The ʿUmrah (Arabic: عمرة )

is a great act of worship that is obligatory upon every Muslim once in his life. The rewards and virtues of performing umrah are many, the Prophet (s) mentioned is a hadith, “Between one umrah and another is an expiation of sins”. Performing Umrah in the month of Ramadan has a special significance, the Prophet (s) said, “Whoever performs Umrah in Ramadan, receives the reward like one who performs Hajj with me.”

Umrah may be performed at any time of the year.

To perform Umrah, you should be in a state of Ihram. Ihram is a state of purity and holiness. A man in Ihram is called muhrim; a woman is called muhrima.

The word Ihram is also used to denote the garment worn by pilgrims when in the state of Ihram. Men garb themselves in a white, seamless, two-piece garment. The top garment covers the torso but, during Umrah and Hajj, not necessarily the right shoulder. The lower garment covers from waist to knee. Women wear long white robes which cover them from head to toe. All wear sandals, rather than shoes.

To enter Ihram, pilgrims must wash themselves. A man may trim his hair and cut his nails. During Ihram, sexual activity, shaving, and cutting one's nails or skin all are forbidden. There are also prohibitions against killing animals, except those that can harm people, fighting or quarreling, using perfumes, washing hair with shampoo, wearing gloves or socks, or uprooting oats or trees. Those who do these knowingly or unknowingly or by forgetting have to pay a penalty by sacrificing an animal or giving alms.