How to Perform Umrah

At a glance

• Ihram: entering the state of Ihram with intention (niyyah) and Talbiyah. Fard.
• Tawaf: seven circuits around the Ka’bah. Fard.
• Sa’i: seven laps between Safa and Marwah. Wajib.
• Halq or Qasr: shaving or trimming the hair. Wajib.

Step by step

The acts of Umrah begin at the Miqat. The Miqat are the places appointed for entering Ihram.

Step 1: Ihram

1. Take a bath (ghusl); if that is not possible, make wudu. Trim nails and remove unwanted hair beforehand.
2. Men wear two unstitched white sheets: one wrapped around the waist (izar), one over the shoulders (rida). Women wear their normal modest clothing, but nothing should touch the face.
3. If it is not a disliked (makruh) time, pray two rak’at nafl with the head covered.
4. Uncover the head and make the intention for Umrah. Intention in the heart is enough; saying this du’a is better:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ الْعُمْرَةَ فَيَسِّرْهَا لِي وَتَقَبَّلْهَا مِنِّي

O Allah, I intend to perform Umrah, so make it easy for me and accept it from me.

5. Straight after the intention, recite the Talbiyah: men aloud, women quietly.

لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ

Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. All praise, all blessings and all sovereignty belong to You. You have no partner.

You are now in Ihram. Keep reciting the Talbiyah often until you reach Makkah.

If you are flying from Pakistan: put on the Ihram sheets and pray the nafl before departure, at home or at the airport. On the plane, when the crew announces that the Miqat is near, make the intention and recite the Talbiyah. Never cross the Miqat without Ihram.

What is not allowed in Ihram

• Men may not wear stitched clothing or cover the head or face.
• Men may not wear shoes that cover the raised bone on top of the foot; wear open sandals.
• No perfume, scented soap or scented oil.
• No cutting or plucking hair or nails.
• No marital relations, or talk related to them.
• No hunting, quarrelling or any sin.

Step 2: Tawaf

1. Enter Masjid al-Haram with the right foot and recite the du’a for entering the mosque.
2. Stop reciting the Talbiyah before you begin Tawaf.
3. Men perform idtiba’: pass the upper sheet under the right armpit and over the left shoulder, leaving the right shoulder bare. This is only during Tawaf.
4. Stand in line with the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad) and make the intention for Tawaf.
5. Face the Black Stone, raise both hands to the ears and say:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

Then point your palms towards the Black Stone and kiss them. This is called istilam. In a crowd, do not try to touch the Stone; pointing from a distance is enough.

6. Walk with the Ka’bah on your left. Each circuit ends at the Black Stone; make istilam at the start of every circuit.
7. Men perform raml in the first three circuits: brisk, short steps with the shoulders moving, if the crowd allows. Walk normally in the rest.
8. Touch the Yemeni Corner (Rukn al-Yamani) with the right hand if possible, without kissing it. If it is crowded, do not point; just walk on.
9. Between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone, recite:

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.

For the rest, make any du’a, dhikr or recitation. Du’a in your own language is perfectly fine.

10. After the seventh circuit, make a final istilam. Tawaf is complete. Cover both shoulders.
11. Pray the two wajib rak’at of Tawaf behind Maqam Ibrahim or, if crowded, anywhere in the mosque, provided it is not a makruh time.
12. Drink Zamzam facing the Qiblah and make du’a.
13. Before going to Sa’i, it is sunnah to make istilam of the Black Stone once more.

Step 3: Sa’i

1. Go to the hill of Safa and recite:

إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ

2. Face the Ka’bah, raise your hands as in du’a, say takbir and tahlil, and make du’a.
3. Walk from Safa to Marwah: that is one lap. Marwah back to Safa is the second. The seventh lap ends at Marwah.
4. Between the green lights, men jog lightly; women walk at their normal pace.
5. At Safa and Marwah each time, face the Ka’bah and make du’a.
6. Wudu is recommended for Sa’i but not required. Elderly and sick pilgrims may use a wheelchair.

Step 4: Halq or Qasr

1. Men: shaving the whole head (halq) is best. Otherwise trim the hair of the whole head by about one fingertip’s length (qasr). At least a quarter of the head must be trimmed.
2. Women: cut about one fingertip’s length from the ends of the hair, done by a mahram or another woman, never an unrelated man.
3. Have it done within the boundaries of the Haram.

All restrictions of Ihram now end and your Umrah is complete. May Allah accept it.

For women

• Women do not perform raml or idtiba’, and do not jog between the green lights.
• Recite the Talbiyah quietly.
• A woman in her menses can enter Ihram but cannot perform Tawaf. Wait until purity, take a bath, then perform Umrah.
• If your return date is near and you are not yet pure, contact a qualified scholar straight away.

Do

• Use a counter or tasbih to count circuits.
• Keep drinking water and walk calmly.
• Keep your sandals in a bag with you.
• Make du’a for your parents, family and the Ummah.

Don’t

• Don’t push near the Black Stone; hurting others is a sin.
• Don’t spend Tawaf taking photos and videos.
• Don’t walk against the flow or stop and block the way in the Mataf.
• Don’t keep the right shoulder bare during salah.

Common mistakes

• Crossing the Miqat without Ihram. A dam (penalty sacrifice) becomes necessary.
• Walking through the Hatim. The Hatim is part of the Ka’bah; a circuit through it does not count.
• Losing count. If in doubt, take the lower number and complete the rest.
• Starting Sa’i at Marwah. Sa’i always begins at Safa.
• Cutting a few hairs and leaving Ihram. At least a quarter of the head must be trimmed.

Frequently asked questions

What if my wudu breaks during Tawaf? Stop, make wudu, return and complete the remaining circuits.

What if the congregational prayer starts during Tawaf or Sa’i? Stop and pray with the congregation, then continue from where you stopped. During the prayer, cover your right shoulder; after the prayer, before resuming Tawaf, perform idtiba’ again.

How can elderly or disabled pilgrims perform Tawaf? By wheelchair, or from the upper floor of the mosque, where electric carts are also available.

Do I need to memorise special du’as for Umrah? No. No particular du’a is required. Make du’a sincerely in your own language.

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