Common Mistakes During Umrah and How to Avoid Them

There is no denying that Umrah is a source of strengthening your connection with Allah Almighty. Every year, millions of Muslims embark on this incredible spiritual retreat to revive their faith and get closer to Islam. The great significance, rewards, and experience that this pilgrimage promises make all the believers in Islam yearn for it. Anyone who gets the chance to perform an Umrah wants to do it right. Therefore, learning about common mistakes during Umrah and how to avoid them is crucial before embarking on this spiritual retreat.

Many pilgrims make mistakes unknowingly while performing Umrah. You just have to learn about these common mistakes that are normalized and try to avoid them while performing your rituals perfectly. It is time that you learn about all the easily avoidable common mistakes to make your Umrah more rewarding and memorable.

Easily Avoidable Common Mistakes During Umrah

Having Insufficient Knowledge About the Pilgrimage

It is impossible to perform the pilgrimage perfectly if you don’t have a clear understanding of all the Umrah rituals and the rules of pilgrimage. You cannot embark on the journey to perform a pilgrimage without having sufficient knowledge about it. This way, you will not only make numerous mistakes while performing the rituals, but also confuse yourself.

How to Avoid This Mistake?

• Make sure to learn about all the Umrah rituals thoroughly before you go for the pilgrimage. Many reliable videos and guides can provide you with enough information about the Umrah rituals and rules. Ensure that you learn from an authentic source.
• You can also carry an Umrah guidebook with you during the pilgrimage.

Wearing the Ihram Incorrectly

Ihram is a state that you must maintain while performing your pilgrimage. Specific rules apply that every pilgrim must follow. Men must cover their awrah with the two unstitched clothes, with their right shoulder bare. Many of the pilgrims do not cover their awrah perfectly, from navel to knees, or wear the Ihram too tightly. Men also cover their heads to save themselves from the scorching heat, but it is not permissible. It goes against the rules of Ihram. Women must also dress modestly, and there are numerous instances where this is not observed. Additionally, they tend to wear perfume, which is prohibited during the state of Ihram.

How to Avoid This Mistake?

• Learn how to wear the Ihram and understand the associated rules.
• You can practice wearing it beforehand to ensure that you do it perfectly during the pilgrimage.
• Make sure to use Ihram clips or belts if you think there can be an accidental exposure.
• Avoid perfumes and tight clothing.

Crossing the Miqat Without Entering Ihram

Many pilgrims are traveling by road or landing at Jeddah Airport, but don’t realize that they might be missing the Miqat. So, make sure to track your travel route. You will need to enter the Ihram either on the flight or during a layover.

How to Avoid This Mistake?

• Track your travel route.
• Please note that you will need to enter the Ihram either on the flight or during a layover.
• Ask the airplane staff to inform you about the Miqat sites. They often announce it as well for all the travelers going on the pilgrimage.

Neglecting the Intention

Intention is one of the most essential parts of your pilgrimage, and not many of us realize it. You must make a clear intention to perform the pilgrimage, and this intention should be maintained throughout every ritual, such as Tawaf and Sa’i.

How to Avoid This Mistake?

• Purify your heart and set an intention to please Allah Almighty and be closer to Him.
• Make your intention clear as you perform each ritual.
• Recite: “Labbayka ‘Umratan” (Here I am for Umrah) or Talbiya.

Taking Photos Excessively

Everyone wants to capture the sacred sites with their camera. But taking excessive photos can be very distracting and time-consuming. You must remain focused and avoid wasting time while performing the pilgrimage. Umrah is all about submitting to the Almighty and focusing on worshipping and pleasing Him.

How to Avoid This Mistake?

• Take only a few photos after you have performed your rituals.
• Make sure to focus on your acts of Ibadah and not on documenting the pilgrimage for everyone else.
• Respect the privacy of other pilgrims.

Final Words

If you have started planning the pilgrimage with an Umrah travel agency, you may have begun preparing for the pilgrimage. No doubt, when you know that a reliable travel agency is taking care of your pilgrimage bookings and visa applications, you have enough time to focus on yourself and prepare for the spiritual retreat. You can use this time to learn about the common mistakes during Umrah and how to avoid them, some of which are discussed above. This will surely help you in your pilgrimage.