How to perform Umrah
The Complete Sunnah Guide to Umrah
دَلِيلُ العُمْرَةِ عَلَى السُّنَّة
An authentic, step-by-step walkthrough covering every pillar, supplication and practical requirement from the miqat to completion.
Step 1
Preparation and entering ihram — الإِحْرَام
Everything that must happen before you cross the miqat boundary.
Core prerequisites and the miqat
- Umrah is wajib (واجب) once in a lifetime for those financially and physically capable.
- The intention (an-niyyah — النِّيَّة) must precede the action.
- You cannot perform Umrah on behalf of another person until your own obligation is fulfilled.
- You must enter ihram at or before your designated miqat — for example Dhul-Hulayfah (ذُو الحُلَيْفَة) from Madinah, or while airborne on international flights.
- Passing the boundary without ihram to change at a Makkah hotel is not permissible.
Preparation checklist (sunnah acts)
- Perform a full body wash (ghusl — غُسْل).
- Personal grooming: trim the nails and groom the moustache.
- Apply perfume ('itr — عِطْر) to the body only, before the intention is declared.
Where to make your intention
The mawaqit and how they apply when you fly
Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ appointed Dhul-Hulayfah for the people of Madinah, Al-Juhfah for the people of Sham, Qarn al-Manazil for the people of Najd and Yalamlam for the people of Yemen, saying: "They are for them and for anyone who comes through them intending Hajj or Umrah."(Sahih al-Bukhari 1524, Sahih Muslim 1181; Dhat 'Irq was later appointed for the people of Iraq — Sahih Muslim 1183.)
The ruling follows the boundary, not the airport. Whoever passes a miqat — on the ground or in the air above it — intending Umrah must already be in ihram with the niyyah made.
- Do ghusl, grooming and perfume at home or at your departure airport, and put on the ihram garments before you board (or change on board before the announcement).
- Your flight path crosses one of the miqat lines in the air — usually Yalamlam or Qarn al-Manazil coming from the east, or Al-Juhfah / Rabigh coming from the north and west.
- The captain or cabin crew normally announce the miqat roughly 20–30 minutes before the aircraft passes over it. Treat that announcement as your cue.
- Make the niyyah and say 'Labbayka Allahumma 'Umrah' at that point — while seated is fine — then begin the talbiyah.
- Do not delay the intention until you land: Jeddah lies inside the boundary, and passing the miqat without ihram requires you to go back or offer a dam (a sacrifice) according to the majority of scholars.
- If you are unsure of the timing, it is safer to make the intention a little early rather than late.
Ihram garments by gender
- Lower garment: izar (إِزَار), wrapped around the waist.
- Upper garment: rida' (رِدَاء), draped over the shoulders.
- Fabric must be unstitched — no head coverings and no stitched undergarments.
The intention — النِّيَّة
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ عُمْرَةً
Labbayka Allahumma 'Umrah
Here I am at Your service, O Allah, for Umrah.
The conditional clause — الِاشْتِرَاط
اللَّهُمَّ مَحِلِّي حَيْثُ حَبَسْتَنِي
Allahumma mahilli haythu habastani
O Allah, my place of exiting ihram is wherever You have prevented me. Use this if you fear illness, a cancelled flight or the onset of menses.
Prohibitions of ihram
- No scented soaps, lotions or perfumes.
- No cutting hair or clipping nails.
- No marital relations.
Step 2
The journey to Makkah and entering the sanctuary
From the talbiyah at the miqat to your first steps inside Al-Masjid Al-Haram.
The talbiyah — التَّلْبِيَة
Chant continuously from the miqat until your eyes first fall on the Ka'bah.
Talbiyah
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالمُلْك، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk, Labbayka Laa Shareeka Laka Labbayk, Innal-Hamda Wan-Ni'mata Laka Wal-Mulk, Laa Shareeka Lak
Here I am at Your service, 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.
Entering Al-Masjid Al-Haram — دُخُول المَسْجِد الحَرَام
- Step forward with the right foot.
- Recite the mosque entrance supplication.
Practical tip: keep your shoes in a drawstring bag and carry them with you — never leave them at a crowded threshold.
Entering the mosque
بِسْمِ اللهِ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ، اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
Bismillah, was-salatu was-salamu 'ala Rasulillah, Allahummaftah li abwaba rahmatik
In the name of Allah; prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy.
Step 3
Tawaf around the Ka'bah — الطَّوَاف
Seven circuits beginning and ending at the Black Stone line. Use the counter to keep track.
Tawaf circuits
Tap after each circuit at the Black Stone line.
Rules of tawaf
- Ritual purity (wudhu — وُضُوء) is required throughout. If it breaks, leave, perform wudhu and resume.
- Idtiba' (الاضْطِبَاع): men uncover the right shoulder by looping the upper garment under the right armpit and over the left shoulder.
- Begin at the Black Stone line (al-Hajar al-Aswad — الحَجَر الأَسْوَد) and move anticlockwise.
Circuit milestones
- Lap 1: raise the right hand towards the stone and say «بِسْمِ اللهِ وَاللهُ أَكْبَر» (Bismillah, Allahu Akbar).
- Laps 2 to 7: raise the right hand and say «اللهُ أَكْبَر» (Allahu Akbar).
- Never push or struggle to touch or kiss the stone — pointing from a distance fulfils the sunnah completely.
- There are no assigned lap-by-lap prayers: recite Qur'an, make personal du'a and seek forgiveness (istighfar — اسْتِغْفَار).
Between the Yemeni corner and the Black Stone
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina 'adhaban-nar
Our Lord, give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the punishment of the Fire.
Two rak'ahs of tawaf — رَكْعَتَا الطَّوَاف
- Cover both shoulders immediately after the seventh circuit (end idtiba').
- Pray two short units behind Maqam Ibrahim (مَقَام إِبْرَاهِيم), or anywhere in the Haram if it is crowded.
- First rak'ah: Surah al-Fatihah and Surah al-Kafirun (سُورَة الكَافِرُون).
- Second rak'ah: Surah al-Fatihah and Surah al-Ikhlas (سُورَة الإِخْلَاص).
Step 4
Sa'i between Safa and Marwah — السَّعْي
Seven laps beginning at Safa and finishing at Marwah.
Sa'i laps
Safa to Marwah is lap 1; Marwah to Safa is lap 2.
Approaching Mount Safa — جَبَل الصَّفَا
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللهِ
Innas-Safa wal-Marwata min sha'a'irillah
Indeed, as-Safa and al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allah. Recited once, as you walk towards Safa.
Supplication atop Safa and Marwah
- Face the Ka'bah, raise your hands and say Allahu Akbar three times.
- Recite the formula below, repeating it three times with personal du'a in between.
- Avoid coordinated group chanting — supplicate individually.
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ المُلْكُ وَلَهُ الحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ، أَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ، وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ، وَهَزَمَ الأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ
La ilaha illallah wahdahu la shareeka lah, lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadeer. La ilaha illallahu wahdah, anjaza wa'dah, wa nasara 'abdah, wa hazamal-ahzaba wahdah
There is no god but Allah alone, without partner. To Him belongs the dominion and all praise, and He has power over all things. There is no god but Allah alone; He fulfilled His promise, aided His servant, and defeated the confederates alone.
| Lap | From | To | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Safa (الصَّفَا) | Marwah (المَرْوَة) | Face the qiblah and make du'a at Marwah |
| 2 | Marwah (المَرْوَة) | Safa (الصَّفَا) | Repeat the du'a atop Safa |
| 3 | Safa (الصَّفَا) | Marwah (المَرْوَة) | |
| 4 | Marwah (المَرْوَة) | Safa (الصَّفَا) | |
| 5 | Safa (الصَّفَا) | Marwah (المَرْوَة) | |
| 6 | Marwah (المَرْوَة) | Safa (الصَّفَا) | |
| 7 | Safa (الصَّفَا) | Marwah (المَرْوَة) | Umrah acts end here at Marwah |
The green light zone
Between the two sets of fluorescent green lights, men run or quicken their pace. Women keep their normal walking stride.
Mobility
Designated wheelchair pathways run along the upper and central decks; push services can be hired for around 100 SAR.
Step 5
Exiting ihram — التَّحَلُّل: الحَلْق أَو التَّقْصِير
The final rite. Once the hair is cut, all restrictions of ihram are lifted.
For men — الرِّجَال
- Shaving the entire head (halq — حَلْق) is far more virtuous — the Prophet ﷺ prayed for Allah's mercy three times for those who shave completely.
- Or trim the hair evenly all over (taqsir — تَقْصِير).
- Certified barbershops sit directly outside the Marwah exit, near the Clock Tower concourse.
For women — النِّسَاء
- Trim only a fingertip's length (anmalah — أَنْمَلَة) from the ends of the gathered hair.
- Never expose the hair in public courtyards or use street vendors outside the Marwah exit.
- Wait until you are back in the privacy of your hotel room to cut your hair.
Completion
Tahallul (التَّحَلُّل) is complete — all ihram restrictions are lifted and normal clothing and actions are lawful again. May Allah accept it from you.
Step 6
Quick checklist
Tick each rite off as you complete it — your progress stays on this device.
Your Umrah checklist
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Your ticks are saved on this device.
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