Loading...
العمرة consists of four essential acts: (1) entering الإحرام at the Miqat with the intention and التلبية, (2) performing الطواف — 7 circuits around the الكعبة, (3) performing السعي — 7 laps between الصفا and المروة, and (4) shaving (Halq) or trimming (Taqsir) the hair to exit the state of الإحرام.
Before reaching the Miqat (the designated boundary point for your route), perform الغسل (full ritual bath) or at minimum الوضوء. Men wear two white, unstitched garments: the izar (lower wrap) and the rida' (upper wrap). Women wear their normal modest clothing — there is no specific color requirement. Apply fragrance to the body (not the الإحرام garments) before making the intention. At the Miqat, make the intention (niyyah) in your heart for العمرة and begin reciting the التلبية. The Miqat points are: Dhul Hulayfah (for those from المدينة), Al-Juhfah (from the west/Levant), Qarn al-Manazil (from Najd), Yalamlam (from Yemen), and Dhat Irq (from Iraq).
From the moment you enter الإحرام until you begin الطواف, recite the التلبية frequently and with a raised voice (for men). The التلبية is the hallmark of الإحرام and a declaration of your submission to Allah's call. Women recite it softly. Continue the التلبية during your travel to مكة. Stop reciting the التلبية when you first see the الكعبة or when you begin your الطواف.
These are the most frequent errors pilgrims make during this stage of Umrah.
Scholarly references supporting this guidance from established Islamic sources.
Enter المسجد الحرام with your right foot first, reciting the دعاء for entering the مسجد. It is مستحب to enter through Bab al-Salam (the Gate of Peace) if accessible, though any entrance is جائز. When you first see the الكعبة, pause and make heartfelt دعاء, as this is a moment when الأدعية are answered. Raise your hands and ask Allah for whatever you wish. Then proceed toward the الحجر الأسود to begin الطواف.
Begin at the الحجر الأسود (al-Hajar al-Aswad). Face the الحجر الأسود, raise your right hand toward it, and say 'Bismillah, Allahu Akbar.' If you can touch or kiss the الحجر الأسود without harming others, do so. Otherwise, simply point toward it and begin. Keep the الكعبة on your LEFT side and walk counterclockwise. Complete 7 full circuits. Men perform الرَّمَل (brisk walking with small steps) during the first 3 circuits and الاضطباع (exposing the right shoulder by placing the rida' under the right arm) throughout all 7 circuits. Between the Yemeni Corner (al-Rukn al-Yamani) and the الحجر الأسود, recite the دعاء below. You may make any other دعاء or dhikr during the rest of the circuits.
After completing the 7 circuits, proceed to the Station of Ibrahim (مقام إبراهيم) and pray 2 ركعة. Recite Surah al-Kafirun (109) in the first ركعة and Surah al-Ikhlas (112) in the second ركعة. If it is too crowded to pray directly behind مقام إبراهيم, you may pray anywhere in the مسجد — the obligation is the 2 ركعة, not the specific location. After praying, make دعاء.
After praying the 2 ركعة, proceed to the زمزم water stations. Face the القبلةh, say 'Bismillah,' drink your fill, and pour some over your head if you wish. Make دعاء while drinking, as النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: 'The water of زمزم is for whatever it is drunk for.' Ask Allah for beneficial knowledge, ample provision, and healing from every disease.
Proceed to the hill of الصفا to begin السعي. Upon reaching الصفا, face the الكعبة, raise your hands, and recite the verse: 'Indeed, الصفا and المروة are among the symbols of Allah...' (Al-Baqarah 2:158). Then make دعاء and begin walking toward المروة. Walking from الصفا to المروة is one lap, and from المروة back to الصفا is the second lap. Complete 7 laps, ending at المروة. Men should jog between the two green markers (fluorescent lights). At each hill (الصفا and المروة), face the الكعبة, raise your hands, make takbir, tahlil, and دعاء. You may make any دعاء during the walking.
After completing السعي at المروة, men should either shave the entire head (Halq) or trim the hair evenly from all sides (Taqsir). Shaving is more virtuous, as النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) supplicated three times for those who shave and once for those who trim. Women trim approximately a fingertip's length from the ends of their hair — women do NOT shave their heads. After cutting the hair, you have exited the state of الإحرام, and all الإحرام restrictions are lifted. Your العمرة is now complete. Praise Allah and ask Him to accept your العمرة.
With the hair cutting complete, you have fully exited the state of الإحرام. All restrictions are now lifted — you may wear regular clothing, apply fragrance, and resume normal activities. It is مستحب to pray 2 ركعة of gratitude (salat al-shukr) and spend time in the Haram making دعاء, reading القرآن, and worshipping. If you are staying in مكة, take advantage of your time to perform additional voluntary الطواف (nafl الطواف), as each circuit is a tremendous act of worship.