Being able to perform Umrah is one of the blessings of Allah SWT. First, you should be grateful to Allah that He has given you this opportunity. Now, you should try your best to make your Umrah an acceptable one by adhering to the proper procedure of Umrah. To help you understand the proper procedure of Umrah and make your Umrah most rewarding, here is a step-by-step guide on how to perform Umrah.
How to Perform Umrah
Ihram
Ihram is a must for anyone who wants to perform Hajj or Umrah. Your Hajj or Umrah won’t be acceptable without Ihram. Ihram is a specific sacred state of body and mind that a pilgrim enters before performing Hajj or Umrah and stays on it while performing the rituals.
You should also know that when you are in the state of Ihram, you are under specific restriction that you must not break. These restrictions are:
- It is not permissible for men to shave their beard or hair and cut the nails.
- Pilgrims must not engage in fight or quarrel with others.
- You can not talk sinfully, curse or use any bad language.
- Men cannot wear woven or stitched clothes.
- For Ihram, women can wear any full black or white clothing that covers their body entirely except their hands and face. This means, it is permissible for women to wear clothes that are stitched during Hajj or Umrah.
- No part of a women’s body should be visible except their face and hands.
- Both men and women must refrain from wearing any type of scent.
- You must not engage in sexual activity when you are a pilgrim.
- It is not allowed for a pilgrim to cut plant or trees or hunt animals.
- Do not propose for marriage, marry, or assist others to marry.
Making Umrah Niyah
The niyah for Umrah should be followed by the Talbiyah. Niyah is making the intention to perform any act of worship. You need to reiterate the intention internally. And while niyah does not require any specific actions or words, it is recommended to make the intention verbally.
You may utter any of the following intention to make your niyah:
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ عُمْرَةً
Transliteration: Labbayka llāhumma ‘umratan.
Translation: O Allah, here I am to perform Umrah.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أُرِيْدُ الْعُمْرَةَ
Transliteration: Allāhumma innī urīdu l-‘umrata.
Translation: O Allah, I intend to perform Umrah.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أُرِيْدُ الْعُمْرَةَ فَيَسِّرْهَا لِيْ وَتَقَبَّلْهَا مِنِّيْ
Transliteration: Allāhumma innī urīdu l-‘umrata fa yassirhā lī wa taqabbalhā minnī.
Translation: O Allah, I intend to perform Umrah, so make it easy for me and accept it from me.
When you are making intention, make it sincere and devoted to have your religious act accepted and to get Allah’s forgiveness. Your intention should only be to please Allah and not have any worldly motives.
Pilgrims must make Umrah Niyah before crossing the Meeqat.
The Prophet (ﷺ) prescribed the Meeqat stations for entering Ihram for the pilgrims.
It was narrated that Jabir said:
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) addressed us and said: ‘The Talbiyah of the people of Al-Madinah begins at Dhul-Hulaifah. The Talbiyah of the people of Sham begins at Juhfah. The Talbiyah of the people of Yemen begins at Yalamlam. The Talbiyah of the people of Najd begins at Qarn. The Talbiyah of the people of the east begins at Dhat ‘Irq.’ Then he turned to face the (eastern) horizon and said: ‘O Allah, make their hearts steadfast.’”
There are five Meeqat locations. Depending on where you are traveling from, you will find out which one applies to you. Here are the locations:
- Rabegh or Al-Juhfah – If you are travelling from the West, Syria, Egypt
- Yalumlum – If you are from Pakistan, India, or Yemen.
- Abyar Ali or Dhul-Hulaifah – If you are from Madinah
- Qarn-Al-Manazel – If you are from Taif and Najd
- Dhatul-Irq – If you are from Iraq.
How to Enter the State of Ihram?
For air travelers, it is important to remember that before crossing the designated Meeqat point, you must enter the state of Ihram. If you are flying with Saudi Airlines, they will inform you about the Meeqat at an suitable time before reaching Makkah. To make your journey more convenient, we suggest wearing your Ihram clothes before leaving home and delaying the niyyah until you are closer to the Meeqat while on the airplane. Remember, the official entry into the state of Ihram occurs only when you make the niyyah.
Before you put on Ihram clothing, first prepare yourself physically. Begin by cleansing yourself through ghusl, a prescribed method of taking a bath. If that is not possible, performing wudhu will suffice. Once you are ready, put on the special clothing called Ihram. This consists of two white sheets, one for the upper body and another for the lower body. After wearing the Ihram, it is recommended to pray two rakahs of salah Al Ihram. However, remember not to make your intention for Ihram or Umrah just yet, as mentioned earlier.
Once you find yourself near the appropriate Meeqat, it is important to set your intention for Ihram and Umrah using the method described in the previous section. After that, recite the Talbiyah. The recitation of Talbiyah is wajib and it serves as a confirmation of your intention to enter the state of Ihram. Here is the Talbiyah:
لَبَّيْكَ اللهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ – لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ – إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ – لَا شَرِيْكَ لَكَ –
Transliteration: Labbayka llāhumma labbayk(a), labbayka lā sharīka laka labbayk(a), inna l-ḥamda wa n-ni’mata, laka wa l-mulk(a), lā sharīka lak.
Translation: 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.
You have now entered the state of Ihram after reciting the Talbiyah. You are a Muhrim now.
Tawaf Al-Umrah Preparation
Before you start performing Tawaf, it is important to ensure that you are in a state of purity, free from both major and minor impurities. You must be in a state of wudhu. During Tawaf, if your wadhu breaks at any point, perform wadhu again and resume the Tawaf from the point you left off.
You will be wearing pure and clean Ihram clothing during Tawaf. Men must cover the body from the navel to the knees, while women must cover their entire body with the exception of hands and face.
Starting the Tawaf
Align yourself with the Black Stone or the Hajar al-Aswad corner of the Kaaba. This is the only corner that faces a single minaret. If the area is too much crowded, you can also align yourself with the green light located on the wall of the Masjid across the Kaaba. This light indicates the starting point of the Tawaf. Each circuit much start from here. Stand just behind the starting point while facing the Kaaba and make niyah to perform Tawaf.
You do not have to verbally utter the niyah. However, if you want, you may say the following intention:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أُرِيْدُ طَوَافَ بَيْتِكَ الْحَرَامِ فَيَسِّرْهُ لِيْ وَتَقَبَّلْهُ مِنِّيْ
Transliteration: Allāhumma innī urīdu l-ṭawwafa baytika l-ḥarāmi fa yassirhu lī wa taqabbalhu minnī.
Translation: O Allah, I intend to perform Tawaf of your Sacred House, so make it easy for me and accept it from me.
To start your Tawaf, make sure to turn right and keep the Ka’abah on your left side. By doing so, you will follow the tradition of moving in a counter-clockwise direction. Additionally, it is recommended to engage in the Sunnah practice of Raml during Tawaf Al-Umrah. Raml involves walking briskly, lifting your feet with strength, and maintaining an upright posture, imitating a warrior’s stride.
It is advised to perform the first three rounds of Tawaf in this manner for men. Nevertheless, in case of crowdedness, which is very likely if you are nearer to the Kaaba, it is advised to perform this Sunnah only if you are confident it will not cause any inconvenience or disturbance to others. It is improbable to carry out this action during peak hours.
Be very humble when performing Tawaf. Avoid talking needlessly about worldly things.
Duas to Read during Tawaf
During Tawaf, you can recite any dua or supplications that you want or may know because it is a time when dua are accepted. Even if you can’t recite dua in Arabic, you may say it in your own language. Nonetheless, it is highly recommended to recite the Arabic Sunnah dua during Tawaf. And to experience the humility while making dua, make sure you understand the dua you are making.
There is a Sunnah dua that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite between the Yamani corner and the Hajr Al-Aswad. The dua is:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Transliteration: Rabbanā ātinā fi d-dunyā ḣasanah wa fi l-ākhirati ḣasanah wa qinā ‘adhāba n-nār
Translation: O Allah, bring us a blessing in this world and a blessing in the next and guard us from punishment of Hell.
Once you have reached Hajr Al-Aswad, you’ve successfully finished a round. To proceed to the next round, you can either give kiss, touch, or salute the black stone. This action is known as Istilam.
After Tawaf
After successfully finishing the seven rounds of Tawaf, proceed to the following steps:
Salah Al-Tawaf
After the completion of your Tawaf, pray two Rakahs of Salah. Praying this Salah near the Maqam-e-Ibrahim is preferable but since it is located within the Mataf, it may not be possible if it is crowded.
Drink ZamZam Water
Once you have completed Salah Al-Tawaf, make your way to the sacred well of Zamzam water, conveniently located within the premises of Masjid Al-Haram. There are various dispensers and fountains around this area from which you can easily collect Zamzam water. Take advantage of this opportunity to make numerous heartfelt dua when drinking ZamZam water as it is also a time when dua are accepted. this blessed station.
It was narrated that Jabir bin ‘Abdullah said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: ‘The water of Zamzam is for whatever it is drunk for.’”
When drinking ZamZam water, you may recite the following dua:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا، وَرِزْقًا طَيِّبًا، وَعَمَلًا مُتَقَبَّلًا
Transliteration: Allāhumma innī as’aluka ilman nāfian, wa rizqan ṭayyiban, wa `amalam-mutaqabbala.
Translation: “O Allah, I ask You for knowledge which is beneficial, and sustenance which is good, and deeds which are acceptable.”
Sa’ee
Sa’ee, much like Tawaf, is obligatory for the Umrah pilgrimage. It involves walking back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwah a total of seven times. Once you have successfully completed your Tawaf and offered Salah Al-Tawaf, make your way back to Hajr Al-Aswad to perform Istilam once more. Afterward, proceed to the Safa hill where you can start your Sa’ee. As you approach Safa, recite the following verse from the Quran:
إِنَّ ٱلصَّفَا وَٱلْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَآئِرِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَمَنْ حَجَّ ٱلْبَيْتَ أَوِ ٱعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا ۚ وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًۭا فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ
[2:158]
Translation: Indeed, ˹the hills of˺ Ṣafa and Marwah1 are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever makes the major or minor pilgrimage to the ˹Sacred˺ House, let them walk between ˹the two hills˺. And whoever does good willingly, Allah is truly Appreciative, All-Knowing.
After you reach the Safa, recite the following dua:
“ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كَلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ أَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ وَهَزَمَ الأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ ”
Transliteration: “Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer; Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu anjaza wa’dah wa nasara ‘abdah wa hazama al-ahzaaba wahdah”
Translation: “There is no god but Allah, One, there is no partner with Him. His is the Sovereignty. to Him praise is due. and He is Powerful over everything. There is no god but Allah alone, Who fulfilled His promise, helped His servant and routed the confederates alone.”
Before starting your Sa’ee, you can recite many Sunnah supplications. You can also personalize your dua in your native language. Once you are ready, begin your journey towards Marwah. As you walk between the hills of Safa and Marwah, you will come across two sets of green fluorescent lights spaced approximately 50 meters apart. Men are advised to jog at a moderate pace between these lights, while women should continue walking at their regular speed.
When performing Sa’ee, pilgrims are not bound to any particular dua or dhikr. Feel free to choose and recite any supplications or duas that resonate with your heart. For instance, a beautiful practice is to send blessings upon the Prophet (Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam).
Every time, recite the dua you previously recited at Safa upon reaching Marwah. You will be at Marwah Hill when you complete your seventh lap. Although not obligatory, it is highly recommended to pray two rakahs of Salah after completing Sa’ee.
Halq or Taqsir
Once you have completed Sa’ee you must either perform Halq or Taqsir to exit Ihram. Neglecting this crucial step will result in remaining in the state of Ihram. Halq involves completely shaving the head, while Taqsir implies trimming the hair.
If you happen to have a bald head, consider using a razor to perform this essential ritual. When it comes to taqsir, it is important to trim a small portion of hair, approximately the length of your fingertip, from all areas where hair is present on your head. While you have the option to trim your own hair, it is also permissible to ask for assistance from someone else.
For women, the practice of Halq is not permitted. Instead, they simply need to trim a small portion, no longer than the length of a fingertip, from the ends of their hair. This applies irrespective of the hair’s current length.
The variation in rituals arises from the valuable teachings and wise counsel of Islamic scholars. By practicing Taqsir, women are able to gracefully meet the obligation of hair trimming while upholding their modesty.
Exiting Ihram
Once Halq or Taqsir is completed, you will exit the state of Ihram. This means that you are now free from all the restrictions that were associated with Ihram, such as engaging in marital relations, the use of perfumes, and cutting nails. You are now allowed to change into your regular clothes. However, if this Umrah was part of your Hajj, please note that marital relations will still be forbidden until you perform Tawaf al-Ziyarah, although other restrictions of Ihram will be lifted.
Summary of How to Perform Umrah
To sum up the learning of how to perform Umrah, Umrah consists of four core rituals. First, you change into the Ihram clothing before the Meeqat. Then pray two rakahs of Salah and make the intention of Niyah as the Meeqat approaches. Then, keep reciting the Talbiyah. Secondly, you need to perform Tawaf al-Umrah around the Kaaba and pray two rakahs of Salah afterwards near the Maqam Ibrahim preferably. Thirdly, you do Sa’ee on Safa and Marwa. At last, you perform Halq or Taqsir, which is shaving or trimming your hair. After that, your Umrah is complete and you are allowed to leave the state of Ihram.
If you have any doubts or want to learn more comprehensively about how to perform Umrah, please consult a scholar. Umrah is one of the most blessed acts of worship, so do it right. And Allah knows best.