UMRAH

Umrah is an Islamic rite and consists of pilgrimage to the Ka‘bah. A set of religious and devotional rites performed in Makkah at any time of the year in a state of dress and condition known as Ihram with the intention of performing certain religious rites there according to the method prescribed by the Prophet Muhammad (May Allah honour Him and grant Him peace). It has also been referred to in English as the minor pilgrimage andmajor pilgrimage being the Hajj.

HAJJ

Hajj means a specific journey to Makkah during the designated month of DhulHijjah, for the performance of Pilgrimage as an act of worship to Allah (Glory be to Him) alone. Islam means Muslims submitting their will to the will of Allah (Glory be to Him). And by Hajj, Muslims are doing the same. A Muslim performing Hajj is in total obedience to Allah (Glory be to Him) through physical and financial involvement.

MAKKAH

Makkah refers to Bakka (previous name of Makkah), in Saudi Arabia where the first house of worship on earth was appointed by Allah (Glory be to him) for human beings. This house is the Kabah towards which all Muslims face while praying and go for Hajj (Pilgrimage). Makkah is a city of western Saudi Arabia near the coast of the Red Sea. The birthplace of Prophet Muhammad (May Allah honour Him and grant Him peace), it is the sacred city in Islam and a pilgrimage site for all devout believers of the faith.

MADINA

Madina was originally known as Yathrib, but later the city's name was changed to Madina al-Nabi ("city of the prophet") or Madinah Tayyibah or Madinatun Nabawi ("the pure city" or "the Prophet's city"), while the short form Madina simply means "city". Madina is the second sacred city in Islam, after Makkah.

MASJID E HARAAM

Al-Masjid al- haraam is superior to any other mosques in the world. The best of all mosques is al-Masjid al-Haraam (The Sacred Mosque in Makkah), then al-Masjid al-Nabawi (the Prophet'sﷺMosque in Madeenah), then al-Masjid al-Aqsa (Bait ul Maqdis, Palestine).

MASJID E NABWI

Al-Masjid al- Nabwi is the second next superior to al-Masjid al-Haraam from all the mosques in the world. The best of all mosques is al-Masjid al-Haraam (The Sacred Mosque in Makkah), then al-Masjid an-Nabawi (the Prophet's Mosque in Madeenah), then al-Masjid al-Aqsa (Bait ul Maqdis, Palestine).

MASJID E QUBA

A Masjid or Mosque is the building in which Muslims worship Allah سبحانه و تعالى (The God). Throughout Islamic history, the mosque was the centre of the community and towns formed around this pivotal building. Nowadays, especially in Muslim countries mosques are found on nearly every street corner, making it a simple matter for Muslims to attend the five daily prayers.

BAITULLAH

Baitullah is an Arabic word meaning ‘HOUSE OF Allah'. In particular Al- Masjid E Haraam or Kaba is referred as Baitullah but in general any Masjid can be referred as Baitullah. Hajj is the pillar of Islam which means repairing or fixing to Bait-Allah (the House of Allah, one of the names of al-Kaba) to observe the necessary devotions.

ARAFAH

Arafah is the name of the Granite hill which is located at the east of Makkah. It is also known as the mount of mercy (Jabal Ar-Rahmah). The hill is the place where the prophet Muhammad (May Allah honour Him and grant Him Peace) stood and delivered the Farewell Sermon to the Muslims who had accompanied him for the Hajj towards the end of his life. ‘Arafah is the most important stop during Hajj, located beyond Muzdalifah.

VIRTUES OF DHULHIJJAH

One of the greatest gifts given to the female body by Allah is the ability to produce, carry and subsequently raise children. Pregnancy is an amazing period of a woman's life, The following article aims to identify and explain common questions about the pregnant period, and how to ensure the best for both a mother and child.

TAWAAF

Lexically, Tawaaf means to turn, walk, etc around something. Islamically, Tawaaf is the circumambulation of the kaba seven times in anti-clock wise direction. People usually do this during Umrah or Hajj. It is the second compulsory act of Umrah. If one omits this act whether knowingly or because of ignorance of the rule, the Umrah becomes null and void, and as a result one's Ihram also becomes void. A Tawaaf is a complete act of going round the Kaba seven successive times

IHRAM

The Ihram is basically a costume worn by Muslims. It is the sacred state of ihram which they wear while performing their pilgrimage to Makkah. The ihram consists of two lengths of usually white, seamless fabric, one worn about the hips and the other over the shoulders. Ihram is not just about the clothes you put on, its about a state of being you put yourself in before entering the sacred territory intending to perform Hajj or Umrah.

MEEQAT

Meeqat is an Arabic word; it literally means "a confirmed place". It is a place beyond which no Muslim who is intending to perform Hajj or 'Umrah can go towards Makkah without being in a state of Ihram. For example, the miqat of the people of Madina is Dhul Hulayfa.

HAJAR E ASWAD(BLACKSTONE)

The Black Stone (الحجر الأسود) near Kaba, Makkah, in Arabic, is called Al-hajar Al-aswad. Many geologists and historians believe it to be a meteorite. It is the eastern cornerstone of the Kaba, the ancient sacred stone building towards which Muslims pray, in the center of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The Stone is a dark rock, polished smooth by the hands of millions of pilgrims that has been broken into a number of fragments cemented into a silver frame in the side of the Kaba.

MAQAM E IBRAHEEM

Maqam E Ibrahim is the stepping stone used by Prophet Ibrahim (Peace be upon him) during the original construction of the Ka`bah. The stone carries the imprints of his feet and is housed in a glass enclosure on the north side of the Ka`bah. The footprints of al-Khaleel (Ibraaheem, Peace be upon him) remained on the rock until the beginning of Islam. Al-Bidaayah wa'l-Nihaayah, 1/163

MINA

Mina, is a place which lies between the City of Makkah and Muzdalifah in Saudi Arabia, is now known as tent city. Here are the white pillars representing the devil at which the hajj pilgrims cast the pebbles when they gathered at Muzdalifah.

MUZDALIFAH

Muzdalifah is an open valley between meena and Mount Arafah, Saudi Arabia in which pilgrims on Hajj spend the night in the open. It is here they gather pebbles to hurl at the pillars of Mina.

SAFA AND MARWA

Safa and Marwa are the two small mountains near Kaba in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. It is an essential part of an Umrah and Hajj. Every Muslim pilgrimage is required to walk seven times between these two places. And this walking between two places is called as Sa'ee. This two places are the signs of Allah (Glory be to Him).

EID UL ADHA

A `Eid is any day of gathering. It is derived from `Aada (meaning returned), because people return to it periodically. Some scholars say that it derives from `Aadah (custom or practice) because people are accustomed to celebrating it. Its plural is A`yaad. Ibn ul-`Araabee said: "It is called `Eed because it returns every year with renewed happiness." Lisaan ul-`Arab

JAMRAT

Jamrat is a Hajj ritual that involves stoning the three pillars that represent the devil (shaytan in Arabic). As part of this Hajj ritual, the pilgrims throw small pebbles at those three structures of Jamrat in the city of Mina. Pilgrims collect these pebbles at Muzadlifah. These pebbles (small stones) can also be collected in the city of Mina, east of Makkah. The process of casting or stoning of seven pebbles to these pillars is called as Rami or Ramee.