Rituals of Umrah - Coursework Example

Rituals of Umrah Course Name and Code Institution Name Department Name Students Name Students Number Instructors Name 26 September 2008 Umrah is a word that is used to describe the pilgrimage to Mecca that is practiced by Islam or Muslim community that can be undertaken anytime of the year. Umrah is an Arabic word that means, “to visit a populated place”. Therefore, Umrah is frequently used in Shari’ah in performing Sa’y and Tawaf of Kaabah between the period of Al-Safa and Al-Marwah, this happens after assuming Ihram and this may occur in a Hill or a Miqat. It is different from Hajj since Hajj is the ‘major’ pilgrimage that is compulsory for all able-bodied Muslim who have resources to accomplish it, while Umrah is optional and mostly referred to as the ‘lesser’ pilgrimage or ‘minor’ pilgrimage. Even though it is not compulsory, it is highly recommended. Umrah Rituals The mu’tamir or pilgrim which is sometimes called ‘Haji’, there are certain series of rituals acts that are symbolic to the lives of prophet Abraham – Ibrahim and Abraham wife Hagar – Hajarah and a symbol for solidarity with other Muslims worldwide. Therefore, the acts that constitute Umrah rituals are (Ham 78): Ihram: This is the clothing that a pilgrim should have before entering the Holy City of Makkah. The pilgrim enters the Holy Sanctuary – al Masjid al Haram, which in most cases, the person starts with the right foot through the Bab as Salam gate at the same time reciting the Talbiya. When walking into the building and the pilgrim sees the Holy Kaaba, the person is supposed to keep their eyes fixed at this point since it is the holiest structure in the Islam. At this location, they proclaim a blessing – Salawat on to the beloved Prophet: peace be upon him, and after the proclamation, the person has the right to make prayers to Allah (God) with a lot of humility (Jamil 99). At this time, it is allowed to recite similar holy verses. After the completion of this process, Talbiyah is once again recited while moving forward in preparation for the circumambulation of Kaaba or Tawaf. When the pilgrim is preparing for Tawaf, the pilgrim ensures that ablutions have been performed. Then it leads to iddtibaa’ which is passing the upper garment of the Ihram under the right hand and over the left hand shoulder which results in leaving the right shoulder bare. The pilgrim continues reciting the Talbiyah until the pilgrim reaches the Black Stone – al-Hajar al-Aswad which is the stating point for Tawaf or circumambulation and also the pilgrim cease reciting Talbiyah. Niyyah: This is the place or time that intentions of performing Umrah are expressed. This intention is in form of a phase recited towards Allah. Istilam: This process starts by the pilgrim moving in the direction of right and stands before the Black Stone and the pilgrim kisses it. However, if the Black Stone is far, instead of kissing it, it’s better to touch it with hand. Another method that is accepted when there is a large crowd and its hard to touch the Black Stone, is putting the hands at the ears and at the same time the palms are facing outwards while reciting a verse – ‘Bismi'Llah Allahu akbar wa li'Lah al-hamad’. All these methods are refereed to as Istilam. Tawaf: This is the time when a pilgrim moves seven times around the Kaaba (circumambulations). The pilgrim moves to the right while the Kaaba is to the left, counter-clockwise, and around the Kaaba. When the three first circumambulations are been performed, men have the chance of uncovering their right hand while moving with quick and shorts steps a method called Ramal. The other circumambulations are performed at a normal walking pace. Prayers during Tawaf: When a pilgrim is performing Tawaf, there are no specific prayers that should be recited, but there are supplications that are recommended. Additionally, normal prayers that forms the daily prayers are used and with the help of any language. Hateem: This is a semi-circular section that it originally formed part of Kaaba but it was not incorporated into the Kaaba when it was rebuilt. Hateem should be included during circumambulations. When the pilgrim reaches the fourth corner of Kaaba – Rukn Yamani, the pilgrim is supposed to touch it with either the right hand or both hands and at the same time, the pilgrim is supposed to be praying. When the pilgrim finishes the first round or reaches the Black Stone, the pilgrim is supposed to repeat Istilam in making the start of the second circumambulation. This method is repeated until the seven circumambulations are completed (Dallen 66). Completion of Tawaf: When the pilgrims have completed the seven circumambulations, the men are supposed to cover their right shoulders to indicate the completion of Iddtibaa. Multazam: Multazam is the place that is between the Black Stone and the entrance of Kaaba, a place that is holy and it is about two meters in length and usually is a very nice place for praying. If by chance the pilgrim does not reach this point, the pilgrim should pray to Allah asking for His mercy and for His beneficence. Alternatively, when there is congestion, the pilgrim is supposed to face this location and pray. Maqam Ibrahim: After a pilgrim completes the seven circumambulations, the pilgrim approaches the Maqam Ibrahim or the Station of Ibrahim and offers two short prayers that are called rakaat. The pilgrim is supposed to return to the Black Stone and touch it. Safa and Marwah: At this stage, the pilgrim is ready to perform the Sa’y that is the shuttling between the hills of Safa and Marwah (Esposito 45). While the pilgrim is approaching the Safa, the pilgrim is supposed to recite a verse from Quaran and at the same time facing the Kaaba, the pilgrim is supposed to make any supplication that the pilgrim chooses. Then the pilgrim is supposed to move towards Marwah walking at normal pace until reaching the green maker. After this point, the men are supposed to run or walk at normal pace while women are supposed to walk. When the pilgrim reaches the Marwah, the pilgrim is supposed to face Qibla while repeating the prayers and supplications that were voiced at Safa. After this, the pilgrim is ready to return which is the second passage. This process is repeated seven times ending the Sa’y at Maewah. Cutting the hair: after completion of Sa’y the men are supposed to either shave their heads or shorten their air while the women are supposed to clip there hair one or two centimeters. At this point, the pilgrim completes the Umrah rituals, and has the right to change to normal clothes and any prohibitions that were there during Umrah are over. Drinking water from Well of Zamzam is not part of Umrah but there are pilgrims who drink the water. These rituals can be completed within one hour when it is off-peak pilgrimage season (Al-Uthaimeen 34). The peak seasons for Umrah are the days before, during and after the Hajj and also during the last ten days of Ramadan. Types of Umrah There are usually two types of Umrah, which depends whether the pilgrim wishes to combine Umrah with Hajj: al-Umrat al mufradah and Umrat al-tammatu. al-Umrat al mufradah is the Umrah that is performed without Hajj while Umrat al-tammatu is when the Umrah is performed at the same time with Hajj. Generally, the rituals of Umrah are performed before the rituals of Hajj (Ayoub 88). Umrah is an important ritual that is performed by Islam pilgrims. Muslims from different parts of the world travel to Mecca and perform it. The diverse rituals and conditions that are supposed to be fulfilled at each time are important in strengthening the belief of Muslims. Works Cited Ayoub, Mahmoud. The Quaran and Its Interpreters. Dubai: Suny Publishers, 1984. Al-Uthaimeen. How to Perform the Rituals of Hajj and Umrah. Dubai: al-Haramain Islamic Foundation Publishers, 1995. Dallen, Joan. Tourism Religion and Spiritual Journeys. London: Routledge Publishers, 2006. Esposito, John. What Everyone Needs to Know about Islam. London: Oxford University Press, 2002. Ham, Anthony. Saudi Arabia. New York: Lonely Planet Publishers, 2004. Jamil, Muhammad. The pillars of Islam and Iman. Dubai: Darussalam Publishers, 2006. Read More