رِحْلَةُ الْعُمْرَة

Your Guide to the Rites

The Umrah Journey

Umrah can be performed at any time of the year outside the days of Hajj. It is an act of faith, humility and devotion – here is each rite, step by step, so you can focus on worship with a calm and prepared heart.

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Ihram

Intention & Talbiyah at the Miqat

Tawaf

Seven circuits around the Kaaba

Sa'i

Seven laps between Safa & Marwa

Halq / Taqsir

Shaving or trimming the hair

Umrah Complete

May Allah accept it from you

Rites of Umrah

Four Rites, One Sacred Journey

Approach every step with sincerity, patience and remembrance of Allah, and seek His forgiveness throughout.

Step

Ihram

الإحرام

Ihram – Entering the Sacred State

Begin with a sincere intention, recite the Talbiyah and wear the Ihram garments. Ihram must be entered at or before the Miqat – the boundary set for pilgrims.

Prepare and purify. Take a bath (ghusl), trim nails and remove unwanted hair beforehand. Men may apply perfume to the body – not the Ihram cloth – before the intention.
Wear the Ihram. Men wear two plain white unstitched sheets (izar and rida) and sandals that leave the ankles uncovered. Women wear modest everyday clothing and do not cover the face or hands.
Make the intention at the Miqat. Say “Labbayk Allahumma ‘Umrah” – “Here I am, O Allah, for Umrah.”
Recite the Talbiyah often – men aloud, women softly – until you begin Tawaf.

Flying from India? Your flight crosses the Miqat in the air, before landing in Jeddah. Put on the Ihram before boarding (or before the Miqat announcement) and make the intention when the crew announces it. Travelling to Madinah first? Enter Ihram at Dhul Hulayfah when leaving for Makkah.

A pilgrim in white Ihram garments standing in Masjid al-Haram

Step

Tawaf

الطواف

Tawaf – Circling the Kaaba

Circle the Kaaba seven times anticlockwise, starting and ending at the Black Stone (al-Hajar al-Aswad), keeping the Kaaba on your left.

Enter Masjid al-Haram with the right foot and the dua for entering the mosque, in a state of wudu. Stop the Talbiyah as Tawaf begins.
Start at the Black Stone line. Face it, raise your right hand and say “Bismillah, Allahu Akbar”. Repeat this at the start of every round.
Complete seven rounds, making dua and dhikr in your own words. Between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone, recite “Rabbana atina…”.
Pray two rak‘ahs behind Maqam Ibrahim if possible – or anywhere in the mosque when it is crowded – then drink Zamzam water.

Pilgrims performing Tawaf around the Kaaba in Masjid al-Haram

Step

Sa'i

السعي

Sa'i – Between Safa & Marwa

Walk seven laps between the hills of Safa and Marwa, following in the footsteps of Hajar (may Allah be pleased with her) – starting at Safa and finishing at Marwa.

Begin at Safa. Recite “Inna as-Safa wal-Marwata min sha‘a’irillah”, face the Kaaba, praise Allah and make dua with raised hands.
Walk to Marwa – that is one lap. Men jog lightly between the green markers; women walk at a normal pace.
At Marwa, face the Kaaba and make dua again, then return towards Safa for the second lap.
Complete seven laps, ending at Marwa. Wheelchairs and the upper floors are available for those who need them.

Pilgrims walking between Safa and Marwa in the Mas'a gallery

Step

Halq / Taqsir

الحلق أو التقصير

Halq or Taqsir – Completing Umrah

Shaving or trimming the hair marks the end of Umrah. Once it is done, the restrictions of Ihram are lifted.

Men shave the whole head (Halq), which is more virtuous, or shorten the hair evenly all over (Taqsir).
Women gather the hair and cut about 1–2 cm from the ends.
Your Umrah is complete. Change out of Ihram and thank Allah for allowing you to perform it.

This step can be delayed until you return home, but the restrictions of Ihram remain in place until it is done.

A pilgrim having his head shaved to complete Umrah

Sunnah to Perform

Follow the Way of the Prophet ﷺ

These recommended acts add reward and beauty to your Umrah.

Idtiba‘

Men uncover the right shoulder during Tawaf, placing the middle of the upper sheet under the right arm.

Raml

Men walk briskly with short steps during the first three rounds of Tawaf.

Two Rak‘ahs at Maqam Ibrahim

Pray two rak‘ahs behind the Station of Ibrahim after completing Tawaf.

Jogging in Sa'i

Men jog lightly between the green markers while walking between Safa and Marwa.

Talbiyah Aloud

Men raise their voices with the Talbiyah from Ihram until Tawaf begins; women recite it softly.

Drinking Zamzam

Drink Zamzam water after the prayer behind Maqam Ibrahim and make dua while drinking.

Words of Remembrance

Key Duas for Umrah

Beyond these, make dua sincerely in your own language – Allah hears every heart.

Talbiyah · From Ihram until Tawaf

لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ

Labbayk Allahumma labbayk, labbayk la sharika laka labbayk, innal-hamda wan-ni‘mata laka wal-mulk, la sharika lak.

Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. All praise, blessings and sovereignty belong to You. You have no partner.

At the Black Stone · Start of each round

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

Bismillah, Allahu Akbar.

In the name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest.

Between the Yemeni Corner & the Black Stone

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina ‘adhaban-nar.

Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire. (Al-Baqarah 2:201)

On approaching Safa · Start of Sa'i

إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ

Inna as-Safa wal-Marwata min sha‘a’irillah.

Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah. (Al-Baqarah 2:158)

While in Ihram

What to Avoid

From the moment of intention until Halq or Taqsir, these actions are not permitted.

If a mistake happens through forgetfulness or ignorance, don’t panic – ask a scholar or your group guide what, if anything, is required.

Cutting hair or nailsRemoving hair from the head or body, or clipping nails.
Using perfumeOn the body, clothing, food or drink after entering Ihram.
Stitched clothing (men)Garments shaped to the body, and covering the head.
Niqab & gloves (women)Covering the face with a niqab or the hands with gloves.
HuntingHunting or disturbing land animals.
Marital relationsIntimacy, and contracting or proposing marriage.
Arguing & ill speechDisputes, foul language and bad conduct.
Cutting plants of the HaramUprooting or cutting trees and plants within the sacred precinct.

This guide summarises the rites as described by the official Nusuk Umrah Journey. For detailed rulings, please consult a qualified scholar – Azaan group pilgrims also receive guidance before and during the journey.

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