Common Mistakes to Avoid While Performing Umrah

Introduction to Common Umrah Mistakes Pilgrims Make

Planning your Umrah journey ahead? It's a deeply spiritual journey that brings closeness to Allah and an opportunity for repenting sins. However, there are some common mistakes while performing Umrah that can compromise the quality of your pilgrimage. This post is all about such mistakes that every pilgrim should avoid while performing Umrah rituals step by step. So, let's read and understand the ways to avoid each.

Most Common Umrah Mistakes Every Pilgrim Should Avoid

1. Ignoring the Importance of Making a Sincere Niyyah 

An Umrah journey starts with making Niyyah and it's the core of the pilgrimage. Many pilgrims make a mistake when they don't make a sincere Niyyah and ignore its importance. Some of them don't make Niyyah to perform Umrah for the sake of Allah but to enhance their worldly status as a spiritual personality. It's a serious mistake every pilgrim needs to avoid.

How to Make a Sincere Niyyah for Umrah

• Make Niyyah of performing Umrah from heart to perform Umrah only for the sake of Allah. 
• Ask Allah to make this journey a source of guidance and forgiveness. 
• Revive your Niyyah throughout the Umrah journey to reflect sincerity.

2. Reciting Talbiyah Incorrectly During Umrah

Reciting Talbiyah is an important part of the Umrah rituals as it marks the state of Ihram. And pilgrims have to recite it regularly after crossing Miqat until they see Kaabah in Masjid al-Haram. Pilgrims don't recite Talbiyah correctly and make mistakes in Arabic pronunciation. Also, they don't understand the meaning of Talbiyah which is a big thing to avoid.

How to Recite Talbiyah Correctly

• Practice reciting Talbiyah before departure again and again by seeing it.
• Try to imitate the pronunciation of scholars reciting Talbiyah.
• Understand the meaning of each word and consider it as a statement you are saying to Allah.

3. Having Inadequate Knowledge of Umrah Rituals

An Umrah pilgrimage has four major rituals which are Ihram, Tawaf, Sa'i and Halq or Qasr. However, no one can perform these rituals correctly without having proper understanding of each act. And this is the big mistake that pilgrims make without realizing that it can also make their pilgrimage invalid. This lack of knowledge definitely impacts the quality of the pilgrimage and questions its acceptance. 

How to Gain Proper Knowledge of Umrah Rituals

• Understand how to perform Umrah step by step while planning an Umrah journey after booking Umrah packages.
• Go through scholarly lectures and guides to understand the Sunnah acts of the journey properly.
• Check out tutorials teaching how to perform Umrah practically.

4. Wearing Ihram Incorrectly 

Not having enough knowledge of Ihram rules and requirements is another mistake that pilgrims make while performing Umrah. Entering Ihram is the foremost ritual of Umrah that starts with wearing Ihram clothes correctly. Pilgrims especially men make mistakes while wearing Ihram clothes which isn't acceptable. Also, choosing incorrect Ihram garments is a mistake every pilgrim needs to avoid.

How to Wear Ihram Correctly According to Sunnah

• Understand Ihram garments properly either through local scholars or online platforms.
• Go through online tutorials to understand the proper wearing method of Ihram garments.
• Also, understand the do's and don'ts about Ihram garments properly to avoid all the related mistakes.

5. Crossing Miqat without Entering Ihram 

Miqat is a boundary that pilgrims should cross after entering Ihram.  Pilgrims don't consider this ritual seriously and forget to make Umrah niyyah before reaching Miqat. And this is the mistake that make the whole pilgrimage invalid for sure. This is the reason all Umrah flights make announcement when reaching Miqat that every pilgrim should consider mindfully.

How to Enter Ihram Before Crossing Miqat

• Wear Ihram garments especially for men at the airport without making Niyyah.
• Make Niyyah of Umrah journey after boarding the Umrah flight before reaching Miqat.
• Revive Niyyah while crossing Miqat and recite Talbiyah to confirm your commitment.

6. Violating Ihram Restrictions Unknowingly

Following all the Ihram rules and restrictions is important until the completion of all the Umrah rituals. Most pilgrims don't understand all the prohibited acts during Ihram state and violate them unknowingly. This is a mistake as it impacts the quality of the pilgrimage and also imposes penalty. 

How to Avoid Violating Ihram Rules

• Understand all the rules and restrictions of Ihram state properly before going for Umrah.
• Avoid using scented products while in Ihram.
• Practice tolerance and patience throughout an Umrah journey.
• Ask Allah for ease in following Ihram rules.

7. Pushing and Harming Fellow Pilgrims Everywhere

Masjid al-Haram and its surrounding remain crowded most of the time. So, many people lose their patience while performing rituals in Haram and start pushing the crowd which is not right. It's a big mistake that can harm others and also affect the quality of the pilgrimage. Also, engaging in arguments and using bad language are mistakes that pilgrims make.

How to Maintain Patience and Etiquette in Haram

• Consider every pilgrim in Haram the guest of Allah and honour all your fellows.
• Try to cooperate with fellow pilgrims while performing Tawaf and Sa'i so that everyone can complete rituals peacefully.
• Choose off-peak hours to perform Umrah rites to avoid heavy crowds.

8. Ignoring Sunnah Acts During Umrah

An Umrah journey comprises four major rituals to be completed. It's not just all about these major rites but also includes various Sunnah acts. Many pilgrims make a mistake when they ignore Sunnah acts during Umrah. For example, saying Talbiyah loudly for men, performing Raml in first three circuits of Tawaf for men, offering two Rak'ah salah after tawaf, drinking Zam Zam and reciting Sunnah supplications are all part of an Umrah journey. So, don't ignore these acts.

How to Follow Sunnah Acts During Umrah

• Go through scholarly lectures and guides to understand the Sunnah acts of the journey properly.
• Note down all the Sunnah acts for each major Umrah ritual to follow correctly.
• Remember the difference of gender while following these Sunnah acts.

9. Cutting an Insufficient Amount of Hair After Umrah

There is a specific amount of hair that pilgrims have to cut as part of the last Umrah ritual (Halq or Qasr). Pilgrims make a mistake when they don't cut a sufficient amount of hair. For example, Men can trim their hair short but it's not an appreciated act. Similarly, women have to cut hair up to the length of a fingertip at least. And cutting hair less than this amount is a definite mistake.

How to Perform Halq or Qasr Correctly

• Understand the Sunnah way to cut hair after performing Tawaf and Sa'i.
• Consider all the Sunnah acts while performing Halq or Taqsir both for men and women separately.

10. Reciting Dua's Without Understanding Their Meaning

Reciting Sunnah supplications and Dua's are soul of the Umrah journey. And reciting Dua's at each step of the pilgrimage is what makes the Umrah journey even more sacred. However, many pilgrims make a mistake when they recite Sunnah and Quranic supplications without understanding their meanings. It affects the quality of pilgrimage and also questions the acceptance of these Dua's. So, avoid this.

How to Understand and Recite Duas During Umrah

• Make a list of Sunnah and Quranic Dua's to recite at each step of the pilgrimage.
• Not down the meaning of each word of all the important supplications.
• Practice revising all these Dua's at home along with their meanings for better understanding.

11. Wasting Time on Excessive Photography

Taking photos of the sacred places is a good thing for making memories. But, wasting a lot of time on photography is the mistake that most pilgrims make during their Umrah journey. Also, engaging in video calls and recording unnecessary videos every time compromise the quality of pilgrimage. So, try to avoid this and spend time in doing Ibadah while considering that it's the rare opportunity you have.

How to Stay Focused on Ibadah During Umrah

• Take photos after completing all the Umrah rituals. 
• Put your mobiles on silent while you are in Haram.
• Spend your precious time in Haram while doing Ibadah and making supplications.

12. Focusing Solely on Ritual Completion

An Umrah is a step-by-step journey having particular rituals and acts to perform throughout the pilgrimage. However, it's not solely a combination of rituals that one has to complete anyhow. It's equally spiritual and emotional journey that transforms hearts and souls. However, pilgrims make a mistake when they rush to complete all the Umrah rituals without realizing the significance and spirituality of each one.

How to Perform Umrah With Spiritual Awareness

• Understand the purpose of your Umrah journey and read about the significance of each ritual before departure.
• Perform each ritual mindfully focusing on obedience of Allah.
• Revise your Niyyah about performing Umrah at your best only for the sake of Allah.

Final Words on Avoiding Common Umrah Mistakes

In conclusion, an Umrah is a sacred journey that pilgrims perform voluntarily for the sake of Allah. And performing Umrah according to the sunnah is what ensures its acceptance. For this, every pilgrim has to avoid common mistakes while performing Umrah. In this post, we have compiled the most common mistakes to guide pilgrims on this sacred journey. Pilgrims performing Umrah in Ramadan should also be extra careful, as additional mistakes are often made due to crowds and fatigue. You can read our detailed guide on common mistakes during Umrah in Ramadan to avoid them properly. By the end of this post, we hope you will perform Umrah in the right way as recommended in the Sunnah.