Umrah is a significant Islamic pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah. This is a spiritual journey of purification, repentance and seeking closeness of Allah Almighty. This involves the rituals like entering Ihram, doing Tawaf, Sa’i and Halq. Each one of these rituals symbolize the deep faith and remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim’s family and their struggles. It also symbolizes the blessings of Allah, offering immense spiritual rewards. There is a huge fraction of Muslims that travel from all around the world including UK and offers the ritual of Umrah every year. The trusted Islamic Travel Agency offers a range of Umrah packages which vary according to your budget. They not only offer the Cheap Umrah packages but also provide luxury Umrah packages with the five-star hotel accommodation and business class travel.
Among all the other symbolic and meaningful rituals of Umrah, Sa’i is also one of them. This ritual is intertwined with the Hajar’s unwavering faith. This guide will give you all the information about Sa’i and how one should perform this ritual.
1. Sa’i
Sa’i between Safa and Marwah are a highly religious and formal part of Hajj and Umrah. It usually involves walking seven times from the two hills in Masjid-al-Haram. Each set has a specific starting and ending points, and the ritual has to be performed following Tawaf around the Ka’aba.
How to perform Sa’i?
- The process usually starts at the Safa hill and ends at Marwah and both these hills atre marked in Masjid al-Haram.
- Once you approach, you must turn your back towards the holy Ka’aba and make your intention to perform the Sa’i for Hajj or Umrah.
- Raise your hands and praise Allah, after that say the Takbir and make a personal dua.
- Begin walking from Safa to Marwah at a regular pace.
- While you walk, perform dhikr or dua.
- Men have a specific spot between the two green lights, that is where the men are requested to run quickly to simulate the fast pace throughout.
- Women should walk at a regular pace throughout.
- The Sa’i is completed when a total of seven laps is completed between Safa and Marwah.
- When you run from Safa to Marwah you will complete 1 lap and then on returning back from Marwah to Safa 2 laps will be completed.
The hills of Safa and Marwah can also be visited as the religiously significant place by Muslims at some other time rather than Umrah. All you need is a Saudi Umrah visa and you will be able to visit many religiously significant places other than the hills of Safa and Marwah.
2. Halq
In the context of Umrah, Halq refers to the complete shaving of the head. This practice is recommended for men as part of the final act of Umrah to signify the completion of the pilgrimage. Halq is deeply symbolic in Islam. It represents humility, submission to Allah, and detachment from worldly appearances and vanity.
For men, performing Halq demonstrates a complete surrender to Allah’s will. By shaving their heads entirely, they signify a new chapter of piety and purity in their lives. Women however are not obliged to shave their heads. Instead, they perform Taqsir, which means cutting the hair by the length of a fingertip.
Steps to perform Halq properly
There are several steps that one need to follow in order to perform Halq in the true manner suggested by Islam. These steps to perform Halq are explained in the guide below.
- Choose a barber in the designated area around Haram, as is specified for pilgrims. These placed are equipped with the Before beginning the act, trained barbers who understand the requirements of the ritual.
- You must utter a heartfelt Dua, seeking Allah’s blessings and forgiveness as an acknowledgement of fulfilling this ritual.
- After this, the head should be fully shaved, leaving no patches of hair.
- Opting for Halq rewards a pilgrim with greater blessings as compared to Taqsir. This has been declared by many Islamic scholars and traditions.
- It is always encouraged to opt for Halq, unless you have a certain health issue or a valid reason to prevent Halq.
Common Mistakes to Avoid During Halq and Taqsir
When one is performing Halq and Taqsir, many first-time pilgrims make a lot of mistakes that can be avoided by being mindful. Some of the preventative measures are given in the guide below.
- The Halq and Taqsir must only be performed after completing Tawaf and Sa’i.
- Ensure that the hair is entirely shaved or trimmed adequately. The partial performance invalidates the ritual.
- Stick to the designated barbers around Haram for proper guidance.
- You must not skip the intention, as every act of worship requires an intention made sincerely for the Allah Almighty.
Halq and Taqsir are not merely haircut rituals but acts of profound humility and submission to Allah. They remind us to shed our ego, detach from the superficial entities and begin a new journey with sincerity and piety. It is a symbolic representation of renewal of faith and deeper connection with the Allah Almighty. Both Sa’i and Halq deepen one’s connection with the creator and rewires the connection with Allah in its true meaning.
