Its literal meaning: is the visit.

Its legislative meaning: is to visit the sanctified House of Allah, in a specific way.

Umra is an ordinamce (a prescribed act) which every Muslim should perform once in his lifetime. It should be done as soon as one is capable.

Obligatory & Validity Conditions for Umra

They are the same conditions applicable to Hajj with the exception that Umra can be performed any time. For those who sanctify for Hajj, however, Umra should be done after completing the rituals of Hajj.

The Manner to Perform Umra and Hajj

We summarized in the previous section the principal cornwrs of Umra and Hajj the conditions for Umra and Hajj to be obligatory and valid as well as the actions, which spoil Umra and Hajj. We also explained that the person who wants to perform Hajj and Umra can choose between three alternative ways: Tamattu, Ifrad and Qiran. Since Tamattu is the easiest and most suitable alternative-if one has the time to perform it – and smce describing it in detail entails an explanation of Umra and Hajj separately – and hence provides the necessary details for those who want to perform Umra alone- we selected this type of Hajj to present, discussing its corners, precepts (sunan) and duties in chronological order, starting with Umra first.

Its legislative meaning: is the intention of performing Umra or Hajj and abiding by specific inviolabilities the intention must be accompanied by the Talbiya (response).

These are places form, which one must sanctify, and they differ according to the directions as follows:

How to parfosm lhram:

1. To pare the fingers nails, trim the hair and the moustache, and shave the armpit and the pubes hair.
2. To take a bath with the intention of lhram. The woman should also take a bath even if she is in menstruation or parturition. Whoever cannot take a bth can perform ablution or tayammum.
3. To wear the consecration garment. For men, lhram (consecration) cloth must not be sewn and must consist of two seamless sheets, the Izar to be wrapped round the loins, and the Rrida to cover the upper part of the body. It must cover the private parts and facilitate movement . Men should also wear a pair of slippers which do not cover the heels. As for women, they should wear what covers their whole body except the face and the hands.

It is preferable that the lhram clothes are new and white

4. It is sunna to make lhram after 'fard' ( prescribed ) prayer or a nafl ( sunna prayer )and it is desirable to perform two rak'a ( pray two kneels ) after Ihram.
5. To face the Qibla after wearing the Ihram garment and say: "Oh Allah! I intend Umra, so make it easy for me and accept it from me, Oh Allah! My hair, skin, blood and flesh are in state of consectation".

One then recites the Talbiya three times:

"Here I'm at your service Oh Allah, I respond to your call and I'm obedient to your orders. You have no partners. All praise and grace are due to you and all the sovereignty is for you and you have no associates with you".

One should then invoke Allah to send His peace, mercy and blessings upon the Prophet Mohamed and supplicate Allah, repeating the Talbiya when ever changing his position from movement to silence, when waking up from sleep, when meeting people and after the prescribed prayers. Men should raise their voices when reciting the Talbiya while women should recite in silence.

1. To rub the skin or the hair if this does not cause hair to fall and does not result in killing insects.
2. To take a bath on condition that no perfume is used and no insects are killed.
3. To use the shade of trees , tents or umbrellas on condation that such thinges do not touch the head or the face of the man , and the face of the women .

As soon as the Muhrim arrives in Mecca , he has to start with the Holy Mosque for circumambulation , after he makes arrangement s for his luggage and lodging . It is desirable to enter from the door of Umra or Ibrahim or Abdel Aziz Al So'oud , all of whiche are close to each other and face the yamani corner of the Ka'ba.

He has to enter the mosque while reciting the Talbiya, in a state of humbleness , reverence and purity from the smaller and bigger impurity , and clean in body and cloth , wearing his clothes such that the whip is under his armpit and the end part of his cloth are on his left shoulder . He then has to do the following :

1. Enter the mosque with his right foot , and as soon as he seet the Ka'ba he should say :

"There is none has the right to be worshipped but Allah. Allah is the Greatest. Oh Allah, You are the peace is from you, so survive us with peace. Oh Allah! increase this houuse honouring dignity and greatness, and increase those who perform pilgrimage or Umra to honourig, dignity and greatness."

He should then walk in humbleness and reverence towards the ka ba keeping his eyes on it and keeping in his heart the intention of Tawaf.

2. To walk towards the kaba making its building on his left. When he reaches the Black Stone, he must stand besides it from the Yamani comer faciong the Kaba, keeping the whole Black Stone to his right shoulder to the end of it. He then intends Tawaf saying:

"Oh Allah ! I intend Taawwaf of Your Greates House seven rounds,Tawaf of Umra, accept it from me and help me perform it."

3. To come closer to the Balck Stone to kiss it or touch it by hand then kiss the hand or point at kiss what he pointed with. One should then lift his hands the same way he does for Takbirt at Ihram saying :

" In the name of Allah, Allah, is the Greast. Oh Allah! I pledeg to have faith in You, firm conviction in Your ( revealed ) Book (i.e. the Quran ), fulfilment of the convenant which I did to You and follow the tradition (sunna ) of Your prophet Mohamed ( peace be upon him )."

4. One starts Tawaf keeping the Black Stone to his left and moving towards the door of the ka'ba, taking care not totouch its walls or to walk on the "chazouran" (which is situated beneath the walls of the ka'ba and includes the frame to which the ka'ba's cover is tied ) as it is part of the ka'ba. One should not pass between the ka'ba and the Hijr (lap) of Ismail. When one reaches the yamani corner, he should toch it with his right hand or point at it. When reacthe corner of the Black Stone, the first round is finished, and one should start the second round following the same procedures, and so on until the seven rounds are completed. For men, they shouldwalk hastily in the first three rounds and in an ordinary pace in the last four rounds taking care of the following :

1. To be cleam from the minor and majior impurity during Tawaf and

After finshing the two Raka ( Kneels ) which are the sunna of Taawaf. If one neegaates his aablution, he must perfrom ablution and start Tawaf from the beginning.

2. To cover the private private parts during Tawaf ( as one does during prayer ).
3. The seven rounds must be successive unless it is time for a 'fard' (prescrided) prayer to be performed. In this case, one should discontinue Tawaf to perfrom the prayer and then ressume it (he shoud sstart the round he stopped at from its beginning).
4. To Keep the hands and sight away from any sin and not hurt or annoy the pilgrims.
5. If one doubts the number of rounds he completed, he should base his judgement on the lesser number (i.e., if he doubts whether he complete anther five rounds and not four)0
6. He should not preced the Black Stone by part of his body, as he should be alongside the Stone at the beginning of each round. In other words, the round with the Stone and ends with it.
7. During Tawaf, one should spend his time reciting verses of the Quran and supplicating Allah.
8. Not to eat, drink or talk any mundane talk during Tawaf, unless necessary.
9. Not to look behind or move in a direction opposite to those who make Tawaf .

5. After completing Tawaf, one has to go to the Maqam (station) of Ibrahim to pray, behind it, two Rakas (Kneels), which are the sunna of Tawaf. One should then go towards the Multazim - the part of the Kabe which is situated between its door and the Black Stone – putting his chest on while stretching out his arms and the hands against it and putting the right cheek on it while saying :

"Oh Allah This House is Your House and this Sanctuary is Your Sanctuary, the security is Your security and this is the status of on who seeks Your protection from fire . Oh Allah protect me from Your torturing on the Day You resurrect Your worshippers, and make me one of Your constant obeyers."

6. To descend to the well of Zamzam for minor ablution and to drink from its water as much as one can while saying :

"Oh Allah Your messenger told us that : " the water of Zamzam is for whatever your wish for (i.e., if you wish anything while drinking it. It should come true), and I drink it to gain happiness in this life and in the Hereafter. Oh Allah I ask Your ample providence, a beneficial knowledge, a reverent heart and cure of all illness. "

After drinking from the water of Zamzam and making ablution, one must go to the Safa & Marwa as follows:

1. One has to be clean from the minor and major impurity and his private parts have to be covered and his clothes and body clean. The women who is in menstruation or in parturition as well as the person who is not pure from the minor impurity ( that which requires ablution) are allowed to make Say.
2. One should mount the eminence of Al Safa until he sees the Kaba. He should then look at it and say :

"Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest and praise be to Allah. Allah is the Greatest for His guidance, and Praise be to Allah for what He has given us . There is none has the right to be worshipped but Allah. There is no partner with Him. To him is the the Sovereignty, to Him praise is due, our life and death are in His hands, all charity is in His hands and He is powerful over everything. There is none has the right to be worshipped but Allah. There is none has the right to be worshipped but Allah. There is no partner with Him, who has fulfilled His promise, brought victory to His slave and defeated the clans all alon. There is no God but Allah and we worship none but Him with sincere devotion to Him even though the unbelievers may hate it."

After glorifying Allah with these words, one can supplicate Him as he wishes. One would repeat these invocations each time he mounts the Safa or the Marwa.

3. One should intend to make the Say by saying :

"Behold Safa and Marwa are two of Gods beacons. It shall be no offence for the pilgrim or the visitor to the Sacred House to walk around them. He that does good of his own accord shall be rewarded by God. God has knowledge of all things", and walk to the Safa until one reaches between the two green pillars where he starts hastening and then walking in a normal pace until he reaches Al Marwa. The first round is thus completed.

4. One should ascend the Marwa, face the Kabe and supplicate as he wishes, keeping in mind not stay there for a long time.
5. One should descend the Marwa going to Al-Safa hastening between the two green pillars and in a normal pace after that. When on reaches Al Safa, the second round is completed. One mounts the Safa, faces the Kaba, supplicates and descends for the third round and so on until the seven rounds are completed ( the seventh roundis to end by Al Marwa ). The seven rounds should be successive without interruption unless on e has to pray a fard (prescrived) prayer and in such case he should complete the rounds after his prayer. During Sa'y one has to keep supplicating and calling Allah in Humility and repeat:

"Oh my Lord! Forgive my sins and have mercy upon me. Grant me Your Pardon. Overlook that which You know. You, only You are the Mighty the Glorious".

6. After the seventh round, the man must shave or trim his hair at the Marwa mountain after the seventh round to discard his Ihram. He should then go to the mosque to pray the two Rakas ( which are the sunna of Sa'y ) if possible. As for women, they need only to cut a small part of their hair.

This way Umra is completed and one is allowed to wear sewn clothes and to do whatever was forbidden for him to do, such as to trim the nails and hair and to have sexual intercourse with his wife.