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THE UMRA-E-TAMATTU CONSISTS OF FIVE PRACTICES

01. Ihraam:

02. Tawaaf:Around the Holy Kaaba seven cycles.

03. Salaat Al-Tawaaf/Prayer of Tawaaf:Two Rakatsby or behind Maqam-e-Ibraheem (pbuh).

04. Sayee:Between the Safa and Marwah seventimes.

05. Taqseer or Halaq:Trimming some of one's hair or fingernails.

01. Ihraam: It is the first compulsory act of Umrah. There arethree compulsory acts in Ihraam.(1) Intention (Niyyat):

1. When making Niyyat for Umrah or Hajj the purposeand aim must necessarily be solely to achieve theconsent of Allah and seeking nearness to Him(Qurbatan ilallaah).

2. The intention must exist when commencing the acts,i.e. when wearing Ihraam.

3. The Niyyat of Ihraam must be specified to be that forUmrah or Hajj, that of Tamattu, individual or combined, that it is one's obligation or on behalf ofsomeone else and that it is Hajjatul Islam (to be performed only once in a lifetime by a personmeeting its requirements) or to fulfill a vow or in lieu of some compulsory Hajj that waspreviously nullified or a mustahab Hajj. Ihraam without intention will be null and void.

In short the Niyyat may be made in the mind or better still expressed in words as follows:"I am wearing Ihraam for Umra-e-Tamattu for Hajjatul Islam Wajib, Ada, for myself, Qurbatanilallaah."If it is on behalf of someone else, the Niyyat should be expressed in the following manner:"I am wearing Ihraam for Umra-e-Tamattu for Hajjatul Islam Wajib, Ada, for and on behalf of... (Name of the person) Qurbatan ilallaah."

(2) Talbiyah: Immediately after wearing Ihraam, recite Talbiyah in audible voice.Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik. Labbaik, La Shareek Laka, Labbaik. Innal Hamdah, Wan Nematah, Laka walMulk, La Shareek Laka Labbaik. (Here I am at Thy service O Lord, here I am. Here I am at Thy serviceand Thou hast no partners. Thine alone is All Praise and All Bounty, and Thine alone is The Sovereignty.Thou hast no partners, here I am.)One must pronounce and recite the Talbiyah himself. A person who is dumb should point with his fingerand move his tongue. Without Talbiyah Ihraam is invalid just as without Takbiratual Ihraam aNamaz/prayer is invalid.As soon as one has pronounced Talbiyahthe 28 acts statedearlier become HARAAM.

(3) Clothes for Ihraam:Ihraam is the wearing of two pieces of cotton cloth one

wrapped around the shoulders and the other around the loin,covering the leg down to the feet (at least it must cover theknees). For men Ihraam clothes must not be sew. Theconditions for the clothes for Ihraam are the same as thoseclothes for prayers. i.e. they must not be:

1. Made of gold.2. Usurped or stolen.3. Of pure silk (even for women).4. Part of the animal, whose flesh is not eaten.

However, no formal ablution is necessary for Ihraam.

Mustahabaat/Recommended Acts in Ihraam: It is recommended to perform one Ghusl (ablution) with

five Niyyats i.e.,

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1. To wear Ihraam for Umra-e-Tamattu.2. To enter the Haram (boundary) of Makkah.3. To enter the city of Makkah.4. To enter Masjid Al-Haram.5. To make Tawaaf of Khana-e-Kaaba.

02. Tawaaf: It is the second compulsory act of Umrah. If oneomits this act whether knowingly or because of ignorance ofthe rule, the Umrah becomes null and void, and as a resultone's Ihraam also becomes void. A Tawaaf is a complete act ofgoing round the Kaaba seven successive times.

The conditions for Tawaaf:(1) Intention (Niyyat) can be expressed in these words: "Iam performing the Tawaaf of this Khanae-e-Kaabaseven successive times for Umra-e-Tamatt for HajjatulIslam Wajib Qurbatan ilallaah ".(2) Formal purification i.e. wudhu is wajib, or Ghusl, ifnecessary. Without purification the Tawaaf is not valid,whether it is omitted knowingly or out of ignorance orforgetfulness.Break in Taharat:If during Tawaaf one's formal taharat (wudhu/Ghusl) breaks, one of the following applies:

1. If the Taharat breaks before completion of the first half of Tawaaf (i.e. 31/2 rounds) that Tawaafbecomes void and, therefore, it must be performed again after renewing the formal Taharat.

2. If one's Taharat is unintentionally broken after completing the fourth round then he shoulddiscontinue his Tawaaf, renew formal Taharat and complete the rest of the Tawaaf from the pointhe had interrupted it.

3. If one's Taharat breaks unintentionally after the first half of the Tawaaf (i.e. 31/2 rounds) butbefore completing the fourth round, it is ihtiyat to act as in (2) and then perform the wholeTawaaf again with the Niyyat: 'I perform what I owe as a complementary to the first or asan independent Tawaaf'.

Rules for Performing Tawaaf:Although Tawaaf can be started from a point opposite Hajar-e-Aswad, as a precautionary measure, asillustrated in the sketch, it should be started and Niyyat of Tawaaf performed, at least one or two pacesbefore this point.

While performing Tawaaf it is necessary to ensure that the left shoulder always remains pointed towardsKhana-e-Kaaba, and one's face, chest and back should not face Khana-e-Kaaba. The two corners of "T"shown in the sketch indicate the position of the two shoulders.

The "T" shows how to turn shoulders while performing Tawaaf. If one happens to contravene any of theabove conditions inadvertently, he should go back some paces from the spot where he contravened (gobackwards without turning) and resume Tawaaf from there. The other thing, which has to be ensured inperforming Tawaaf, is that one should not kiss or touch the walls of Khana-e-Kaaba nor the walls of

Hateem (a semi-circle structure about 4 feet in height, also known as Hajr-e-Ismaeel/Hateem).

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In order to safeguard that one does not go out of the Tawaaf limit (because the Haram has been recentlyexpanded and, it is possible that Tawaaf line may have been extended without taking into considerationthe original Tawaaf markings) one should remain as close to the walls of Khana-e-Kaaba and particularlyHateem as possible without touching them because the walls of Khana-e-Kaaba are built a little inside theoriginal foundation of Khana-e-Kaaba.

Concerning Women:A woman who is in menses when she wears or is already wearing Ihraam of Umrah has to wait until herperiod ends to perform Ghusl and fulfill her obligations if there is enough time for her to complete theUmrah.

If the period continues until the time of wearing the Ihraam of Hajj-e-Tamattu, there are two options opento her:

1. If the menses start when she is wearing Ihraam then the Niyyat should be changed from Umra-e-Tamattu to Hajj-e-Ifrad (Individual). After fulfilling the required rituals of Hajj-e-Ifrad she has toperform, if there is an opportunity, Umra-e-Mufrida with a Niyyat of Wajib.

2. If her monthly period commences when she is already in the state of Ihraam then she has thechoice either to perform Hajj-e-Ifrad as in (1) or complete the acts of the Umra-e-Tamattuwithout Tawaaf and its Namaz. She would wear Ihraam for Hajj-e-Tamattu and when she comesback from Mina after completing other rituals, perform her Tawaaf of Umrah before that of Hajj.In case the bleeding does not stop even after returning from Mina, she has to appoint some oneas her agent to complete a Tawaaf on her behalf and complete the other rituals herself.

Compulsory matters in Tawaaf:

1. One must be in Taharat, i.e. Wudhu or Ghusl.2. The clothes of Ihraam must be free from Najasat. Even a dot of blood, which is normally allowed

in prayers, is not allowed in Tawaaf.3. One must have been circumcised.4. The body must be adequately clothed so as to hide the genital organs, as required in prayers.5. The Ihraam clothes must be Mubah (not Ghasbi), i.e. must be free from all financial obligations

and debts inclusive of Khums and Zakaat.

Rules of doubts in Tawaaf:

1. If the doubt occurs after the Tawaaf is over about the number of the circles around the Khana-e-Kaaba, no attention is to be paid to it and the Tawaaf is correct.

2. If the doubt is about the number of circles around the Khana-e-Kaaba, i.e. whether a certaincircle is the sixth or the last one, the fifth or the sixth one and so on, the whole Tawaaf will beconsidered invalid and should be repeated.

3. In case one is certain of walking seven times, but doubts whether some additional ones are madeor not, he need not pay any attention to his doubt except if the doubt is before completing thelast circle around the Khana-e-Kaaba, in which case, apparently, the whole Tawaaf will be in-valid. He should perform it again.

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Tawaaf boundaries:

1. The Tawaaf should be performed outside the walls ofKhana-e-Kaaba and the C shaped wall of Hajr-e-Ismaeel.

2. One should not pass over the protected dwarf walls ofthe Khana-e-Kaaba or touch the wall of Hajr-e-Ismaeel or stretch hands over it. If this is done, thatpart Tawaaf is invalid and one has to return to theplace where the mistake was made and aftercompletion the whole Tawaaf needs to be repeated.

Muwalaat: All the seven rounds should be completed oneafter the other without stopping.

Mustahabaat/Recommended of Tawaaf:

1. To read Zikr, Qur'an or Duas during Tawaaf. For details refer to Manasik-e-Hajj.2. To salute Hajar-e-Aswad when reaching in line with it on every round with the hands raised

towards it and saying, "BISMILLAHI ALLAHU AKBAR".3. To be barefooted.4. To take short steps.5. To walk with complete ease and peace of mind and with full reverence: neither too fast nor too

slow.6. To avoid all the forbidden things in Namaz.7. To do Tawaaf during Zohr.8. If possible close eyes during Tawaaf.9. To be as near the Khana-e-Kaaba as possible without

violating the rules mentioned earlier.

03. Salaat Al-Tawaaf/Prayer of Tawaaf: It is the thirdcompulsory act of Umrah. It consists of two Rak'ats like that ofmorning prayers. It must be prayed immediately after theTawaaf near Makam-e-Ibrahim.To omit this prayer invalidates one's Hajj because it will alsocause the invalidity of Sayee, which depends on the validity ofthe prayer of Tawaaf.If this prayer is forgotten and is remembered after Sayee ithas to be said then without needing to make Sayee again,although it is better to do another Sayee. If one remembers itduring the Sayee should leave the Sayee and say the prayer

and then complete his Sayee from the point he had left. Incase one remembers it when he is out of Makkah he mustcome back to complete it in the prescribed place. If this is not possible, then he has to do it at the place itis remembered.Intention (Niyyat) can be expressed in these words: "I pray the two Rakaat Salaat Al-Tawaaf forUmra-e-Tamattu Hajjatul Islam Wajib Qurbatan ilallaah."Salaat Al-Tawaaf can be prayed either audibly (Jahri) or in whisper (ikhfati).

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03. Sayee: It is the fourth compulsory act of the Umrah. If itis omitted intentionally, it causes the Hajj to become void,regardless of whether one knows this rule or not.Sayee means walking from Safa to Marwah and back seventimes. Thus the walk begins at Safa and ends at Marwah.Starting from Safa one should walk to Marwah and thisconstitutes one walk, from Marwah back to Safa the secondand so on up to seven walks finally ending at Marwah. Sayeemust be performed after Tawaaf and its prayers. During Sayeeit is necessary to face the direction one is going towards else itbecomes invalid. But there is no harm in turning a bit on eitherside.Sayee and its prayer must not be delayed after Tawaaf without

a valid reason. Nevertheless in case of severe heat ortiredness it can be postponed till nightfall but not until the next day.In general the rule of doubts about the number of movements of Sayee is the same as those of the circlesof walking around the Kaaba, i.e., a doubt about its number tenders it invalid and has to be performedagain.Intention (Niyyat) can be expressed in these words: "I walk from Safa to Marwah, and Marwah toSafa seven times for Umra-e-Tamattu for Hajjatul Islam Wajib Qurbatan ilallaah."It is better to ascend and descend the mountains of Safa and Marwah on each movement. Also it is betterto be in Tahaarat but it is not Wajib.One who cannot make Sayee himself or on somebody'sshoulder or on a hand carriage, can appoint an agent to doSayee on his behalf.It is allowed to rest for a short period at Safa or Marwah. At acertain distant between Safa and Marwah, between the twoMinarets decked by green light, it is Mustahab for men to trot(like jogging) and for women to walk faster. This action isknown as Harwala.Mustahabaat/Recommended of Sayee:

1. To be with Tahaarat i.e. Wudhu or Ghusl.2. Before performing Sayee to kiss or make salaam to

Hajar-e-Aswad.3. Before performing Sayee to drink the water of Zamzam and pour it on one's body.4. To proceed to Safa for Sayee through the door facing Hajar-e-Aswad called Babus-Safa.5. To go with peace of mind and reverence.6. To climb the steps of Safa and to kiss the corner of the stone of Safa.7. To thank the Almighty and praise Him and remember His kindness.8. To read Duas and Zikr during the walk. For Duas refer Manasik-e-Hajj.

05. Taqseer or Halaq: It is the fifth compulsory act of Umrah and means cutting some nails of hands orfeet or the hairs of head, beard or moustache.Intention (Niyyat) can be expressed in these words: "I perform taqseer to become MUHIL (To makeHalaal for myself whatever was forbidden for me during Ihraam) from Ihraam of Umra-e-Tamattu forHajjatul Islam Wajib Qurbatan ilallaah."The only prescribed way to legally come out of the state of Ihraam of Umra-e-Tamattu is Taqseer. Toshave one's head is forbidden at this juncture. In case one shaves the head, the expiation is one sheep, ifit is done willfully and knowingly. However, it is mustahab to expiate even if done by error. It is notnecessary to do Taqseer immediately after Sayee. One is allowed to do it anywhere he wants. If Taqseeris omitted willfully, one's Umra-e-Tamattu becomes void and, apparently, his Hajj becomes Hajj-e-Ifrad(Individual Hajj). As a result he has to complete another individual Umrah after this and ihtiyatan performanother Hajj the following year.If it is omitted because of forgetfulness and one has worn Ihraam for Hajj, his Umrah will be valid andihtiyatan one sheep should be given in expiation.Tawaaf-Un-Nisa:Tawaaf-Un-Nisa (The Tawaaf of Women) is not an essential part of Umra-e-Tamattu, but if desired it canbe performed in addition to the other rituals of Umrah with the Niyyat of Ihtiyat (Raza-e-Mattlubi).

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PROHIBITED (HARAAM) ACTS IN IHRAAM

01. Hunting: Remember that hunting within the sacred area around and inMakkah, known as the Haram, is always forbidden. It is not confined toIhraam. When in Ihraam, hunting anywhere else is also forbidden. You areallowed to kill scorpions, pythons, poisonous snakes and rats. If one isattacked by a wild animal it is allowed to kill it. You are allowed to fishing orslaughter domestic fowls such as goats, sheep, camels, etc.

The kaffara (expiation) for killing an ostrich is a camel, a wild cow a cow, adeer or rabbit a sheep. There is expiation of a sheep also for killing a fox as amatter of precaution (Ihtiyat).

02. Sexual intercourse: Sexual intercourse, or any acts of courtship, whichwould arouse sexual desire, is forbidden. Even lustful glance at ones ownwife or husband or any other lady or man who is Na-Mahram is forbidden.The expiation is one camel or a cow or a sheep in that order of affordability.

03. Masturbation: To masturbate in any form, this includes all methods ofself-abuse. It has the same precept as sexual intercourse. If it is done in thestate of Ihraam for Hajj-e-Tamattu before staying in Mashar (Muz-dalifa), theHajj becomes null and void. All the required rituals must be completed andthe Hajj must be repeated the following year. But if it is because of looking ator imagining a woman, although the expiation is as stated above, the Hajj orUmrah remains valid, but observing precaution is better, i.e. it is Ihtiyat torepeat the Hajj the following year.

04. Kissing: Kissing one's wife or any other woman with lust and semen isdischarged; the expiation is one camel that has completed 5 years. If it isdone without lust the expiation is one sheep.

05. Touching: Touching one's wife or any other woman with lust, theexpiation is one sheep. If it is without lust then there is no expiation.

06. Romancing: Romancing with one's wife or any other woman as a resultof which if semen is discharged the expiation is one camel that hascompleted five years. Likewise, for looking at a strange woman with orwithout lust as a result of which semen is discharged the expiation is a camelthat has completed five years, if he is rich, a cow if he is middle class, a

sheep if he is poor.

07. Marriage contract (Nikah): To read Nikah for himself or for othersregardless of whether the other person is in Ihraam or not. This applies toMuta'a as well. While in all cases the Nikah is batil, the expiation is Ihtiyatan(precautionary) one sheep. To become witness to somebody's Nikah is alsoforbidden.

08. Un-desired smell or odor: To close ones nose or nostrils from badsmell or odor is not allowed. The expiation of doing so is one sheep.However, there is no objection if one hastily passes away from theunpleasant odor.

09. Perfumes: To use perfume or apply it on ones clothes. Perfumes like

Saffron, Camphor, Cloves, Cardamom, Amber and all their uses areforbidden. Eating and drinking sweet smelling food or fruits like apples etc. isallowed but it is essential to avoid smelling when eating or drinking them. Asa result of such willful action an expiation of one sheep becomes due. Thereis no objection to smelling natural sweet smell coming from the Kaaba.

10. Sewn clothes: It is Haram for men to wear sewn or stitched clothes inIhraam. Their clothes must not have sleeves or seams. However, belts withsewn pockets for keeping money, traveler's cheques, passports and othervaluables, slung around the shoulders or worn around the waist are allowed.Similarly, Hernia belts can be worn. One is not allowed to fasten the Ihraamwith pins or a needle or anything of that sort. You cannot even tie a knot.There is no objection to covering the body, except the head with any clothwhile sleeping. Ladies are allowed to wear all types of sewn clothes duringIhraam, except for the hand gloves and wear a veil. The expiation for

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violation of this rule is one sheep.

11. Surma: To apply black surma (eyeliner) in the eyes for cosmeticpurposes are strictly forbidden for men and women. If it is neither black norfor any cosmetic or beautifying purposes, then it is allowed. The expiation ofviolation is one sheep.

12. Make up/Ornament: All methods of self-beautification, either by use ofcosmetics or by ornaments is forbidden. A ring worn for the Niyyat ofthawab, like a Firoza or Aqeeq or Dhoor-e-Najaf is permissible. Ladies mustalso refrain from wearing ornaments, except those they usually wear. Buteven these must not be displayed to men, even to the husband. This

violation costs one sheep in expiation.

NOTE: If a person is wearing a golden tooth for beauty only, it should beremoved if possible.

13. Henna: To apply henna (Indian Myrtle) is Haraam during Ihraam. Itshould not be applied even before Hajj, if the color will remain when wearingIhraam. The expiation for the violation is Ihtiyatan (precautionary) onesheep.

14. Mirror: To look into a mirror for cosmetic reason, which means toappreciate ones looks and features, including combing hair etc., areforbidden. The expiation of this violation is one sheep. If a driver wearingIhraam has to refer to the mirrors of his car or bus as he drives, there is no

objection. Spectacle glasses are allowed provided they are not worn forfashion or beautification, though this should be avoided if possible.

15. Lying and abusing: To tell lies or abuse and scorn is always forbiddenbut when in Ihraam it becomes all the more undesirable and Haraam.Similarly, it is Haraam to boast or brag about ones own superiority orexcellence, with an intention to belittle or under estimate the others.

Note: This means one has to be very careful not to use abusive, foul orobscene language in ordinary conversation. If this is done the expiation isone cow for violation of this rule.

16. Swearing: To take an oath or to swear in any form, particularly sayingLaWallah, Balaa Wallah (no, by God or yes, by God) is Haraam. The expiation

is Istegfaar, (repentance) for the first and second time, and a sheep for thethird time.

The following cases are exceptional.a) That it is intended to prove thereby some right or to make the wrongpublic to others.b) That is not meant to swear thereby, but is merely expressing respect andlove.There is no expiation for a right swearing, provided, it is not more than twice,and otherwise, the expiation is one sheep. If it is a wrong swearing, theexpiation is one sheep for the first time, for the second time two sheep and acow for the third time.

17. Shoes and socks: It is forbidden for men to cover the upper part of thefeet from the toes to the ankle. So, men must not wear socks or full shoes.

Women can wear them, (although); it is better for women to avoid wearingsocks. The expiation for men violating of this rule is one sheep.

18. Killing insects: It is forbidden to kill insects or even throwing themdown or brush-off an insect originating from one's own body e.g. parasites,lice, bugs, fleece, etc. There is no harm to transfer them from one place toanother and the expiation for this rule being violated is to give a handful offood to the poor.

19. Pulling out of a tooth: To have your tooth extracted even if there is nobleeding due to it. The expiation for violating this rule is one sheep. (MarhumAyatoullah Abul Qassim El Khui did not lay emphasis on this. He said this ispermitted).

20. Blood: To take out blood from ones own body, or to cause any bleeding

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by scratching or brushing the teeth etc. is Haraam. However, if this becomesin evitable for relief from any distress, it is allowed. The expiation for ignoringthis rule is one sheep. Note: One should use salt to brush teeth rather thanscented toothpaste.

21. Covering of the face: In the state of Ihraam, women are not allowed tocover their faces with a mask or veil, not even partly, though they mustcover their faces from Na-Mahram by hanging their head-covering over theirfaces down to the nose or chin without touching the face. While saying herSalaat/Namaz, they may cover part of their forehead etc., in an effort tocover her head and hair fully, but after Salaat/Namaz, she has to see thather face is not covered even partially. She must also refrain from immersingher head in water. Men are not allowed to cover their face at all; their earsmust also be visible. Men must not carry any baggage on their heads (fearingtheir head may be covered), nor dip themselves in water. However, ahandkerchief or strip of cloth tied on the forehead for relief from a headacheis allowed. The expiation for this violation is one sheep.

NOTE: When sleeping if the face is covered unintentionally, there is noobjection but the cover must be removed immediately, if it is realized.

22. Ointment: It is forbidden to apply any kind of ointment to the body,whether it has a sweet smell or not. If however, it becomes necessary formedical reasons it is allowed. The expiation for this violation is one sheep.

23. Removing Hairs: To remove or pluck hair from ones own body, or fromanother's body, regardless of whether the other fellow is in Ihraam or not.The expiation for this is a handful of grain to poor. There are four exceptionsto this.

i) If hair falls itself, while doing Wudhu or Ghusl, there is no objection.ii) If one's hair has grown to his/her eyelid and is causing distress and agony,one may remove it.iii) If the removal of hair becomes inevitable for any good reason and validreason. But if due to the hair, there are too many lice on the body, and itbecomes necessary to remove the hair so as to be relieved of the parasite.iv) You are allowed to stroke your hair or beard or slowly scratch your body,if you know that by doing so, no hair would fall, and no bleeding would becaused.

24. Travel/Shade: Men are not permitted to travel under any kind of shade

or shadow, be it the hood of a car, an umbrella or walking in the shadow of acar, bus, caravan or aircraft. All traveling must be under the open sky.Shades are permitted at the time of resting or taking a respite on the way.You can ward off sunrays by cupping one hand. The meaning of refrainingfrom shade or shadow is that men must not protect themselves fromsunrays, cold, heat or rain. So it is not only the head, which must not go intoshade, it is the whole body. Once you are in Makkah, you are allowed to gounder shade or shadow, even before you have found your accommodation orplace of abode. Women, children and such men who fear that exposurewould disable them or render them very sick, are exempted. But for suchmen, the expiation (kaffara) will have to be given in spite of the valid excusethey may have. The expiation for this violation is one sheep.

According to Ayatoullah Syed Seestani, he allows men to travel in closed busduring the night. Men may follow his rulings if they are doing his Taqleed.

25. Cutting of nails: Cutting of nails either whole or partly is not allowedunless the nail is causing pain. The expiation (kaffara) for each fingernailbeing cut is a handful of food/grain to the poor. If all nails of the hands arecut in the same place, the expiation (kaffara) will be one sheep. The same istrue of feet. If the nails of both the hands and feet are cut in the same place,the expiation will be one sheep. If one cuts the nails of his hand in one placeand the feet in another place the expiation will be two sheep.

26. Carrying of weapons: One is not allowed to carry any weapons such asswords, spears, guns, etc., unless it is absolutely necessary. There is noharm in carrying a knife, etc., for cutting fruits, etc. The expiation forviolating this rule is one sheep.

27. Uprooting trees: To uproot, pluck or cut the grass, leaves of the trees

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and all that grows from the earth in Makkah and around it, is not allowed.This is forbidden during Ihraam and also without Ihraam.

28. There are certain acts, as detailed below, which are prohibited all thetime whether one is in Ihraam or not;a) Hunting.b) Uprooting or cutting whatever grows in Haram. But there is no objection ifa plant is uprooted unintentionally when passing by Haram, except(I) Palm or fruit bearing trees.(II) The grass that is usually fed to the animals.The expiation for uprooting, or cutting a tree is the cost of the tree but thereis no expiation for grass.

NOTE: All the expiation can be paid in Makkah or at home, except theexpiation of hunting which must be paid in Makkah.

Tawaf of Kaaba: in line with the Cosmic Law

Allah Almighty says: "And He it isWho created the night and theday, and the sun and the moon,

each in an orbit floating." (Al-Anbiya, 21: 33)

This glorious verse refers to ascientific fact concerning thesystem of the universe. Scientificdiscoveries have proved that welive in a huge universe thatdepends on revolution. The earth

revolves round the sun once a year, the moon revolves around the earthonce per lunar month, and the other planets of the solar system also revolveround the sun, each in its own orbit. Besides, most of these planets havemoons that revolve around them, each, also in its own orbit. Astronomershave discovered more than 60 of these moons so far.

The solar system, likewise, orbits a center of our galaxy, the Milky Way. Thisgalaxy consists of more than 130 billion stars. Galaxies, in turn, revolveround a center that only Almighty Allah knows.

The law of revolution applies also to atoms, the smallest units of elementsthat cannot be seen even by microscopes. An atom is composed of a nucleuswhose diameter is less than a millionth of a millimeter. An atom issurrounded by electrons that move round the atom in an orbit. Since allmatter in the universe-whether solid, liquid, or gaseous consists of atoms,this means that the law of revolution applies to everything: stars, planets,moons, animals, plants, sand, seas, air, and so on.

This includes cells as well. The cytoplasm in the cell moves around thenucleus.

There is a common factor between the orbital movements of all the objectsreferred to above, this is, and their revolution is anti-clockwise.

Contemplating the above lines, we come to realize that revolution is a cosmiclaw.

With a believer's meditation upon such a scientific fact, another image ofrevolution is brought to one s mind: the pilgrim's circumambulation of theKaaba, which is a basic ritual of Hajj in Islam.

Circumambulating the Kaaba is a symbolic act of worship, whose wisdommay be hidden from some. It indicates the believer's utter submission to

Almighty Allah alone. The pilgrims go to Hajj in response to the divine order

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that Prophet Ibrahim or ProphetAbraham (peace be upon him) conveyedto people.

Allah Almighty says: "And (remember)when We showed Ibrahim the site of the(Sacred) House (the Kaaba at Makkah),saying: Ascribe not anything (inworship) with Me, and sanctify My Housefor those who circumambulate it, andthose who stand up (for prayer), andthose who bow (submit themselves withhumility and obedience to Allah), andmake prostration (in prayer). Andproclaim to mankind the Hajj(pilgrimage). They will come to you onfoot and on every lean camel, they willcome from every deep and distant(wide) mountain highway (to perform

Hajj)." (Al-Hajj, 22:26-27).

This signifies that the Kaaba is the spiritual center of the believers. It refersto the close bond that should be between a believer and his Lord. A believerturns toward the Kaaba five times a day during the prescribed ritual Prayers.

A pilgrim circumambulates the Kaaba as if he or she is a celestial bodyorbiting another greater body. Circumambulation of the Kaaba is to beperformed anti-clockwise. This indicates that there is a joint factor between apilgrim's expressing his ultimate faith in Almighty Allah by circumambulatingthe Kaaba in that way and between the cosmic laws of revolution discussedabove. This indicates that there is consistency between the obligations ofworship in Islam and the natural laws that govern the universe, whichindicates that they all belong to only one source, that is, Almighty Allah.

This proves the truthfulness of the call of Islam that there is no god butAlmighty Allah. Thus, Islam is the true religion that provides humankind witha comprehensive view in conformity with the divine truth that is apparent inthe natural laws of the universe.

Tawaf: Utmost degree of love

Circumambulation means to go round something. This act shows the utmostdegree of love to the extent that a lover wishes to sacrifice himself for thebeloved. A real pilgrim who has thirst for meeting his Beloved has beendetached from everything. By going round the House of the Beloved, hewishes to prove that he desires nothing but God.

The planets circumambulate the sun, for they take everything from it. Insidean atom, the electrons circumambulate the protons. The whole universeranging from the invisible particles to the planets and galaxiescircumambulate. Man, being a part of the universe, should circumambulate,too, with the difference that the planets circumambulate in a compulsory wayaccording to the laws of nature, but man, the rational being and possessor offree will, circumambulates with his logic and will a House God has appointedto honor human beings. Hence, it is natural for Muslims to offer their

prayers, to sit, to stand, to recite the Holy Quran, to sleep, to lie down at themoment of death, to be put in grave, and finally to be in that direction duringtheir lifetimes and death.

"Say: Surely my prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are all forAllah, the Lord of the worlds." (Al-Anaam, 6:162)

Survival of the Kaaba, a wonder

It is a wonder that all the royal palaces built throughout history have beendemolished but the Kaaba, a house built of mud and stone about fourthousand years ago by Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his son Prophet Ismail (AS)in a parched land is still upright and will continue to be loved by humanbeings until the Day of Judgment.

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What is more wonderful is the attraction of this House. So many glorious andmajestic buildings in the world are found in areas of good climate, but theKaaba attracts people to itself without having means of entertainment orbeing satisfying people's pleasure. The reason however is natural. It is GodHimself Who has created this attraction in people's hearts through ProphetIbrahim's supplication:

"And proclaim among men the pilgrimage: they will come to you on foot andon every lean camel, coming from every remote path." (The Holy Quran,22:27)

Kaaba Size and History

The small, cubed building known as the kaaba may not rival skyscrapers inheight or mansions in width, but its impact on history and human beings isunmatched. The kaaba is the building towards which Muslims face five timesa day, everyday, in prayer. This has been the case since the time of ProphetMuhammad (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) over 1400 years ago.

The Size of Kaaba:

The current height of the kaaba is 39 feet, 6 inches and total size comes to627 square feet. The inside room of the kaaba is 13x9 meters. The kaaba'swalls are one meter wide. The floor inside is 2.2 meters higher than the placewhere people perform Tawaf.

The ceiling and roof are two levels made out of wood. They werereconstructed with teak which is capped with stainless steel. The walls are allmade of stone. The stones inside are unpolished, while the ones outside arepolished.

This small building has been constructed and reconstructed by ProphetsAdam, Ibrahim, Ismail and Muhammad (peace be upon them all). No otherbuilding has had this honor. Yet, not very much is known about the details ofthis small but significant building.

The Other Names of Kaaba:

Literally, kaaba in Arabic means a high place with respect and prestige. The

word kaaba may also be derivative of a word meaning a cube. Some of theseother names include:

1. Baitul Ateeq - which means, according to one meaning, the earliest andancient. According to the second meaning, it means independent andliberating. Both meanings could be taken.

2. Baitul Haram - the honorable house.

Scholars and historians say that kaaba has been reconstructed between 5 to12 times. The very first construction of the kaaba was done by Prophet Adam(peace be upon him). Allah says in Holy Quran that this was the first housethat was built for humanity to worship Allah. After this, Prophet Ibrahim andIsmail (peace be upon them) rebuilt kaaba.

The measurements of the kaaba's foundation by Prophet Ibrahim are asfollows:

Eastern wall was 48 feet and 6 inchesHateem side wall was 33 feetSide between the black stone and the Yemeni corner was 30 feetWestern side was 46.5 feet

Following this, there were several constructions before the ProphetMuhammad's (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) time.

Reconstruction of kaaba by Quraish:

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Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) participated in one of itsreconstructions before he announced a Prophet. After a flash flood, the kaabawas damaged and its walls cracked. It needed rebuilding. This responsibilitywas divided among the Quraish's four tribes. Prophet Muhammad (sallallahualaiyhi wassallam) helped with this reconstruction.

Once the walls were erected, it was time to place the Black Stone, (Hajar al-Aswad) on the eastern wall of the kaaba. Arguments erupted about whowould have the honor of putting the Black Stone in its place. A fight wasabout to break out over the issue, when Abu Umayyah, Makkah's oldest man,proposed that the first man to enter the gate of the mosque the followingmorning would decide the matter. That man was the Prophet Muhammad(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam). The Makkans were ecstatic. "This is thetrustworthy one (Al-Ameen)" they shouted in a chorus. "This is Muhammad."He came to them and they asked him to decide on the matter. He agreed.

Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) proposed a solution that allagreed to - putting the Black Stone on a cloak, the elders of each of the clansheld on to one edge of the cloak and carried the stone to its place. TheProphet Muhammad (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) then picked up the stoneand placed it on the wall of kaaba.

Since the tribe of Quraish did not have sufficient funds, this reconstructiondid not include the entire foundation of kaaba as built by Prophet Ibrahim.This is the first time kaaba acquired the cubical shape it has now, unlike therectangle shape which it had earlier. The portion of the kaaba left out iscalled Hateem now.

ZAMZAM: NOTES AND FACTS

What's cooled, refreshing and willquench your thirst in the hot,Arabian desert? If you answered(fill in the name of the latest fadsoft drink), you're wrong.

Zamzam is the name of the wellthat provides the water to billionsof people, have thirstily drunkfrom throughout history,especially during the Hajjpilgrimage.

It is linked to some of the mostimportant personalities in world history: the Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail(peace be upon them) and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him &his family), as well as Ismail's mother Hajira (may Allah be pleased withher).

The Zamzam well is located in Makkah, which is the heart of the Hajjpilgrimage. Standing only a few meters east of the Kaaba, the well is 35meters deep and topped by an elegant dome.

How the Zamzam came into being?

All traditions agree that Allah created the well to provide Hajira, the wife ofProphet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), and her baby Prophet Ismail (peacebe upon him) with water in the hot, dry valley they were in.

In her desperate search for water, Hajira ran seven times back and forth inthe scorching heat between the two hills of Safa and Marwa to provide forher baby who was dying of thirst. Today, this same act is a necessary rite ofHajj all Muslims, mothers and fathers, must complete.

Prophet Ibrahim settled his family there as part of God's mission for him. Thefirst thing Hajira had to do then was to look for water in the area. She wassearching for it while watching at her son and would run whenever she could

not see Ismail. Allah saw her effort and miraculously blessed the spot with a

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water spring.

The Zamzam before the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings beupon him)

The appearance of the Zamzam began the settlement of the Makkan valley,where the descendants of Prophet Ismail populated the area.

But as time passed, Prophet Ibrahim and Ismail's monotheistic message,which once dominated the region, began taking a backseat to pagan,polytheistic beliefs.

Nonetheless, the well of Zamzam retained its importance in latergenerations. The grandfather of the Prophet, Abdul Muttalib, was honoredwith the responsibility of taking care of the well and the pilgrims to Makkah.

Zamzam water: the powerdrink

One of the miracles of Zamzamwater is its ability to satisfy boththirst and hunger. One of theCompanions of the Prophet saidthat before Islam, the water wascalled "Shabbaa'ah" or satisfying.It was filling and helped themnourish their families.

After Islam, this powerful abilityto quench thirst and fill stomachsremained. The Prophet said: "Thebest water on the face of theearth is the water of Zamzam; it is a kind of food and a healing fromsickness."

According to the Muslim collection of Hadith,Abu Dharr Ghifari, aCompanion, noted that when he first arrived in Makkah during the early daysof Islam, he survived only on Zamzam water for a whole month. Not only didhe satisfy his hunger and thirst, he became obese.

More recently, in the last few decades, scientists have collected samples ofZamzam water and they have found certain peculiarities that make the waterhealthier, like a higher level of calcium.

Zamzam water: a cure forsickness

Apart from its ability to serve assatisfying food and drink,Zamzam water's health benefitsare also commended. TheProphet (peace and blessings beupon him & his family) said it was

a healing from sickness. This iswhy pilgrims to Makkah to thisday collect it in bottles to bringfor relatives and friends backhome who are ill.

The Prophet (peace and blessingsbe upon him & his family) used to carry Zamzam water in pitchers and waterskins back to Madinah. He used to sprinkle it over the sick and make themdrink it.

Wahab Ibn Munabbah, who was from the second generation of Muslims, said'I swear by Him in whose possession my life is, Allah Ta`ala will relieve theperson of all illnesses who drinks Zamzam to his fill and will also grant him

good health.'

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Zamzam water and Hajj

During Hajj and Umra, pilgrims are recommended to drink Zamzam water totheir fill to quench their thirst. They also continue the tradition of bringing itback for family and friends.

For example, despite tight US laws forbidding the import of foreign liquidsand fruits, there is an exception made for pilgrims returning from Makkah,who bring water of the Zamzam home for loved ones.

Niyyah for Hajj

O Allah! I intend to perform Hajj; make it easy for me and accept it from me. I make the niyyah for Hajj and

enter into the state of Ihram for the sake of Allah alone, the most High.

TalbiyahCommonly used during Umrah and Hajj is when the pilgrim asserts their intention to perform thepilgrimage only for the glory of Allah.

Here I am at Thy service O Lord, here I am. Here I am at Thy service, and Thou hast no partner. Thinealone is All Praise and All Bounty, and Thine alone is The Sovereignty. Thou hast no partner.

Niyyah for TawafThis prayer states the intention to do Tawaf, the circumnavigation of the Ka'aba.

O Allah! I intend to perform Tawaf of Thy Sacred House. Make it easy for me and accept from me the sevenashwat for Thy sake, Allah, the Most High.

First ShawtThis prayer is usually recited on the first circumnavigation of the Ka'aba.

All Glory is to Allah! All praise is to Allah! There is none worthy of worship but Allah! Allah is the Greatest.There is no power, nor strength except that from Allah, The Most High, The Greatest! Blessings and Peace

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be upon the Prophet of Allah, Muhammad (pbuh). O Allah! By my Faith in Thee, and by my belief in ThyBook, and in fulfillment of the vows I made to Thee, and following the Sunnah of Thy beloved Prophet,Muhammad (pbuh), (I perform the Tawaf of the Holy Kabah).

O Allah! Truly I ask Thy forgiveness, and Thy protection, and everlasting soundness in Faith in this worldand in the Hereafter, and that I be granted Paradise and be freed from the fires of Hell.

Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of fire,and let us enter Paradise with the righteous ones. O Glorious One! O All forgiving! O Lord of the Universe!

Second ShawtThis prayer is usually recited on the second circumnavigation of the Ka'aba

O Allah! This House is Thy House, and this Sanctuary is Thy Sanctuary, and this Security is Thy Security,and this slave is Thy slave. I am Thy slave and the son of Thy slave. And this place is a refuge from the firesof Hell for him who seeks Thy protection. Forbid our flesh and our bodies to the Fire. O Allah! Endear to usthe Faith, and adorn with it our hearts, and make hateful to us disbelief, wickedness and transgression, andcause us to be among those who are rightly guarded.

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O Allah! Protect me from Thy Punishment on the Day when Thou shalt resurrect Thy slaves. O Allah! Allowme to enter Paradise without any accounting.Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of fire,and allow us to enter Paradise with the righteous ones. O Glorious One! O All Forgiving! O Lord of theUniverse!

Third ShawtThis prayer is usually recited on the third circumnavigation of the Ka'aba.

O Allah! Allow this pilgrimage to be accepted, and this endeavour to be rewarded, and my sins to beforgiven, and my good deeds to be approved and cause my business to flourish; O Thou, who knoweth allthat is in our hearts! O Allah! Take me out of darkness into light. O Allah! I ask thee, that I be worthy of ThyMercy, and certain of Thy Forgiveness, and immune to all sins, and be worthy of rewards for all my virtues,and be worthy of entering Paradise and be immune from Hell.O Allah! I seek refuge in Thee from falling from Thy grace in my grave and from temptations in this life andtrials at the time of death.

O Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in Hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of fire, and

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allow us to enter Paradise with the righteous ones.O glorious One! O All Forgiving! O Lord of the Universe!

Fourth ShawtThese prayers are usually recited on the fourth circumnavigation of the Ka'aba.

O Allah! Allow this pilgrimage to be accepted, and this endeavour to be rewarded, and my sins to beforgiven, and my good deeds to be approved and cause my business to flourish; O Thou, who knoweth all

that is in our hearts! O Allah! Take me out of darkness into light. O Allah! I ask thee, that I be worthy of ThyMercy, and certain of Thy Forgiveness, and immune to all sins, and be worthy of rewards for all my virtues,and be worthy of entering Paradise and be immune from Hell.O my Lord! Make me content with what Thou has bestowed upon me. And let Thy blessings be what Thouhast given me. And compensate all that I lack with Thy own favour.Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of fire,and allow us to enter Paradise with the righteous ones. O Glorious One! O All Forgiving! O Lord of theUniverse!

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Fifth ShawtThis prayer is usually recited on the fifth circumnavigation of the Ka'aba.

O Allah! Bestow upon me the shade of Thy Throne on the Day when there shall be no shade except Thine,

and there shall be no countenance except Thine. And allow me a drink from the cistern of Thy Prophet,Muhammad a drink so pleasant that it may quench my thirst for ever. O Allah! I ask Thee the best of thatwhich Thy Prophet, our master Muhammad (pbuh) has asked of Thee. And I seek refuge in Thee from theevils from which Thy Prophet, our Master, Muhammad (pbuh) has sought refuge in TheeO Allah! Truly I beseech Thee to grant me Paradise and its delights and whatever may bring me nearer to itwhether by word, or by act, or by deed. And I seek refuge in Thee from the fires of Hell and whatever maybring me nearer to it whether by word, or by act or my deed.Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of fire,and allow us to enter Paradise with the righteous ones. O Glorious One! O All Forgiving! O Lord of theUniverse!

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Sixth ShawtThis prayer is usually recited on the sixth circumnavigation of the Ka'aba.

O Allah! Thou hast many claims on me in my relations to Thee, and many claims in my relations to Thycreatures. O Allah! Release me if those which I owe to Thee, and give me the strength to bear those which Iowe to Thee, and give me strength to bear those which I owe to Thy creatures. Make me content with whatThou hast made lawful and enable me to reject what Thou hast declared forbidden. And make me contentwith obedience to thee, and let me beware of disobeying Thee.And make me content with Thy favour so thatI may not seek favour from anyone else, O Thou, whose Mercy is All Embracing.O Allah! Truly Thy House is Glorious and Thy Countenance Benign, and Thou, O Allah! art Clement, Nobleand Great. Thou lovest forgiveness, so forgive me.Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of fire,and allow us to enter Paradise with the righteous ones.O Glorious One! O All Forgiving! O Lord of the Universe!

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Seven ShawtThis prayer is usually recited on the seventh circumnavigation of the Ka'aba.

O Allah! I seek from Thee a Faith that is perfect, a conviction that is true, a heart that is full of devotiontowards Thee, and a tongue that is forever engaged in Thy remembrance; and provisions that are vast,lawful and clean, and a repentance that is sincere; a repentance before death, peace at the time of deathand Thy Benign Forgiveness and Mercy after death, and Thy Pardon at the time of reckoning, and thereward of Paradise and a reprieve from the fires of Hell.Accept my prayers O The Mighty One! O The Forgiver! O My Lord! Increase me in my knowledge and may Ibe counted among the righteous.Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of fire,and allow us to enter Paradise with the righteous ones.O Glorious One! O All Forgiving One! O Lord of the Universe!

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Niyyah for Sa'iThis prayer states the intention to do Sa'i, the act of running between to the hills of Safa and Marwahduring the Umrah.

O Allah! I intend to perform Sa i of seven ashwat between Safa and Marwah for Thy Pleasure alone. Make iteasy for me and accept it from me.

Prayer for Partaking of Zam-ZamThis prayer is suggested for when the pilgrim tastes the water from the Zam-Zam well in Mecca

O Allah! I seek from Thee profitable knowledge and bounteous sustenance and a cure from all ailmentsthrough Thy Mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful

Prayer Upon Departing from MinaThis prayer is commonly used when the pilgrim leaves Mina after the stoning of the Jamarat O Allah! To Thee I turn praying to approach Thy Bounteous Countenance. Let my sins be forgiven and myHajj be acceptable, and have Mercy on me. Allow me not to be disappointed, for Thou hast Power over allthings.

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Prayer Upon Entering ArafatCommonly used when the pilgrim enters Arafat for the Day of Standing.O Allah! Forgive me and help me in my repentance and grant me all that I beseech of Thee; and wherever Iturn, let me see goodness. Allah be praised! All praise is due to Allah! And there is no deity except Allah!

And Allah is Most Great.

Prayer at MuzdalifahSuggested prayer for when the pilgrim is at Muzdalifah.Allah is Most Great! Allah is Most Great! Alllah is Most Great! There is no deity except Allah, and unto Allah isdue all Praise! Oh Allah! As Thou hast allowed us to halt in this place and hast shown it to us, so also grantus that we may repeat Thy Name. As Thou hast guided us, so also forgive us and have mercy on us as Thouhast promised us! And Thy Word is The Truth!

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Prayer After Tawaf-al-WadaThis prayer is commonly used for the farewell Tawaf made by the Hajji before they leave Mecca

We are those who have returned to our Lord, and those who have repented, and those who haveworshipped (our Lord), and those who praise our Creator and Sustainer. Allah has fulfilled His Promise, andawarded victory to His servant and, alone, He has defeated the forces of evil.