Hajj and Umrah Services
Hajj
Mecca is the holiest place on earth
Talking about the holiest of places is a spiritual conversation, a spiritual connection, and a divine legislation. It is the greatest spot, and the holiest path and journey to it. God Almighty chose it for the rituals of Hajj and Umrah and made it a destination for people.
It contains the Kaaba, which God made a place of safety and security for the people, and a place of return for them, to which their hearts return whenever they visit it, they long for it. Since Abraham and his son Ishmael, peace be upon them, built it and raised its foundations, it has been blessed and a guidance for all Muslims. God Almighty said: “Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Makkah - blessed and a guidance for the worlds.”
Makkah Al-Mukarramah is the destination that Allah chose for His servant Muhammad - may Allah bless him and grant him peace - after his migration. It purifies hearts, enlightens souls, and fills the hearts with the desires of lovers. Allah the Almighty said: “We have certainly seen the turning of your face toward the heaven. So We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you are, turn your faces toward it.”
The Hajj ritual is the fifth pillar of Islam, and it has many virtues, including:
- A reason to enter Paradise:
It was mentioned in the noble hadith that the Prophet - may God bless him and grant him peace - said: “There is no reward for an accepted Hajj except Paradise.” An accepted Hajj means that it is performed with lawful money, and that the pilgrim goes to the Sacred House of God repentant, avoiding immorality, sin, and argumentation, and that he fulfills the pillars and obligations of Hajj.
- A reason for expiation of sins:
It was mentioned in the noble hadith that the Prophet - may God bless him and grant him peace - said: “Whoever performs Hajj for the sake of God and does not utter obscenities or commit sin, will return as on the day his mother bore him.”
- A reason for wealth:
It was mentioned in the noble hadith that the Prophet - may God bless him and grant him peace - said: “Perform Hajj and Umrah in succession, for they remove poverty and sins just as the bellows remove impurities from iron, gold, and silver.”
- A reason for security and God’s protection:
It was mentioned in the noble hadith that the Prophet - may God bless him and grant him peace - said: (Three are under the protection of God Almighty), and he mentioned among them: (And a man who went on Hajj)
“The Hajj journey is a journey in which you travel with your soul and feelings to the greatest and holiest spot, so come with your heart before your body.”.”
~ The eighth day (Al-Tarwiyah):
Pilgrims stay in Mina in the state of ihram, and pray the noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening prayers there.
~ The ninth day (Arafah):
Pilgrims head to Arafat in the morning, where they pray the noon and afternoon prayers together and shorten them, and devote themselves to supplication until sunset.
~ Eid Night (Muzdalifah):
Pilgrims stay in Muzdalifah, some of them stay until dawn, and some of them leave at midnight to throw stones at Jamarat al-Aqaba.
~ The tenth day (Eid day):
Pilgrims throw stones at Jamarat al-Aqaba, shave and trim their hair, then take off their ihram garments and put on their clothes. Whoever has a sacrificial animal to offer slaughters his sacrificial animal.
~ The tenth day (Eid day):
Pilgrims head to the Grand Mosque to perform the Tawaf al-Ifadah and the Sa’i of Hajj for those who are performing Tamattu’, Ifrad, or Qiran and did not perform the Sa’i of Hajj with the Tawaf al-Qudum.
~ Days of Tashreeq 13-12-11:
Pilgrims spend the night in Mina, and throw stones at the three Jamarat every day. Whoever is in a hurry leaves Mina after throwing stones on the 12th of Dhul-Hijjah, and whoever is late stays until he throws stones at the Jamarat on the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah, then leaves Mina.
~ Farewell Tawaf:
Pilgrims perform the farewell circumambulation before leaving Mecca.
Umrah
Umrah is derived from I'timar.
It is the visit or the intention, and the meaning of performing Umrah with the intention of the House is that it was only made specific for this because he intended to do work in a populated place, so the one who is in ihram for Umrah is called a Mu’tamir, and in the Shari’ah it is visiting the Sacred House, and circumambulating and walking with known conditions, and the Prophet - may God bless him and grant him peace - performed Umrah four times in his life, and it can be performed at any time of the year, and the correct view is that it is obligatory once in a lifetime, because God Almighty says: {And complete the Hajj and Umrah for God}.
The three pillars of Umrah:
1- Ihram: Ihram in the language means: entering into the sanctity. It is said: A man entered into the sanctity of a covenant or agreement, so that what was permissible for him becomes forbidden. Ihram in the technical sense means: the intention to enter into the ritual, and this is the opinion of the majority; it is the first pillar of the pillars of Umrah. It was narrated on the authority of Umar ibn al-Khattab - may God be pleased with him - that the Prophet - may God bless him and grant him peace - said: (Actions are only by intentions, and each person will have only what he intended), and the evidence is that the action is not valid and is not established except by the occurrence of the intention.
From the state of ihram, the intention to perform the ritual begins in the heart, and is pronounced with the tongue: “Here I am, O God, for Umrah.” There is nothing wrong with completing it by adding a condition, such as saying: “If I am prevented, then my place is where I am prevented,” when there is fear of not being able to perform the ritual due to illness or an expected circumstance. The man must strip off all sewn clothing, wear a loincloth and a rida’, and not cover his head with anything. As for the woman, she enters ihram in her regular clothes, except that she does not wear the niqab or gloves.
The wisdom behind the legitimacy of Ihram is to achieve servitude to God, glorify Him, obey His commands, and demonstrate equality among all Muslims, their rulers and ruled, their rich and poor, as well as to remind people of the Last Day and the gathering.
2- Tawaf: Tawaf in language means: turning one thing around another, and technically it means: worshipping Allah - the Almighty - by circling the Kaaba in a specific manner. It is an act of worship to Allah; showing need and turning the heart and limbs to Him, the Almighty. It is the second pillar of the pillars of Umrah, and in it the Muslim circumambulates his noble house - the Kaaba - in worship of the Lord of the House and drawing closer to Him through what He has prescribed. Purity from major and minor ritual impurity is required in Tawaf because it is like prayer. Its description is that the pilgrim begins his circumambulation from the corner in which the Black Stone is located, as there is a green sign indicating this on the upper floors. Then the pilgrim says Allahu Akbar in each circuit as soon as he is level with the Black Stone. It is not a condition that the takbir be at a specific point, it is not valid to say takbir before or after it, but rather the matter is approximate, so if the pilgrim finds himself level with the stone, then he says Allahu Akbar.
The pilgrim points with his hand to the Black Stone, then begins his circumambulation with the Kaaba on his left (counterclockwise). If he is able to kiss the Black Stone, then he has performed the Sunnah. If he is not able to do so - during the seasons and during crowding - then there is nothing wrong with him. It is recommended for the pilgrim to increase his supplications to God and entreat Him. It is also recommended that if he reaches the corner that precedes the Black Stone, which is called (the Yemeni Corner), he wipe over it if he is able to, and he repeats what he does until he completes his seven circuits.
3- Sa'y: Glory be to Allah, walking between Safa and Marwa is the third pillar of Umrah and a great ritual. He said: “Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever makes Hajj to the House or performs Umrah - there is no blame upon him for walking between them.” And purification from minor ritual impurity is not required for it. If the pilgrim purifies himself, that is better, and if he performs Sa’i without purification, there is no blame in that, as the pilgrim worships his Lord by covering the distance between Safa and Marwa 7 times, as his noble Messenger - may God bless him and grant him peace - did.
Safa and Marwa are two small mountains that Hajar, the mother of Ismail (peace be upon him), used to climb in search of food or water. The Sa’i begins at Mount Safa, at the rocks that appear on the ground floor, and ends at Mount Marwa. It is recommended that upon reaching the beginning of Safa or Marwa at the beginning of each circuit, the pilgrim or the Umrah performer raise his hands facing the Qiblah, while supplicating to Allah and glorifying Him before beginning the next circuit. It is recommended for able-bodied men to run between the two green flags, as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did.
After completing the Sa’i, the man goes to the barbershop, and shaves or shortens his hair, and shaving is better. The woman gathers her hair and cuts from its ends the size of a fingertip (1-2 cm). Thus, the Umrah is completed and the pilgrim exits his state of Ihram.