Loading...
Umrah consists of four essential acts performed in order: (1) entering ihram at the miqat with the intention and Talbiyah, (2) performing tawaf — 7 counterclockwise circuits around the Ka'bah, (3) performing sa'i — 7 laps between Safa and Marwa, and (4) shaving (halq) or trimming (taqsir) the hair to exit ihram. The entire process typically takes 2-4 hours.
Preparation for Umrah begins before the physical journey: (1) Repent sincerely from all sins — the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'An Umrah to the next Umrah is an expiation for what is between them' (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1773; Sahih Muslim, 1349). (2) Ensure the money for Umrah is from halal sources. (3) Settle debts or arrange for their repayment. (4) Learn the rites of Umrah before departing — Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen considered this obligatory. (5) At your accommodation or the airport before reaching the miqat, perform ghusl (full ritual bath). This is sunnah mu'akkadah for both men and women, including menstruating women, based on the hadith that the Prophet ordered Asma bint Umays to bathe for ihram while she was in post-natal bleeding (Sahih Muslim, 1209). (6) Men may apply perfume to their body — not ihram garments — before making the intention, based on the hadith of Aisha (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1539). (7) Trim nails and remove unwanted hair before entering ihram, as these will be forbidden during the sacred state.
At the miqat, men put on the two white unstitched ihram 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 (recommended, not obligatory). Then make the intention in your heart for Umrah and say: 'Labbayk Allahumma Umratan' (Here I am, O Allah, for Umrah). If you fear being prevented from completing Umrah, 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 Talbiyah immediately. The five miqat points are: Dhul Hulayfah (Abyar Ali, from Madinah), 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 Makkah performing Umrah, 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 ihram until you begin tawaf at the Ka'bah, recite the Talbiyah frequently. Men recite it loudly; women recite it softly. The Talbiyah is: 'Labbayk Allahumma labbayk, labbayk la sharika laka labbayk, innal hamda wan-ni'mata laka wal-mulk, la sharika lak.' This is the Talbiyah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) 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 Talbiyah when you begin tawaf — this is the position of the majority based on the practice of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him). Between recitations of the Talbiyah, engage in dhikr, salawat upon the Prophet, and dua.
Enter Masjid al-Haram with your right foot first, reciting the dua for entering the mosque: 'Bismillah, was-salatu was-salamu ala Rasulillah. Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik' (Sahih Muslim, 713). Proceed to the Black Stone (al-Hajar al-Aswad) to begin tawaf. Face the Black Stone, 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 Ka'bah 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 Black Stone in each circuit, recite: 'Rabbana atina fi al-dunya hasanah...' (Al-Baqarah 2:201). For the rest of the tawaf, 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 prayer' (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 the Prophet's practice (Sahih Muslim, 1218, hadith of Jabir). If the area behind Maqam Ibrahim is too crowded, pray anywhere in the mosque — the 2 rak'at are the obligation, not the specific spot. After the prayer, proceed to the Zamzam water stations. Face the Qiblah, say 'Bismillah,' and drink your fill. The Prophet (peace be upon him) 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 Ka'bah 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 Ka'bah, 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. Sa'i 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 Umrah is shaving or trimming the hair: (1) For men, shaving the entire head (halq) is more virtuous. The Prophet (peace be upon him) 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 Umrah or Hajj. 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 ihram. ALL restrictions are now lifted — you may wear regular clothing, apply perfume, cut nails, and resume normal activities. (4) If you are performing Hajj Tamattu' and plan to enter ihram again for Hajj, 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 Umrah is finished — all praise belongs to Allah. It is recommended to: (1) Thank Allah for enabling you to complete Umrah. (2) Perform voluntary (nafl) tawaf — additional circuits around the Ka'bah are a tremendous act of worship. Sheikh al-Nawawi stated that voluntary tawaf is better than voluntary prayer for non-residents of Makkah. (3) Spend time in Masjid al-Haram reading Quran, making dhikr, and praying. (4) Pray in the Hateem (Hijr Isma'il) — this semi-circular area adjacent to the Ka'bah is part of the Ka'bah itself. Praying inside it is like praying inside the Ka'bah, based on the hadith of Aisha in which the Prophet said: 'Your people shortened the Ka'bah from the foundations of Ibrahim, so the Hateem is part of the Ka'bah' (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1583). (5) If time permits, you may perform additional Umrahs by going to al-Tan'eem (the nearest point outside the Haram boundary), entering ihram, and returning to the Haram. The Prophet permitted Aisha to do this after Hajj (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1785).