Umrah is a sacred pilgrimage that exists in every individual as the very nature or instincts of every Muslim. Each muslim has a longing to visit the house of Allah. Muslims from the United States are also born with the ingraining of this longing. Umrah is a unique Sunnah and a golden opportunity to increase one’s iman and clean one’s soul. Pilgrims desire to become pardoned, make du’a in truthfulness, and pray to be pardoned by Allah. Umrah is a sacred manifestation of Muslim worship. Although Umrah can be offered at any time of the year, even on Hajj days, there are some rules and regulations for women to offer an Umrah.
How to perform Umrah for Women
Almost over 40% of women perform their first-ever Umrah of the year, but they don’t know about Umrah unless and until they visit Mecca and Madinah for pilgrimage. A lot of pilgrims nowadays book Umrah packages and organise their journey more conveniently and easily. This is because the muslims from the USA are already troubled due to the long flights and complicated itinerary. Travel packages for umrah like this make your journey smooth. It is always a good idea to plan when you are going to another country, particularly when you are going for the first time, for Umrah. Planning will help you organise your journey more easily without any hassle.
Step-by-step guide for women to perform Umrah
Umrah ceremonies are simple and can be done by anyone. There are activities women pilgrims must do as well. Here are a few tips so your Umrah is as easy and rewarding as possible:
Intention to do Umrah (Niyyah)
Niaat is the intention of all things in Islam. So, if you are ready to do Umrah/Hajj, then initially you need to make a niyat for it only in the wish of Allah. Women and men are on an equal basis here because the niaat is in your mind. So, there are no strict rules to imagine doing Umrah.
Travel Arrangements
You’ll need to arrange a travel booking, i.e., obtain a passport if you don’t already have one, an Umrah Visa, a flight, and accommodation. Help yourself with a travel agent for US muslims, they will get the most appropriate flight for you within your means. They will keep your visa, place you in the best hotel in Mecca and Medinah, and put the obligatory process in place. This way, you can enjoy the essence of your pilgrimage hassle-free.
Umrah Dress for Women
As regards women’s attire for Umrah, there are some facts you should know about. Women do not have to wear obligatory Ihram; you can put on stitched clothes or street wear. Or simply dress modestly and respectfully.
Below are some of the dress code regulations for women while undertaking Umrah:
- Dressing modestly won’t hold you back
- Wear loose and light clothing!
- Don’t wear silk to perform so that you don’t catch hold of the heat and cool down.
- Dress yourselves up in decent attire so that you can catch hold of the heat and cool down.
The Ideal Hijab for Umrah
In case it is a matter of wearing a hijab while performing Umrah, you just need to keep the following few things. First, ensure that the hijab is loose and not tight so you will not be strained when performing your prayers. You also have one in the correct colour – the most appropriate colour to wear is black because it is respectful and conservative. Never wear your hijab so that your face is totally hidden. You can wrap an underscarf, so it is fine. It keeps your hair out of your face and, of course, is fashionable too.
Umrah Footwear for Women
The shoes you put on when you are travelling to your Umrah hajj are significant. Women must wear loose shoes, but not loose or tight shoes. Women can wear closed shoes, but men cannot. Sandals and open shoes can be used. But if you are going to the summer season, you may want to carry sandals with you.
Umrah Customs for Women
Do’s and don’ts for doing Umrah traditionally for females are as described below:
- When approaching Umrah, women prefer to trim their nails when getting closer to Ihram.
- When doing Sa’yi, the hair is trimmed up to the nail.
- And screaming in the voice of the names Talbiyah, the ladies need not scream more than men.
- Perfumes should be avoided.
Challenges of US Muslims
The muslims of the United States often suffer the hassle of planning and executing umrah. This is because they need to take a long flight and plan a hectic itinerary. All these issues are sorted once you get your plans done by professionals. These implications assist in making your pilgrimage journey smooth.
Conclusion
The Umrah pilgrimage is the most important aspect of Islam. The idea and intention in the execution of this ritual can be obtained by a woman who has lived her life for day and night vigil and watch and guard over herself and over individuals who are encompassing her together with them. Assuming that you keep these conditions to carry out the Umrah pilgrimage, nothing will distract you from your experience.
