What is Umrah?
Umrah (العمرة) means "a visit" in Arabic. It is a pilgrimage to the Holy Mosque in Makkah consisting of four main acts: wearing Ihram, performing Tawaf around the Kaaba, performing Sa'i between Al-Safa and Al-Marwa, and shaving or cutting the hair. Unlike Hajj, Umrah can be performed at any time of the year.
العُمْرَةُ إِلَى العُمْرَةِ كَفَّارَةٌ لِمَا بَيْنَهُمَا، وَالحَجُّ المَبْرُورُ لَيْسَ لَهُ جَزَاءٌ إِلَّا الجَنَّةُ
"Umrah to Umrah is expiation for what comes between them, and an accepted Hajj has no reward except Paradise."
Sahih Bukhari & Muslim — narrated by Abu Huraira
The Prophet ﷺ also said: "Keep performing Hajj and Umrah, for they eliminate poverty and sins just as the bellows eliminate impurities from iron, gold and silver — and an accepted Hajj has no reward except Paradise." (Tirmidhi)
Step 1 — Ihram
Ihram is the sacred state of purity that every pilgrim must enter before crossing the Miqat — the designated boundary around Makkah. It is both a physical preparation and a spiritual intention.
Before reaching the Miqat, the person intending Umrah should:
1
Cut nails, trim body hair and have a complete wash (Ghusl)
2
Men wear two white unstitched cloths — the Izar (lower wrap) and Rida (upper wrap). Women wear their normal modest clothing. There is no special garment for women in Ihram.
3
Apply perfume to the body before putting on Ihram — this is the last time perfume is permitted until Ihram is released.
4
Perform two Rak'ahs of prayer.
5
Make the intention for Umrah in your heart and say it if you wish: 'O Allah, I intend Umrah — make it easy for me and accept it from me.'
Then begin reciting the Talbiyah aloud:
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
Labbayka Allahumma labbayk, labbayka la shareeka laka labbayk, innal-hamda wan-ni'mata laka wal-mulk, la shareeka lak
Here I am O Allah, here I am. Here I am — You have no partner — here I am. Verily all praise, grace and sovereignty belong to You. You have no partner.
Prohibited during Ihram for men: wearing stitched clothing, covering the head, wearing socks or closed shoes, using perfume, cutting hair or nails, hunting, and sexual intercourse. For women: covering the face with a niqab or wearing gloves.
For those traveling by air: You must put on Ihram before the plane crosses the Miqat boundary — not at Jeddah airport, as Jeddah is not a Miqat. Check the flight map and put on Ihram when the captain announces it.
The Five Miqat Boundaries
Dhul-Hulaifah — For people from Madinah — ~420 km from Makkah
Al-Juhfah — For people from Syria, Egypt and North Africa
Qarn al-Manazil — For people from Najd and Taif
Yalamlam — For people from Yemen
Dhat Irq — For people from Iraq
Step 2 — Entering Masjid al-Haram
Enter the Holy Mosque with your right foot first. Say Bismillah, send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ, and then say:
اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik
O Allah, open for me the gates of Your mercy.
When you first see the Kaaba, raise your hands in supplication and ask Allah for whatever you wish. This is one of the most special moments of Umrah — the sight of the Kaaba for the first time is a moment that will stay with you forever. There is no specific dua required — speak to Allah from your heart.
Step 3 — Tawaf
Tawaf means circumambulating the Kaaba seven times in a counter-clockwise direction, keeping the Kaaba on your left. It is one of the greatest acts of worship in Islam.
Starting point
Begin at the Black Stone (Al-Hajar al-Aswad). Face it, say 'Bismillah, Allahu Akbar' and kiss it if possible. If not, touch it with your right hand or simply point to it once.
Direction
Keep the Kaaba on your left at all times. Walk counter-clockwise. Complete seven full rounds — each round begins and ends at the Black Stone.
For men — Raml and Idtiba
In the first three rounds, walk at a brisk pace with short steps (Raml). In all seven rounds, expose the right shoulder (Idtiba) by placing the Ihram cloth under the right arm.
Al-Yamani Corner
When passing the Yamani Corner (the corner before the Black Stone), touch it with your right hand or palm if possible. If not, do not point to it — just continue.
Dua between Yamani Corner and Black Stone
Say: 'Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina adhaban-nar.' For the rest of Tawaf, make any sincere dua in any language.
Completing Tawaf
After seven rounds, cover the right shoulder again. Tawaf is now complete.
Important: Tawaf inside Hijr Ismail is invalid. The Hijr Ismail (the curved wall adjacent to the Kaaba) is considered part of the Kaaba. You must walk outside it — not through it — for your Tawaf to be valid.
Step 4 — Two Rak'ahs at Maqam Ibrahim
After completing Tawaf, perform two Rak'ahs of prayer behind Maqam Ibrahim — the station of Prophet Ibrahim (AS). Allah says:
وَاتَّخِذُوا مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى
"And take the station of Ibrahim as a place of prayer."
Qur'an 2:125
If it is too crowded, you may pray anywhere in Masjid al-Haram. In the first Rak'ah recite Surah Al-Kafirun after Al-Fatihah, and in the second recite Surah Al-Ikhlas.
After praying, go to the Zamzam water and drink as much as you can while making dua. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Zamzam water is for whatever it is drunk for." Then, if possible, approach Al-Multazam — the area between the Black Stone and the door of the Kaaba — and make dua there with your chest pressed against it.
Step 5 — Sa'i between Al-Safa and Al-Marwa
Sa'i commemorates Hajar's (AS) desperate search for water for her infant son Ismail (AS). She ran seven times between the hills of Al-Safa and Al-Marwa before Allah caused the Zamzam spring to gush from the earth.
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ
"Indeed, Al-Safa and Al-Marwa are among the symbols of Allah."
Qur'an 2:158
1
Go to Al-Safa. Climb until you can see the Kaaba if possible. Recite: 'Inna As-Safa wal-Marwata min sha'a'irillah...' (Quran 2:158). Then face the Kaaba.
2
Say 'Allahu Akbar' three times then: 'La ilaha illa Allah wahdahu la shareeka lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamd, yuhyi wa yumit, wa huwa ala kulli shay'in qadeer.' (Three times). Then make dua.
3
Walk from Al-Safa toward Al-Marwa. Men jog between the two green lights (the marked section). This is one round.
4
At Al-Marwa, face the Kaaba and repeat the same words you said at Al-Safa.
5
Complete seven rounds — starting at Al-Safa and ending at Al-Marwa. Al-Safa to Al-Marwa = one round. Al-Marwa back to Al-Safa = a second round.
Wudu is not a strict condition for Sa'i — but it is strongly recommended since the Sa'i corridor is now inside the boundaries of Masjid al-Haram. If the prayer begins during Sa'i, stop and join the prayer, then resume from where you stopped.
Step 6 — Shaving or Cutting the Hair
This final step releases you from the state of Ihram. Men should shave the entire head completely — this is the preferred and more rewarded option. The Prophet ﷺ made dua three times for those who shave, and once for those who shorten.
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلْمُحَلِّقِينَ
"O Allah, forgive those who shave their heads. (Said three times, then: and those who cut their hair.)"
Sahih Bukhari & Muslim
Women cut approximately a finger-width (2 cm) from the ends of their hair — shaving is not for women. Once this is done, Umrah is complete and everything that was prohibited during Ihram becomes permitted again.
Umrah at a Glance
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1
Ihram
Sacred state at the Miqat
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2
Enter Masjid
Right foot, dua at Kaaba
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3
Tawaf
7 rounds around Kaaba
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4
Two Rak'ahs
Behind Maqam Ibrahim
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5
Sa'i
7 rounds Safa to Marwa
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6
Hair
Shave or cut — done
Practical Tips
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Best time
Umrah is accepted at any time of year. Ramadan is especially blessed — the Prophet ﷺ said Umrah in Ramadan equals Hajj in reward.
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Drink Zamzam
Drink Zamzam water with intention and dua after each Tawaf and Sa'i. The Prophet ﷺ said it is for whatever it is drunk for.
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Best timing for Tawaf
Tawaf is least crowded in the very early morning before Fajr. If you can, perform your Tawaf then for a more peaceful and focused experience.
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Stay focused
Avoid phones and social media during worship. These moments are rare and precious — give them to Allah fully.
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Prepare your duas
Write down what you want to ask Allah before you travel. Ask with complete certainty that He will answer.
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Footwear for men
Wear sandals that show the top of the foot. Closed shoes are not permitted during Ihram.
Notes for Women
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Women wear their normal modest Islamic clothing in Ihram — there is no special garment. The clothing must not be perfumed.
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Women do not jog during Tawaf or Sa'i — they walk at a normal pace throughout.
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Women do not uncover the right shoulder during Tawaf.
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Women do not raise their voice in Talbiyah — they say it quietly.
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Women who are menstruating or in nifas (post-natal bleeding) may enter Ihram but must not perform Tawaf or Sa'i until they are clean.
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Women do not shave the head — they cut only a finger-width from the ends of their hair.
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Women should perform Tawaf at the outer edges of the Mataf (circumambulation area) to avoid mixing with men in crowds.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Starting Tawaf before the Black Stone
Tawaf must begin exactly at the Black Stone — it should be level with your left shoulder. Starting anywhere else makes that round invalid.
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Performing Tawaf inside Hijr Ismail
Hijr Ismail is part of the Kaaba. Walking through it means your Tawaf is inside the Kaaba and that round must be repeated.
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Jogging all seven rounds
Jogging (Raml) is only for the first three rounds of the arrival Tawaf and Umrah Tawaf — not all seven.
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Doing 14 rounds of Sa'i
Sa'i is seven one-way trips. Al-Safa to Al-Marwa = one round. Al-Marwa to Al-Safa = second round. It must end at Al-Marwa.
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Pointing to the Yamani Corner
Unlike the Black Stone, the Yamani Corner should only be touched by hand — not pointed to. If you cannot touch it, just walk past.
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Rushing to kiss the Black Stone in crowds
Kissing the Black Stone is Sunnah but harming other Muslims is forbidden. Pointing to it is completely valid and equally rewarded.
May Allah accept your Umrah
Use our tools to find prayer times in Makkah and the exact Qibla direction from wherever you are in the world.