgrimage to Makkah. Since Umrah can be performed at any time of the year, unlike Hajj, Muslims from all over the world with diverse cultures, languages, rituals, and traditions can always be found practicing it. Many people wonder when is the best time to perform Umrah given Saudi Arabia’s hot and dry climate as well as the availability of travel and support services. Because they wish to concentrate on the spiritual journey of Umrah without having to worry about the already mentioned logistics, Muslims from all over the world prefer travelling with tour companies that offer Cheap Umrah packages from United Kingdom.
Rituals of Umrah
The Umrah rituals are simple but also meaningful.
1) Ihraam:
Before visiting Makkah, Muslims must perform the Ihraam rite, which is the first step in the Umrah. Muslims clean themselves and dress in designated garments during ihram. Women wear plain modest clothing that covers the entire body, with the exception of the face and hands, while men wear Ihram, which consists of two white unstitched sheets that cannot even have knots. One must absolutely avoid all intimate activities while in the state of Ihram and should not trim his nails, wear any fragrance, or wear cosmetics.
2) Tawaaf:
In both the Hajj and Umrah, tawaaf is a crucial ritual. It entails seven circumambulations of the Kaabah beginning and ending at Hajar-al-Aswad while going anticlockwise, uttering duas, and praying two rakats once Tawaaf is complete.
3) Saa’i:
The pilgrims head to the Safa and Marwa hill after completing Tawaaf. Walking or running seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa is part of the Saa’i rite. This commemorates the search of Hazrat Hajra, the Prophet Ibrahim’s (A.S.) wife, for her parched son Ismail (A.S.), in the arid desert, and it stands for endurance, faith, and trust in Allah’s kindness.
4) Halq/Taqsir:
The Arabic words “Halq” and “Taqsir” both refer to shaving the head, whereas “Taqsir” indicates reducing the hair on the head by at least an inch. Women may clip their hair by at least an inch, while men must shave their heads. When facing the Kaaba, it is advised that you begin shaving or clipping your hair from the right side. This deed stands for innocence, modesty, and the forgiveness of previous transgressions. It denotes the conclusion of the trip and the period of Ihram’s consecration.
What Footwear to wear during Umrah?
Sandals or slippers are the customary footwear during Umrah; this uniformity signifies that all men are equal in the eyes of Allah. Umrah can be purchased from any Trusted Umrah Travel Agency UK which is baitullah Travel. However, men cannot wear socks. Instead, they can opt to wear a pair of loose, flat sandals.
He should not wear chemises, head coverings, pants, burnooses or khufoof (leather slippers), except for one who cannot find sandals in which case he may wear khufoof, but he should cut them so that they come lower than the ankles. This is because men are required to keep their ankles and heels exposed during Ihram and are not permitted to wear socks.
This hadith explains that wearing footwear resembling sandals or flip-flops, known as khufoof, when a pilgrim is dressed in ihram is permissible.
The term “open-toe” refers to the practise of having a person’s feet in the water.
When performing Tawaaf, is it permissible to wear shoes?
The following are some of the reasons why it is not appropriate to wear shoes while inside a mosque:
Shoes can have impurities or dirt on them that can compromise the cleanliness of the Haram. The act of walking barefoot during Tawaaf symbolizes a humility and submission to Allah. The Kaaba and Masjid al-Haram are extremely sacred places, so taking them off before entering shows respect for the sanctity of the Haram. It is crucial to highlight that in exceptional cases where a person’s physical or medical needs necessitate wearing particular footwear, Tawaaf can be observed while footwear is worn.