উমরাহ consists of four essential acts performed in order: (1) entering ইহরাম at the miqat with the intention and তালবিয়াহ, (2) performing তাওয়াফ — 7 counterclockwise circuits around the কাবা শরীফ, (3) performing sa'i — 7 laps between Safa and Marwa, and (4) shaving (halq) or trimming (taqsir) the hair to exit ইহরাম. The entire process typically takes 2-4 hours.
Preparation for উমরাহ begins before the physical journey: (1) Repent sincerely from all sins — নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) said: 'An উমরাহ to the next উমরাহ is an expiation for what is between them' (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1773; Sahih Muslim, 1349). (2) Ensure the money for উমরাহ is from halal sources. (3) Settle debts or arrange for their repayment. (4) Learn the rites of উমরাহ before departing — Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen considered this ওয়াজিব. (5) At your accommodation or the airport before reaching the miqat, perform গোসল (full ritual bath). This is sunnah mu'akkadah for both men and women, including menstruating women, based on the hadith that নবী করীম ordered Asma bint Umays to bathe for ইহরাম while she was in post-natal bleeding (Sahih Muslim, 1209). (6) Men may apply perfume to their body — not ইহরাম garments — before making the intention, based on the hadith of Aisha (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1539). (7) Trim nails and remove unwanted hair before entering ইহরাম, as these will be হারাম during the sacred state.
At the miqat, men put on the two white unstitched ইহরাম garments: the izar (lower wrap around the waist) and the rida' (upper wrap over the shoulders). Wear sandals that expose the top of the feet and ankles. Women wear their normal modest clothing — any color is permissible. Pray two rak'at of sunnah if it is not a disliked time (মুস্তাহাব, not ওয়াজিব). Then make the intention in your heart for উমরাহ and say: 'Labbayk Allahumma Umratan' (Here I am, O Allah, for উমরাহ). If you fear being prevented from completing উমরাহ, add the stipulation: 'If I am prevented by any obstacle, my place of release is wherever You hold me' — based on the hadith of Duba'ah bint al-Zubayr (Sahih Muslim, 1207). Begin the তালবিয়াহ immediately. The five miqat points are: Dhul Hulayfah (Abyar Ali, from মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা), Al-Juhfah/Rabigh (from the west), Qarn al-Manazil/al-Sayl (from Najd/east), Yalamlam (from Yemen/south), and Dhat Irq (from Iraq/northeast). For residents of মক্কা মুকাররমা performing উমরাহ, the miqat is the nearest point outside the Haram boundary, typically al-Tan'eem or al-Ji'ranah.
These are the most frequent errors pilgrims make during this stage of Umrah.
Scholarly references supporting this guidance from established Islamic sources.
From the moment you enter ইহরাম until you begin তাওয়াফ at the কাবা শরীফ, recite the তালবিয়াহ frequently. Men recite it loudly; women recite it softly. The তালবিয়াহ is: 'Labbayk Allahumma labbayk, labbayk la sharika laka labbayk, innal hamda wan-ni'mata laka wal-mulk, la sharika lak.' This is the তালবিয়াহ of নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) as narrated by Ibn Umar (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1549; Sahih Muslim, 1184). Some companions added to it — Ibn Umar added 'Labbayka dha al-ma'arij' and Anas added 'Labbayka haqqan haqqan, ta'abbudan wa riqqa.' These additions are permissible according to the Hanbali school. Stop the তালবিয়াহ when you begin তাওয়াফ — this is the position of the majority based on the practice of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him). Between recitations of the তালবিয়াহ, engage in dhikr, salawat upon নবী করীম, and dua.
Enter মসজিদুল হারাম with your right foot first, reciting the dua for entering the মসজিদ: 'Bismillah, was-salatu was-salamu ala Rasulillah. Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik' (Sahih Muslim, 713). Proceed to the হাজরে আসওয়াদ (al-Hajar al-Aswad) to begin তাওয়াফ. Face the হাজরে আসওয়াদ, say 'Bismillah, Allahu Akbar,' and if you can reach it without harming anyone, touch it with your right hand and kiss it. If too crowded, simply point toward it with your right hand and say 'Allahu Akbar.' Before starting, men perform Idtiba': place the middle of the rida' under the right arm, exposing the right shoulder, and throw the ends over the left shoulder. This is maintained throughout all 7 circuits. Keep the কাবা শরীফ on your LEFT side and walk counterclockwise. Men perform Raml (brisk walking with chest out and small steps) in the first 3 circuits only, then walk normally for the remaining 4. Complete 7 full circuits. Between the Yemeni Corner and the হাজরে আসওয়াদ in each circuit, recite: 'Rabbana atina fi al-dunya hasanah...' (Al-Baqarah 2:201). For the rest of the তাওয়াফ, you may make any dua or dhikr — there are no specific duas for each circuit.
After completing 7 circuits, cover the right shoulder (end the Idtiba') and proceed to Maqam Ibrahim. Recite: 'And take from the station of Ibrahim a place of সালাত' (Al-Baqarah 2:125). Pray 2 rak'at behind the Maqam: recite Surah al-Kafirun (109) in the first rak'ah and Surah al-Ikhlas (112) in the second — following নবী করীম's practice (Sahih Muslim, 1218, hadith of Jabir). If the area behind Maqam Ibrahim is too crowded, pray anywhere in the মসজিদ — the 2 rak'at are the obligation, not the specific spot. After the সালাত, proceed to the Zamzam water stations. Face the Qiblah, say 'Bismillah,' and drink your fill. নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) said: 'The water of Zamzam is for whatever it is drunk for' (Sunan Ibn Majah, 3062, authenticated by al-Albani). Make dua while drinking — ask for beneficial knowledge, ample provision, and healing from every disease. Pour some over your head if you wish.
Proceed to the hill of Safa to begin sa'i. Upon reaching Safa, face the কাবা শরীফ and recite: 'Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah' (Al-Baqarah 2:158), then say: 'Abda'u bima bada'Allahu bihi' (I begin with what Allah began with). Then make takbir and tahlil three times: 'La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa ala kulli shay'in qadir. La ilaha illallah wahdah, anjaza wa'dah, wa nasara abdah, wa hazamal ahzaba wahdah.' Make personal dua between each recitation. Then walk toward Marwa — Safa to Marwa = lap 1. Men jog between the two green fluorescent markers. At Marwa, face the কাবা শরীফ, repeat the same takbir, tahlil, and dua. Walk back toward Safa — Marwa to Safa = lap 2. Continue until you complete 7 laps, ending at Marwa. Throughout the walk between the hills, make any dua you wish. সাঈ commemorates Hagar's (Hajar) desperate search for water for her son Isma'il — a profound lesson in trust in Allah (tawakkul).
After completing sa'i at Marwa, the final act of উমরাহ is shaving or trimming the hair: (1) For men, shaving the entire head (halq) is more virtuous. নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) supplicated three times for those who shave and once for those who trim (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1727; Sahih Muslim, 1301). Trimming (taqsir) is also valid — cut hair evenly from all parts of the head. (2) For women, ONLY trimming is prescribed — women must NEVER shave their heads for উমরাহ or হজ্জ. A woman trims approximately a fingertip's length (about 1-2 cm) from the ends of her hair. (3) After cutting the hair, you have exited the state of ইহরাম. ALL restrictions are now lifted — you may wear regular clothing, apply perfume, cut nails, and resume normal activities. (4) If you are performing হজ্জ Tamattu' and plan to enter ইহরাম again for হজ্জ, trimming may be preferable so that you have hair to shave on the Day of Sacrifice (10th Dhul Hijjah).
With halq or taqsir complete, your উমরাহ is finished — all praise belongs to Allah. It is মুস্তাহাব to: (1) Thank Allah for enabling you to complete উমরাহ. (2) Perform voluntary (nafl) তাওয়াফ — additional circuits around the কাবা শরীফ are a tremendous act of worship. Sheikh al-Nawawi stated that voluntary তাওয়াফ is better than voluntary সালাত for non-residents of মক্কা মুকাররমা. (3) Spend time in মসজিদুল হারাম reading কুরআন, making dhikr, and praying. (4) Pray in the Hateem (Hijr Isma'il) — this semi-circular area adjacent to the কাবা শরীফ is part of the কাবা শরীফ itself. Praying inside it is like praying inside the কাবা শরীফ, based on the hadith of Aisha in which নবী করীম said: 'Your people shortened the কাবা শরীফ from the foundations of Ibrahim, so the Hateem is part of the কাবা শরীফ' (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1583). (5) If time permits, you may perform additional উমরাহs by going to al-Tan'eem (the nearest point outside the Haram boundary), entering ইহরাম, and returning to the Haram. নবী করীম permitted Aisha to do this after হজ্জ (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1785).