Umrah is a sacred pilgrimage to Mecca that Muslims undertake. It involves performing several rituals, including tawaf, sai, and halq or taqsir. These rituals are collectively known as rukun umrah, and they must be performed in a specific order and manner. However, what happens if one of the rukun umrah is not fulfilled? Is the Umrah still considered valid?
What is Rukun Umrah?
Rukun Umrah consists of four essential elements that must be performed during the pilgrimage:
- Ihram: This is a state of purity that a pilgrim must enter before starting the Umrah. It involves wearing a specific white garment and refraining from certain activities, such as cutting hair or nails.
- Tawaf: This is the act of walking around the Kaaba, a black cube-shaped structure located at the center of the Masjid al-Haram mosque in Mecca. It is done seven times in an anti-clockwise direction.
- Sai: This is the act of walking between the hills of Safa and Marwa seven times. It is done to commemorate the search for water by Prophet Ibrahim’s wife, Hajar, when she was left in the desert with her infant son, Ismail.
- Halq or Taqsir: This is the final step of Umrah, and it involves cutting or trimming the hair. Men must shave their heads completely, while women must cut a small amount of hair from their heads.
What Happens if One of the Rukun Umrah is Not Fulfilled?
If one of the rukun umrah is not fulfilled, the Umrah is considered invalid. This means that a person must redo the entire Umrah from the beginning, starting with ihram. For example, if a person forgets to perform sai or does not complete it correctly, he or she must redo the sai, as well as all the other rukun umrah, to make the Umrah valid.
The same applies if a person performs a rukun umrah in the wrong order or manner. For instance, if a person performs sai before tawaf or walks between Safa and Marwa only six times, the Umrah is considered invalid, and he or she must start again.
Exceptions to the Rule
However, there are exceptions to this rule. If a person forgets to perform a certain act during Umrah but remembers before performing the next act, he or she can go back and perform the missed act before continuing with the Umrah. For instance, if a person forgets to perform sai before halq or taqsir, he or she can go back and perform sai before cutting or trimming the hair.
Also, if a person is unable to perform a rukun umrah due to a valid reason, such as illness or injury, he or she can skip that act and continue with the Umrah. However, the missed act must be performed later, when the person is able to do so.
Conclusion
Performing Umrah is a significant spiritual journey for Muslims. It involves fulfilling the four essential elements of rukun umrah in a specific order and manner. If one of the rukun umrah is not fulfilled, the Umrah is considered invalid, and a person must redo the entire Umrah from the beginning. However, there are exceptions to this rule, and a missed act can be performed later or corrected if remembered before the next act.