How to Prepare Yourself for Umrah Tour?

The pilgrim can perform 3 types of Hajj:

The Hajj “tamatou”: the pilgrim chooses to do his Umrah before his Hajj.
Hajj “ifrade”: the pilgrim decides to do only the Hajj and not to perform Umrah.
The Hajj “quirane”: the pilgrim performs Hajj and Umrah together.

For the sake of simplicity, we propose a description of the first city, namely the Hajj “tomato”. So we start by explaining the Manasik of Umrah.

The Umrah:

Before going into Ihram (sacralisation), it is good to wash the body completely by doing a Ghusl (ritual bath), to epilate some parts like the armpits and the pubis, to cut the nails, to carve the moustache and put on perfume (musk for example).
After having performed the Ghusl (ritual bath), the pilgrim attaches around his waist the Izar (a kind of white loincloth) and puts on the top of his body the Rida (white cloth). To put on shoes, the haj (pilgrim) will put sandals incha ALLAH. It is possible to carry the robe of Ihram in his hotel room before being in the Miqat, as was done by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the Sahaba.
It must be borne in mind that wearing Ihram’s habit is not synonymous with entry into a state of sacralisation.
After that, the haj (pilgrim) gets on the bus to go to Mecca passing by the Miqat. In our case, as we come from Medina, our Miqat will be that of Dhou-El Houlayfa which is also called Abyar-Ali (distant from Medina of 12 Km).
Once at the Miqat, the pilgrims for whom the Miqat is Thou El Houlayfa may (recommended but not required) perform a supererogatory prayer because the place is blessed.
In the case where the pilgrim arrives at the Miqat at the time of Dohr’s prayer, he performs Dohr’s prayer, and then he formulates the intention (as did the ALLAH Messenger, Peace and Blessings be on him).
As soon as he finishes his prayer, and decides to enter the state of Irham (sacralisation), the haj (pilgrim) stands in the direction of the Qibla (in a standing position) to make the following intention: “Labayka ALLAHOUMMA bi ‘Umrah”, to which we can add ALLAHOUMMA hadhihi’ Omratan the riya-a fiha wa the soum’atan ‘=’ My Lord, I am going to Your call to perform an ‘Umrah’. And “without ostentation or reputation seeking”.

These prohibitions concern both men and women:

To put something (that is in direct contact) on the head like a cheche, a hat, a scarf, a cap, a visor etc…
The fact of putting on clothes where there are seams and which are fashioned such as trousers, shirts, tracksuits, sweaters, T-shirts etc…
As for the sisters, they can put on the clothes they want; however, they should not put on gloves or hide their faces with a sitar for example.

The arrival of the sacred city of Mecca: When the pilgrim arrives at the blessed place of Mecca (AL HARAMOU AL MAKKI) and the houses of Mecca are seen, the Haj (pilgrim) stops pronouncing the Talbiya to devote himself to do certain acts, which are:

It is good for the pilgrim (haj) to wash the whole body doing what is called in Arabic a “Ghusl” (ritual bath, a kind of shower during which the whole body must be reached by the water) before entering the blessed city of Mecca, and entering the sacred city of Mecca in broad daylight (if possible by ALLAH’s permission).

In the state of sacralisation (Ihram), certain things become forbidden as:

Shaving or Cutting One’s Hair.
Cutting One’s Nails (Whether Hands or Feet)
The Embalming of the Body or the Garment of Perfume.
Concluding Away (Marriage) or Asking For It for Yourself or Someone Else.
The Fact of Indulging In the Preliminaries of the Sexual Relation, Such As Kissing His Wife.
The Act of Carnality Concretely With His Wife.
Slaughtering a Game.

If you are a first timer pilgrim and not willing to remember, just book Umrah packages from a travel agency which will provide a guide for the entire journey.