What Is the Purpose of Umrah?

For all Muslims, Umrah has a special purpose. It is considered an act of spiritual purity mainly performed to gain the pleasure and bounty of Allah. While it is not mandatory for every Muslim (unlike Hajj), it is an easy way to please and reach out to Allah.

Furthermore, Umrah is a Sunnah practice of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). So so many of us need to appreciate the Sunnah. Still, if you meditate on this verse from the Quran, you won't feel like you're missing out on any of the Prophets (S.A.W.) Sunnah practices:

 Verse 31 translation, surah Al-e-Imran:

Say (O Prophet):

“If you really love Allah, then follow me, and Allah will love you and forgive your sins. Allah is All-Forgiving and Most Merciful. »

Based on the Quran verse quoted above, when you perform Umrah, you truly become qualified to receive Allah's love, and all your past sins will surely be forgiven. What could be more authentic than the words of Allah Himself?

 Umrah in Ramadan carries a lot of spiritual value to Muslims. Umrah Packages 2023 considered a small pilgrimage, is believed to bring peace for pilgrims to receive blessings and rewards from Allah in this life and hereafter. Considered a lesser form of Hajj, Umrah is not as obligatory as Hajj and can be performed at any time of the year. Ramadan is considered the holiest month in the Islamic calendar when Allah (S.W.T.) revealed the first Surah of the Holy Quran to the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.). During this month, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, thus practising the Islamic beliefs of self-discipline, self-control, sacrifice, and empathy. By offering prayers, they seek refuge with Allah, doing good deeds to expect rewards and blessings from God. Therefore, performing Umrah during Ramadan has great religious value and significance and here will guide you to the rituals a pilgrim must perform.

Performing Umrah:

Important Rituals for All Pilgrims

• Umrah begins with the assumption of Ihram, which involves a clean bath, a clean bath, and the change of two uncut white sheets. For women, a plain dress with even seams is allowed.
• Tawaf, the next practice, requires pilgrims to enter Masjid-al-Haram with their right foot and circle the Kaaba seven times counterclockwise.
• Next is Sa'i, where pilgrims climb the hill 'Safa' and go towards 'Marwa', reciting supplications.
• The final stage of Umrah includes shaving the head. Women need to cut their hair trim instead of shaving.

Benefits of Performing Umrah in Ramadan

According to Islamic beliefs, those who leave home with the intention of performing Umrah are pilgrims until they return. If they die on this pilgrimage, they will be rewarded with heaven. So every year, millions of Muslims visit Mecca to seek refuge with Allah, ask for forgiveness, wash away sins and pray for happiness and prosperity. And when they perform prayers together at Umrah, the faithful are truly a sight to behold.

In this spiritual journey, pilgrims renounce all negativity and devote themselves to the worship and service of Allah. They are dedicated to purifying their mind, body and soul and becoming better human beings. It is believed that whoever and whenever performs Umrah with a pure heart, and an intention full of gratitude will receive the greatest joy of Allah.

Things to do before going to Umrah during Ramadan

Every Muslim wishes and deserves to visit Makkah and perform all Umrah rituals. There are some things to know and do before going to Umrah during Ramadan or any other month.

• Visa validity:

To go to Mecca for Umrah, Saudi Arabia issues a special visa to pilgrims. Based on this visa, they can explore this holy city 30 days from the visa issuance date.

• Hotels and flights:

Prices may vary depending on the season. You should make a reservation in time to avoid last-minute hassles.

• Umrah Ritual:

If you are going to Umrah for the first time, connecting with scholars who can advise you on how to perform rah is important. In addition, Pilgrims should know about the main Umrah rituals and clearly know ​​the do and don't.

• Prepare physically and mentally:

Umrah during Ramadan is not just another journey of going out. It is a pilgrimage that requires physical and mental preparation. Pilgrims often travel many miles in hot and humid conditions. Therefore, it is important to be healthy, eat well, and dedicate ourselves to the Almighty. Duas made with pure intentions are acceptable; you should list duos for your loved ones.

• Vist location:

While pilgrims should visit other places of religious significance in Makkah. With careful planning, some sites can certainly be covered depending on the length of the visit.

Umrah during Ramadan is as good as Hajj. This is the best way to multiply your rewards and blessings.

What is Umrah when performed during Ramadan?

While the rewards and prizes of performing Umrah during Ramadan are so many, one of the most motivating benefits is that performing Umrah during this holy month makes the Umran equal to Hajj. However, performing Umrah during the month of Ramadan will not exempt you from performing Hajj when it becomes mandatory for you. Therefore, the award is intended to highlight the importance of performing Umrah during Ramadan and does not establish complete equivalence.

Therefore, when Hajj becomes mandatory (farz) for you, you should prioritize and do it. Then you can always consider doing Umrah during the blessed month of Ramadan to get the equivalent reward of Hajj, which would be nafl (voluntary).

What is the best month to perform Umrah?

Keeping in mind the goodness explained earlier in this guide, surely Ramadan is the best month to perform Umrah. Many of us don't enjoy this time due to the crowds and the obligation to fast, but there's a reason why so many show up this month. Take advantage of the opportunity if you can perform Umrah during the most blessed month of Ramadan. Do it at least once in your life. The touching and spiritual atmosphere you feel this month cannot equal any other month.

 Can Umrah be done in one day?

Whatever the circumstances, performing Umrah does not take more than a day. Of the four main stages of Umrah, only Tawaf and Sa'ee take time. The rest of the rituals, such as making niyyah and taking Halq (shaving head) or Taqsir (cutting hair short), is done quickly. During less busy times, the Tawaf and Sa'ee ceremonies will take about two hours each, so you can complete the entire Umrah in about four hours. At other times, when very crowded, there may be no room in Mataf, so you may have to go to higher floors to do Tawaf, which will make for a much larger turn. In this case, the implementation of Tawaf may take longer.

The same can be said of Sa'ee. If the road between Safa and Marwah hills is crowded with pilgrims, the walk can take more than two hours. However, in any case, your Umrah will be complete within a day.