Umrah, Step by Step

Umrah is the "lesser pilgrimage" — can be done any time of year. It has 4 main rites: Ihram, Tawaf, Sa'ee, and Halq/Taqseer (cutting hair).

Total time: a few hours (depending on crowd). Make du'a throughout — Allah loves the supplication of the one in pilgrimage.

Step 1 — Ihram (state of consecration)

Entering Ihram

Before the miqat (the boundary set for ihram): perform ghusl, perfume yourself (only before ihram), and change into ihram clothing.

For men: two unsewn white sheets — one wrapped around the waist (izar), one over the shoulder (rida).

For women: normal modest clothing covering everything except the face and hands. No face-veil/niqab in ihram, no gloves.

Pray 2 rak'ah, then make the intention:

لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ عُمْرَةً

Labbayka Llāhumma ʿumrah.

"Here I am, O Allah, for Umrah."

Then begin the talbiyah (recite continuously until you start tawaf):

لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ 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.

"Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am — You have no partner — here I am. All praise, blessings, and dominion are Yours. You have no partner."

Step 2 — Tawaf around the Kaaba

Seven circuits

Enter Masjid al-Haram with your right foot saying "Bismillāh, allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammad. Allāhumma ftaḥ lī abwāba raḥmatik."

Make your way to the Black Stone (al-Hajar al-Aswad). If you can touch or kiss it, do so saying "Bismillāh, Allāhu Akbar." If too crowded — point at it with the right hand from a distance, say "Allāhu Akbar," and start.

Walk around the Kaaba seven times anti-clockwise, with the Kaaba on your left. There is no required du'a — say what's in your heart, recite Quran, dhikr.

Between the Yemeni Corner (Rukn al-Yamani) and the Black Stone, recite:

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Rabbanā ātinā fi-d-dunyā ḥasanah wa fi-l-ākhirati ḥasanah wa qinā ʿadhāba n-nār.

"Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the fire." (Quran 2:201)

After the 7th circuit: pray 2 rak'ah behind Maqam Ibrahim (the standing place of Ibrahim) — or anywhere in the mosque if it's too crowded.

Step 3 — Drink Zamzam

From the spring of Hajar (RA)

Drink Zamzam water freely — it is "filling and a cure" (Sahih Muslim 2473). Make du'a while drinking. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Zamzam is for whatever it is drunk for" (Ibn Majah 3062) — so make a sincere intention before sipping.

Step 4 — Sa'ee (walking between Safa + Marwa)

Seven walks

Go to Safa hill. Climb until you can see the Kaaba. Recite:

إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ

Inna ṣ-Ṣafā wa-l-Marwata min shaʿāʾiri-Llāh.

"Indeed Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah." (Quran 2:158)

Then say "Allāhu Akbar" 3 times facing the Kaaba, raise your hands, and supplicate.

Walk to Marwa. Men jog the marked green-light section (between the two green pillars). Women walk normally throughout.

From Safa to Marwa = 1 walk. From Marwa back to Safa = 2nd walk. Continue until you finish at Marwa on the 7th walk.

Make du'a freely throughout — for yourself, your family, the ummah.

Step 5 — Halq or Taqseer

Cutting the hair

Men: shave the head completely (halq, more rewarded) OR cut a small amount from all over (taqseer).

Women: cut a fingertip's length from the end of the hair only (taqseer).

This ends the state of ihram. You can now wear normal clothes, use perfume, and resume relations with your spouse.

After completing Umrah

Spend as much time as you can in Masjid al-Haram. Pray every salah in congregation there. Drink Zamzam often. Visit Madinah if possible — pray in Masjid an-Nabawi (one prayer there = 1,000 elsewhere) and send greetings to the Prophet ﷺ. May Allah accept your Umrah.