Discover simple and clear steps for completing Umrah, a sacred pilgrimage to Makkah. This guide breaks down the essential rituals and requirements, making it easy for first-time pilgrims to perform Umrah with confidence and spiritual fulfillment.
Umrah can be performed at any time of the year and is also a key component of the Hajj pilgrimage. Learn how to perform Umrah here.
Umrah Introduction
Meaning of Umrah: Linguistically, Umrah means "to visit a specific place." In Sharia terms, Umrah involves some easy steps, entering the state of Ihram at the Miqat, performing Tawaf around the Kaaba, completing Sa’i between Safa and Marwa, and either shaving (Halq) or trimming (Taqsir) the hair.
Umrah can be performed at any time throughout the year, though it is generally not encouraged during the days of Hajj, which fall between the 9th and 13th of Dhul Hijjah. The rituals of Umrah are also a fundamental part of the Hajj pilgrimage.
Obligation of Umrah
وَأَتِمُّوا الْحَجَّ وَالْعُمْرَةَ لِلّٰهِ ❁
And complete the Hajj and Umrah for Allah.[Surah al-Baqarah, 2:196]
The Prophet ﷺ performed Umrah four times during his life. There is some disagreement among the four Sunni schools of thought regarding whether performing Umrah at least once in a lifetime is mandatory.
According to the Hanafi and Maliki schools, Umrah is not considered fardh (obligatory) but is viewed as a sunnah mu’akkadah (emphasized sunnah). In contrast, the Shafi’i and Hanbali schools consider Umrah to be fardh, similar to Hajj.
Ihram:
Get Ready – Clean yourself by clipping nails, removing unwanted hair, and trimming your mustache.
Cleanse – Take a bath (ghusl) or at least perform ablution (wudhu).
Wear Ihram – Before reaching the Miqat, put on Ihram. For men, this means two white cloths. For women, regular modest clothes are fine. Hands and faces must remain exposed, although socks may be worn. It's best to do this before you leave.
Pray – After putting on Ihram, pray two rak’ahs. Recite Surah al-Kafirun in the first rak’ah and Surah al-Ikhlas in the second, then make a du’a.
Intention – As you approach the Miqat, make your intention for Umrah. This can be done in any language.
Some Examples are below:
❁لَبَّيْكَ اَللَّهُمَّ عُمْرَةً
Labbayka Llāhumma ʿUmrah.
O Allah, here I am to perform Umrah.
❁للَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ الْعُمْرَةَ
Allāhumma innī urīdu l-ʿUmrah.
O Allah, I intend to perform Umrah.
❁اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ الْعُمْرَةَ فَيَسِّرْهَا لِي وَتَقَبَّلْهَا مِنِّي
Allāhumma innī urīdu l-ʿUmrata fa yassirhā lī wa taqabbalhā minnī.
O Allah, I intend to perform Umrah, so make it easy for me and accept it from me.
Talbiyah:
Recite – Say the Talbiyah:
❁لَبَّيْكَ اَللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ – لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ – إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ – لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
Labbayka Llāhumma labbayk, labbayka lā sharīka laka labbayk, inna l-ḥamda wa n-niʿmata, laka wa l-mulk, lā sharīka lak.
At Your service, Allah, at Your service. At Your service, You have no partner, at Your service. Truly all praise, favour, and sovereignty are Yours. You have no partner.
Men should say it out loud, women quietly. Afterward, send Salawat on the Prophet ﷺ and make du’a.
Journey to Makkah:
Travel – Head to Makkah while reciting Talbiyah and dhikr (remembrance of Allah).
Do not cut any trees, leaves, kill animals or behave insanely in Ihram.
In Masjid al-Haram:
On Entering – Enter with your right foot and recite the du’a while entering the mosque.
❁اَللَّهُمَّ هَذَا حَرَمُكَ وَأَمْنُكَ فَحَرِّمْنِي عَلَى النَّارِ ❁ وَأَمِنِّي مِنْ عَذَابِكَ يَوْمَ تَبْعَثُ عِبَادَكَ ❁ وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنْ أَوْلِيَائِكَ وَأَهْلِ طَاعَتِكَ
Allāhumma hādhā ḥaramuka wa amnuka fa ḥarrimnī ʿala n-nār, wa aminnī min ʿadhābika yawma tabʿathu ʿibādak, wa jʿalnī min awliyā’ika wa ahli ṭāʿatik.
O Allah, this is Your sanctuary and security, so make me unlawful to the hellfire, make me safe from Your punishment on the day You resurrect Your servants, and make me one of Your friends and one of the people who obey You.
❁ أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ الْعَظِيمِ ❁ وَبِوَجْهِهِ الْكَرِيمِ ❁ وَسُلْطَانِهِ الْقَدِيمِ ❁ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
Aʿūdhu bi-Llāhi l-aẓīm, wa bi-wajhihi l-karīm, wa sulṭānihi l-qadīm, mina sh-shayṭāni r-rajīm.
I seek protection in Allah the Tremendous, His Noble Countenance, and His pre-eternal Sovereign Might from Shaytan the rejected.
2. At the Kaaba – Lower your gaze until you see the Kaaba, When you see the Kaaba for the first time, lift your hands and make du’a with deepest concentration and sincerity, as this is one of the places where prayers are answered., make du’a, and send Salawat on the Prophet ﷺ.
Tawaf al-Umrah:
Start – Begin at the Hajar al-Aswad and walk around the Kaaba seven times. Men should uncover their right shoulder (Idtiba).
Walk – Men can walk briskly (Raml) in the first three circuits if not crowded. Recite dhikr and du’a during Tawaf.
Finish – End with the seventh circuit and cover your shoulder again.
After Tawaf:
Pray – Perform two rak’ahs of salah, preferably near Maqam Ibrahim.
Drink Zamzam – Drink Zamzam water and make du’a.
❁ اللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا ❁ وَرِزْقًا وَاسِعًا ❁ وَعَمَلًا مُتَقَبَّلًا ❁ وَشِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ
Allāhumma innī as’aluka ʿilman nāfiʿa, wa rizqan wasiʿa, wa ʿamalan mutaqabbala, wa shifā’an min kulli dā’.
O Allah, I ask You for knowledge that is beneficial, provision that is abundant, accepted deeds, and a cure for every illness.
Multazam – If possible, cling to the wall between the Hajar al-Aswad and Kaaba door (Multazam) and make du’a after drinking ZamZam water.
Sa’i of Safa and Marwa:
Start – Go to Safa, face the Kaaba, and make du’a. While approaching Safa it is recommended to read this du’a.
❁إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ الله
Inna ṣ-Ṣafā wa l-Marwata min shaʿā’iri Llāh.
Indeed, Safa and Marwa are from the Signs of Allah.[Surah al-Baqarah, 2:158]
❁أَبْدَأُ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللهُ بِهِ
Abda’u bimā badā’ Llāhu bih.
I begin with that which Allah has begun with.
2. Walk – From Safa, proceed towards Marwa. Along the way, you will pass two sets of green fluorescent lights, roughly 50 meters apart, marking the distance Hajar covered while seeking higher ground. These markers are called Milayn al-Akhdharayn (the Two Green Mileposts). It is sunnah for men to run between these two lights, while women should continue at their usual pace. Repeat this process until you complete seven laps, ending at Marwa.
3. Pray – Make du’a and perform two rak’ahs of salah in the Masjid after Sa’i .
There is no specific dhikr or du’a mandated for Sa’i, so you are free to recite any prayers or supplications you prefer and send Salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ.
Halq or Taqsir:
Finish – To complete your Umrah, Men shave your head (Halq) or trim your hair by at least an inch (Taqsir). Women may only trim their hair.
Leaving:
Exit – Leave the Masjid with your left foot and recite the du’a for leaving.
❁ بِسْمِ اللهِ وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَّامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ❁ اللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
Bismi Llāhi wa ṣ-ṣalātu wa s-salāmu ʿalā rasūli Llāh. Allāhumma innī as’aluka min faḍlik.
In the name of Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, I ask of you from Your bounty.
You are now released from the restrictions of Ihram and can change into regular clothing. If you wish to perform another Umrah, you must travel to the boundary of the Haram to re-enter Ihram. Most pilgrims opt to do this at Masjid Aisha, which is the nearest and most convenient location from Masjid al-Haram.
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