Umrah Guide

Umrah Guide: How to Perform Umrah — A Step-by-Step Guide

Every ritual that makes up Umrah, in order, with the duas recited at each step included directly, everything you need in one place. This is a travel guide, not a religious ruling: for guidance on your own specific situation, a knowledgeable guide or scholar is the right source, not a website.

1. Ihram — Entering the Sacred State

Before crossing the boundary (miqat) around Makkah, pilgrims enter the sacred state of ihram, a specific set of intentions and restrictions that remain in place until Umrah is complete.

For Men

• Two unstitched white garments: one wrapped around the lower body (izar), one draped over the upper body (rida).
• No perfume or fragrance from this point once ihram begins.

For Women

• Regular modest clothing that covers the whole body, any colour, no requirement to wear white. See the women’s guide for full detail on clothing and face-covering.

For Everyone

• The niyyah (intention) for Umrah is made at or before the miqat, the specific boundary point that depends on which direction you’re arriving from.

The Talbiyah — recited after the intention, repeated at intervals until tawaf begins (aloud for men, quietly for women):

لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ لاَشَرِيْكَ لَكَ

Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk, Labbayk la sharika laka Labbayk, Innal hamda wanni’mata laka walmulk la sharika lak.

“Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Indeed all praise, grace, and sovereignty belong to You. You have no partner.”

• Once in ihram, certain things are paused until Umrah is complete, see the full Ihram Restrictions list further down this page.
• Many pilgrims change into ihram at home or at the airport before the flight, since some miqat points are crossed mid-flight.

2. Tawaf — Circling the Ka’aba

Seven counter-clockwise circles around the Ka’aba, starting and ending at the Hajar e Aswad corner. Pilgrims traditionally enter the Haram with the right foot.

On entering Masjid al-Haram:

اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ

Allahumma aftah lee abwaaba rahmatika.

“O Allah, open the doors of Your Mercy for me.”

• Each circle is called a shawt, seven shawt make one complete tawaf, usually 30–60 minutes depending on how busy the Mataf is.
• Each circle starts and ends by lining up with the Hajar e Aswad, commonly marked with a takbeer (“Allahu Akbar”) as you pass it.

For Men

• Idtiba: the right shoulder stays uncovered throughout all seven circuits, covered again once tawaf is finished.
• Raml: brisk walking for the first three circuits, normal pace for the remaining four.

For Women

• A normal walking pace throughout all seven circles, idtiba and raml don’t apply.

Commonly recited between the Yemeni Corner and the Hajar e Aswad, in the final stretch of each circuit:

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Rabbanaa aatinaa fid-dunyaa hasanatan wa feel aakhirati hasanatan wa qinaa ‘adhaaban naar.

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

• After tawaf, two rak’ahs near the Maqam e Ibrahim if space allows, reciting Surah al-Kafirun in the first and Surah al-Ikhlas in the second is common practice, followed by drinking Zamzam water.

3. Sa’i — Between Safa and Marwah

Seven passes between the hills of Safa and Marwah. Safa no longer looks like a hill in the way many first-timers picture it, the area is built into the mosque complex, with markers showing where it stands.

On first approaching Safa, before beginning:

إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللهِ

Innas-safaa wal-marwata min sha’aa’ir-illaah.

“Indeed, Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah.”

• The distance between Safa and Marwah is roughly 450 metres each way, seven passes add up to around 3.15km total.

For Men

• A short, clearly marked stretch of each pass is jogged, marked by green lights overhead.

For Women

• A normal walking pace throughout, including through the green-light section.

At Safa and Marwah, each time you reach one:

اللهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ

Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allahu wahdahu laa shareeka lah.

“Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. None has the right to be worshipped except Allah alone, without partner.”

• Covered, air-conditioned walkways make this accessible for most travelers, with dedicated lanes for wheelchairs and slower-paced walking.
• Sa’i starting at Safa counts as one pass, Marwah back to Safa counts as the next, you finish at Marwah on the seventh pass.

4. Halq or Taqsir — Completing Umrah

A full shave (halq) or a trim (taqsir) for men, a small trim for women, marking the end of ihram.

For Men

• A full shave is considered more virtuous, but a trim of at least a fingertip’s length across the whole head is sufficient.

For Women

• Shaving is not an option, a fingertip’s length (roughly 1cm) from the ends of the hair, gathered together. Cutting from one section is sufficient.

For Everyone

• This step can be done later, back at your accommodation, if that’s more practical, the restrictions of ihram stay in effect until it’s actually done.
• On leaving the Haram, pilgrims traditionally exit with the left foot.

On leaving Masjid al-Haram:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ

Allahumma innee as’aluka min fadhlika.

“O Allah, I ask You from Your favour.”

Once hair is cut, all restrictions of ihram lift immediately and Umrah is complete.

Ihram Restrictions — What’s Paused for Everyone

• No perfume or fragrance, unscented products only.
• No cutting or trimming hair or nails.
• No hunting.
• No arguments, quarrels, or heated speech.
• No marital relations, and no entering into a marriage contract.

If a restriction is broken unintentionally, the general guidance is to seek forgiveness and, where it applies, a fidyah (a form of expiation) may be required, genuinely a question for a knowledgeable scholar rather than something to work out alone.

Common Questions