Umrah

The ʿUmrah (Arabic: عُمرَة‎) is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Hijaz, Saudi Arabia, performed by Muslims that can be undertaken at any time of the year, in contrast to the Ḥajj (Arabic: حَـجّ‎) which has specific dates according to the Islamic lunar calendar. In Arabic, ‘Umrah means "to visit a populated place." In the Sharia, Umrah means to perform Tawaf round the Ka‘bah (Arabic: كَـعْـبَـة‎, 'Cube'), and Sa'i between Safa and Marwah, both after assuming Ihram (a sacred state). Ihram must be observed once traveling by land and passing a Miqat like Zu 'l-Hulafa, Juhfa, Qarnu 'l-Manāzil, Yalamlam, Zāt-i-'Irq, Ibrahīm Mursīa, or a place in al-Hill.

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 4 weeks ago

If the money was earned by your husband during the same year of Khums, then no Khums on that earning, but if it was earned before one year or more, then Khums is applicable on it.

Wassalam.

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 month ago

Yes, it is allowed for her to perform Umrah as far as she has a safe company with her.

Wassalam.

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 2 months ago

Yes, it is permissible to perform Umrah Mufradah and any recommended act or worship on behalf of any number of people living or dead, unlike obligatory worship which can be performed on behalf of one deceased person only.

Wassalaam

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 7 months ago

Children (boys) are allowed during Ihraam to travel in a covered vehicle during day and night.

'They should avoid acts which are unlawful during Ihraam as much as they can.

Niyyah for Umrah is Qurbatan Elallah قربة.إلي الله

Wassalam.

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 9 months ago

We don't have in our available books any numbers of Hajj participants in those days but it is clear that numbers were in thousands or tens of thousands.

Wassalam.

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Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answer updated 1 year ago

In general, most of the acts of hajj are similar for men and women, apart from rulings related to women's issues (which I'm sure you're familiar with) and a few requirements of the hajj that are more lenient for women, which is particularly helpful these days because of the crowding.

However, beyond that, I think some things that might pertain to women are, firstly, what to wear. Although the clothing requirements are less strict for women, may women wear an all-white garment; if possible, I would suggest a thin and natural fabric (although not see-through) in the warmer months, especially if you are coming from a cooler climate. Polyester gets quite hot very quickly. If you follow the Twelver Shi'i school of thought, you should also avoid non-halal-leather shoes due to concerns about najasa. 

Second, one unfortunate reality is that not everyone who is present in Mecca during the hajj time is there for pious reasons and is of good character, and sexual harassment, inappropriate touching, or safety threats are known to happen. So, it is good to use the same precautions that one might use in travelling in any other new place (for instance, avoiding going places alone unless it seems safe).

Third, overall, people are difficult, and other women are no exception. I have found that the companionship one has during a religious journey often greatly affects the journey. Some people are absolutely lovely and greatly enhance the experiences as models of good ethics and faith. However, not everyone who actually attends hajj is there with a mindset that they are primarily making a journey to Allah. And even those who do have that thought may still suffer from everyday human failings. The pressures of the hajj journey can bring out the worst in people.

This is true for both men and women. However, since women often deal with women, we can talk about women here. I have noticed that some women who have had very restricted lives, who are unused to cultures other than their own, and/or who are used to having the same everyday habits (such as mealtimes) sometimes have a hard time with the hajj and take this out on others. (By this, I am not referring to women from villages, who also tend to be lovely.) Among women, this is sometimes expressed in the types of behavior that is stereotypically associated with women, such as being gossipy, arguing, making judgmental/hurtful comments about clothing or other habits different from their own cultural expectations, etc. This is apart from the fact that many people perform hajj at an older age, and, these days, many people at an older age suffer from health conditions such as blood sugar irregularities which can also give them a shorter fuse.

So if that ends up being the case, it is good to try to stay above that and try to stay out of it, and to be patient and forgiving - it is probably meant to be part of the process.

If you are travelling with people who are meaningful to you, such as extended family or in-laws, on the one hand this can provide support and be a nice shared experience, but sometimes interpersonal dynamics can take center stage and distract from focusing on Allah, so it is good to try to keep a balance and not be too focused on other people around, even if hajj is a communal experience. 

Fourth, there is often a lot of time spent shopping for souvenirs. Sometimes, women are tasked with doing this. I understand the desire (or pressure) to bring back souvenirs, and shopping can also be an interesting way to get to know a new place and meet people in another environment, and of course it benefits shopkeepers. Sometimes it is also an opportunity to buy items hard to find back home such as abayas. So it is fine to do what is necessary, but I think it is good to try to spend as little time as possible on this to focus more on the spiritual, historical, or communal aspects of the hajj, and, if buying souvenirs, to stick to things which are spiritually meaningful and straightforward (such as dates from Medina, prayer rugs, and so forth) and avoid mass-produced items which are readily available in many countries. 

Fifth, some people today (men and women) treat the hajj as a sort of holiday, especially if they have a nice hotel and meal service. I have heard some women who do a lot of housework describe it as a holiday from things like cooking and cleaning, and while I am sympathetic to that, I think it is better to avoid thinking of the hajj as a holiday and rather focus on the journey to Allah. Of course it is a blessing to have nice accommodations or provisions, if one has them, and it is helpful to have time off from housework to focus on prayer and duas. These things can make the journey physically easier, if one has them; of course, it is also good to appreciate that many pilgrims do not have them and are in rougher conditions.  (Human nature being what it is, I am not sure that everyone always thinks about these things.) This is just my view of course, and I do not want to come across as judgmental to other people's circumstances. 

Anyway, here is a guidebook for women which might be of interest and which contains details about some of the technicalities: https://www.al-islam.org/guidebook-women-rites-hajj-razia-batool-najafi

May your journey be very blessed!

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 year ago

You don't need to return to Masjid Shajarah from Makkah, but just need to go to Tan'eem which is very near to Makkah for Ihraam of another Umra. Tan'eem is known to all taxi drivers in Makkah.

Wassalam.

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 year ago

No. It is not permissible to enter Makkah and it’s surrounding area which is called Haram of Makkah with out Ehraam.

Wassalam.

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Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 1 year ago

Bismihi ta'ala

According to our jurists, there are about twenty five prohibited acts during Ihram, and one of them is tadhleel, or being under a shade for a male during the day while travelling. This means a male cannot be directly under any shelter during the day time when travelling from the Miqat to Meccah al-Mukarramah, but then inside Meccah, he can. 

In looking into the wisdom behind this, I have not come accross a reliable reference that explains this, but it seems that one possibility could be that it is a sign of humility. Instead of the person travelling with extravagence and comfort, he commences his spiritual journey of humbling himself by being under the sky. 

And Allah knows best.

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 2 years ago

Umrah is a very important worship which can be performed during any month in the year, not like Hajj which has its special time in the month of Thil Hijjah. Umrah Mofradah includes Tawaaf around the Ka'ba and Sa'ee between Safa and Marwah which was performed by all the Prophets and Unfallible Imams.

Umrah Mofradah has been mentioned in authentic Hadeeths and reward of it is the forgiveness of all the sins.

'Wassalam.

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 4 years ago

When you are able to perform Hajj, then it becomes compulsory on you to perform Hajj with out any delay even if you have not been to Umrah. In fact Hajj consists of two parts, the first is Umra Tamattu' and the second is Hajj Tamattu'.

Wassalam.

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Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answered 4 years ago

Yes