What are the rituals of Umrah?

Umrah is a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca that involves performing a series of rituals in a specific order. These rituals include:

• Ihram: The first step in performing Umrah is to enter the state of Ihram, as explained in the previous question. The pilgrim should wear the two pieces of white cloth and declare their intention to perform Umrah.
• Tawaf: The pilgrim should then perform Tawaf, which involves circumambulating the Kaaba seven times in a counterclockwise direction. The pilgrim should start from the Black Stone and end at it, while reciting supplications and remembrance of Allah.
• Sa'i: After completing Tawaf, the pilgrim should proceed to perform Sa'i, which involves walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah. This commemorates the story of Prophet Ibrahim's wife, Hajar, who ran between the hills in search of water for her son, Ismail.
• Tawaf Al-Ifadah: After completing the previous rituals, the pilgrim should perform Tawaf Al-Ifadah, also known as Tawaf Al-Ziyarah. This involves performing Tawaf again, as in the first step, but with the intention of visiting the Kaaba.
• Sa'i Al-Ifadah: After completing Tawaf Al-Ifadah, the pilgrim should perform Sa'i Al-Ifadah, which involves walking seven times between Safa and Marwah, as in the second step.
• Halq or Taqsir: The final step in performing Umrah is to have the hair shaved completely (Halq) or cut short (Taqsir). This marks the end of the pilgrimage and the end of the state of Ihram.

Throughout the performance of these rituals, the pilgrim should remain in a state of purity and spiritual readiness, observing the rules and regulations set by the Saudi Arabian authorities. The pilgrimage of Umrah is an act of worship that is meant to increase the pilgrim's faith, humility, and devotion to Allah.