If you’re a woman and want to perform Umrah, there are a few things you need to know first. Here is an overview of How to perform Umrah For Ladies . Insha’Allah, this will help make your experience as smooth as possible.
Importantly, we’ll also discuss some basic tips for staying safe while in Saudi Arabia. Hopefully this post answers any questions you may have and empowers you to take the necessary steps for a successful Umrah journey. Allah SWT knows best!
Table of Contents
What is Umrah
Umrah is a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia that can be completed at any time of year. It is much smaller in scale than the Hajj, which takes place annually and is obligatory for all able-bodied Muslims. Umrah, on the other hand, is optional but highly recommended for every Muslim who is physically and financially able to do it.
The literal meaning of Umrah is “to visit a populated place.” In Islamic terminology, it refers to visiting the Holy Ka’bah in Mecca.
Benefits and Importance of Performing Umrah
Umrah is not obligatory but it is a Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. He is reported to have said:
‘Perform Hajj and ‘Umrah consecutively; for they remove poverty and sin as the bellows removes impurity from iron.”’
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa’i 2630
This Hadith shows us the great rewards of performing Umrah. Not only does it cleanse us from sin but it also helps remove poverty. How amazing is that?
The beauty of Umrah is that it can be done at any time of year, unlike Hajj which falls on specific dates. This makes it a lot more accessible to people and is one of the reasons why it’s so popular.
How to perform Umrah For Ladies – Umrah Steps by Steps Guide for Women
If you want to know that How to perform Umrah For Ladies correctly The Complete guide are as follows.
There are four Fardth (mandatory steps) of Umrah:
1) Putting up of ihram (outside from baoundary of Miqat)
2) Tawaf
3) Sa’yee
4) Qasar/ Halaq
1. Ihram
Ihram is the name of the special state in which a Muslim must dress and behave when undertaking Umrah or Hajj.
Procedure of Ihram for women
Hajj and Umrah ihram for women is very different as compared to men. Following are the steps which should be followed by women to come in state of ihram:
- Take a bath or do Wudu.
- Women can wear any ordinary dress while in the state of Ihram. There is no specific dress code for them. However, they should make sure that they are covered properly and do not show any skin but are forbitten to cover their face. They are not allowed to wear niqab that cover their face. But they can use baseball cap with niqab that covers their face.
- Offer two Rakat of Nafal
- Last one is make intention of Ihram. You can make intention in your heart or can recite Talbiyah .After that you are in the state of Ihram and you cannot cut your nails, hairs or wear perfume.
Dua for Niyyah of ihram:
اَللَّهُمَّ اِنِّيْ اُرِيْدُ الْعُمْرَةَ فَيَسِّرْهَا لِيْ وَ تَقَبَّلْهَا مِنِّيْ
“O ALLAH! I intend to perform Umrah, please make it easy for me and accept it from me”
Note: Make sure to make niyyah outside from the boundary of “Miqat“. Those who cross the boundary without niyyah are liable to pay fidyah.
Restrictions of Ihram For Women
When in the state of Ihram, women must adhere to the following rules:
- They are not allowed to cover their face, except with a baseball cap.
- They cannot wear nikab (veils that cover the face).
- They must be covered properly.
- They cannot wear any type of perfume while in Ihram.
- They are also not allowed to cut their nails or hair while in this state.
- They are not allowed to engage in sexual activity.
- They are not allowed to quarrel or argue with others.
- They are not allowed to kill small insects or do heartless things.
- They are not allowed to use foul language.
2. Tawaf
The word Tawaf is derived from the Arabic word Tauf, which means to go round or to circle something. In Islamic terminology, it means going round the House of Allah, which is Ka‘bah. Tawaf is the basically an act of circling the Ka’bah. After getting in state of ihram you have to come in Masjid-al-Haram and perform Tawaf around Kaaba. seven times counter clockwise.
As Masjid -al-Haram is most respectable place, so there are etiquettes and manners to enter in it. Following are the etiquettes of entering in Masjid-al-Haram:
- First you recite dua of entering in Mosque:
اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
Oh Allah, open the gates of Your mercy for me.
- Read “Talbia” Until you see Baitullah.
اللّهُ أكبر اللّهُ أكبر, لا إلَهَ الا اللّه, اللّهُ أكبر اللّهُ اكبر, و لِلّه الحمدَ
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.)
- When you see Bait Ullah, this is the most beautiful and blessing moment that can’t be explain in words. Keep you eyes fix on Bait Ullah and Recite Sura Al-Fatiha then raise your hands and make sincere Dua, either in Arabic or in your own language.
- Offer Two Rakat of Nafal on account of “Tahiyya-tul-Masjid“( A Pray of Greeting the Mosque).
Procedure of Tawaf for Women
Performing the Tawaf can be confusing, especially if it’s your first time. There are specific instructions that need to be followed in order to complete this sacred ritual correctly.
We’re here to help make the process easier. Follow our simple guide on how to perform the Tawaf for women and you’ll be circling the Kaaba like a pro in no time.
The following is the procedure for women to perform the Tawaf:
- Start at the Black Stone, either kiss it if you can, if not, touch it with you right hand, if not, face the black stone and point it with your right hand and say:
(بسم الله، الله الكبر ولله الحمد)
Now start walking normally in counter clockwise direcion. You should try to keep the Kaaba on your left side all the time and recite dua in you own language or this dua
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
I am present, O Allah, I am present, there is no partner unto You. I am present. Definitely praise and glory is yours (for You). The Kingdom is also Yours. There is no partner for You
- Once you reach the Yamani corner, either touch it with your right hand if unable just continue without touching it and recite this dua while walking from Yamni coner to Black stone.
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَة ً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَة ً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّار
(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])
- After reaching the Black Stone your one circle complete,
- Follow it for all seven circles.
- At the End of seven circle, you will offer two rakat of nafal close to “Maqam-e-Ibrahim” if unable then offer nafal just behind it.
- After that you will go to “zamzam water” which is also situated in basement of Haram, to drink it while standing position and say
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمَاً نَافِعَاًً وَرِزْقَاً وَاسِعَاًَ وَشِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ
O Allah! I implore for the beneficial knowledge, vast provisions and cure from every disease.”
3. Sa’yee
After completing the Tawaf, pilgrims head to the Masjid al-Haram to perform Sa’yee. This involves walking back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwah which are situated to the North and South of Kabah seven times . This ritual is symbolic of Hagar’s (AS) search for water to quench the thirst of Isma’il (AS) when they were stranded in the dessert.
Procedure of Sa’yee for Women
To perform Sa’yee, women should follow these simple steps:
- Before Sa’yee, you should reach on point of Safa and recite these duas:
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَآئِرِ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا وَمَنْ تَطَوَّعَ خَيْراً فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيْم
Verily, As‐Safaa and Al‐Marwah are from the symbols of Allaah. 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, Allaah is the All‐Recognizer, All‐Knower. [Quran; 2:158])
نَبْدَأُ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللَّهُ بِه
(I begin with what Allaah began with.)
- Then ascend upon Mount Safaa, face the Qiblah, raise your hands and recite 3 times:
اللّهُ أكبر, اللّهُ أكبر, اللّهُ أكبر
(Allaah is the Greatest, Allaah is the Greatest, Allaah is the Greatest.)
لا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَه، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَ يُمِيْتُ وَ هُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْر؛ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَه، أَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ وَ نَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ وَ هَزَمَ الأَحْزَابَ وَ حْدَه
(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.)
- Start at Safa and walk towards Marwah, when you reache Marwah, your one trip will complete.
- When you reach Marwah, turn around and walk back to Safa.
- Repeat this process six more times, making sure to walk between Safa and Marwah in a straight line and recite duas in you own language or this dua
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
I am present, O Allah, I am present, there is no partner unto You. I am present. Definitely praise and glory is yours (for You). The Kingdom is also Yours. There is no partner for You
- At the End, your seventh trip will finish on Marwah, offer two rakat of nafal on Marwa.
4. Qasar/ Halaq
After completing Sa’yee, pilgrims now move on to the last stage of Umrah, Qasar or Halaq. This involves cutting a small amount of hair from your head. Women must cut their hair to the length of a fingertip. This is done to signify humility and equality in front of Allah (SWT).
Now you Umrah have completed, May Allah SWT accept your Hajj and Umrah. Ameen!
Can a woman perform Umrah alone without mehram
This is popular question amongst Muslim women, as many are uncertain whether they can complete the Umrah without a mahram. A mahram is defined as a man who it is forbidden for a woman to marry, such as her father, brother or son. To put it simply, women must travel with their mahram or husband to perform Umrah.
In fact, the importance of a mahram has been stated by the Prophet ﷺ in a hadith narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas (ra):
“The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “No man must not be alone with a woman except in the presence of her (Mahram). No woman should travel except in company of a (Mahram).” A man said: “O Messenger of Allah! I have been enrolled for such and such expedition, and my wife left for Hajj.” He (ﷺ) said to him, “Go and perform Hajj with your wife.”
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 990
Can a woman perform umrah with her mother
It is necessary for the girl to travel along with her own Mahram. Being along with the mother will make no difference.
According to the blessed Shari’ah, it is Haraam for a woman to travel a Shari’ah-declared distance, without her husband or Mahram. Whether it is a journey of Hajj and ‘Umrah or for any other purpose, the same ruling applies.
Visa Regulations for Umrah without Mahram?
In 2021, the ministry officially allowed women of all ages to make the pilgrimage without “mahram,” on the condition that they must be part of a group.