For many Muslims, Umrah's performance may be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Even for those going for umrah frequently, mistakes in the performance of Umrah rituals can happen. That’s why it remains advised for people to educate themselves on every aspect of Umrah before actually leaving for it. So, if you are going for the performance of minor pilgrimage, here are some of the common mistakes to avoid.
Changing the Intention of Umrah.
Making intention is a fundamental part of Umrah. As in Islam, the reward of a deed depends on the type of intention made for it. Therefore, one must decide about the type of Umrah she/she wants to perform before actually starting the rituals.
You are allowed to change the intention about the type of Umrah you want to perform but it should be done before assuming the state of Ihram. If one wants to change his/her intention afterward, it's permissible to change from Mufradah to Tamattu but not the other way round.
Not changing the Ihram Clothes during Umrah.
Changing the Ihram clothes as they get dirty will not disturb the state of Ihram for a pilgrim i.e. its permissible to do so. However, some people wrongly think that if they change the white sheets of Ihram before completing Umrah rituals, it will renounce their Ihram. While the reality is that a person is allowed to change the Ihram whenever necessary; it’s the state of Ihram i.e. prohibitions and precautions that must not be compromised.
The pilgrims come out of the ‘state’ of Ihram which they intended only after completing all the essential rites of Umrah and then shaving or clipping their hair.
Touching/Wiping over any part of the Holy Kaabah.
One of the most common misconceptions and mistakes people make during Umrah is to think that touching/wiping over any part of Kaabah or Maqam-e-Ibrahim would bring Barakah and Khair to them. Such a concept finds no basis in Hadith or Sunnah of Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW). The Prophet (PBUH) never touched any part of Holy Kaabah except the Black stone and Yemeni corner. Therefore, the pilgrims going for umrah should also follow suit.
Kissing the Hajar-e-Aswad.
Physically kissing the Hajar-e-Aswad isn’t a necessity for a pilgrim, if appropriate space is not present. Prophet Muhammad (SAWW) would also kiss the black stone if he could easily do so or touch it with his hand and then kiss his hand later i.e. when the place around Black sone was easily accessible. On the other hand, during the times when it was too crowded, he (SAWW) would only point towards Hajar-e-Aswad with his (SAWW) hands and say “Allahu Akbar”.
Praying Dua in loudly i.e. in a unison.
While performing Tawaf, there are some pilgrims who pray Dua in unison. They either follow a leader or an imam who speaks out different duas loudly and then the people repeat after him in unison. This disturbs other pilgrims’ concertation and creates a lot of confusion during Umrah rituals, which is wrong.
So, if you are traveling for umrah through Cheap Umrah and Hajj Packages, these mistakes should be avoided at all times. It’s also advisable to consult a religious scholar for a detailed analysis of these points of view.