How to Perform Umrah Step by Step
Perform Umrah in this order: bathe and wear ihram, make the intention and recite the talbiyah before the miqat, enter Masjid al-Haram, perform seven circuits of tawaf starting at the Black Stone, pray two rak'ahs, drink Zamzam, walk seven laps of sa'i from Safa to Marwah, then shave or shorten the hair.
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The steps
- Before the miqat, bathe, trim nails, and put on ihram: two white unstitched sheets for men; ordinary modest clothes for women.
- At or before the miqat, make the intention for Umrah and begin the talbiyah. On a flight to Jeddah this happens on the plane.
- Enter Masjid al-Haram with the right foot and the dua for entering the mosque. Stop the talbiyah when you begin tawaf.
- Start tawaf at the Black Stone: face it, raise your right hand and say "Bismillahi Allahu akbar". Walk seven anticlockwise circuits, keeping the Kaaba on your left.
- After the seventh circuit, pray two rak'ahs behind Maqam Ibrahim if there is space, or anywhere in the mosque.
- Drink Zamzam water.
- Go to Safa, face the Kaaba and make dua, then walk to Marwah. That is one lap. Complete seven laps, ending at Marwah. Men jog lightly between the green lights.
- Men shave the head (better) or shorten the hair all over; women cut about a fingertip's length. Your Umrah is complete and ihram restrictions end.
Duas along the way
Intention for Umrah
لَبَّيْكَ اللّٰهُمَّ عُمْرَةً
Labbayk Allāhumma ʿumratan.
Meaning: Here I am, O Allah, for Umrah.
Talbiyah (Bukhari, Muslim)
لَبَّيْكَ اللّٰهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
Labbayk Allāhumma labbayk, labbayka lā sharīka laka labbayk, inna l-ḥamda wa n-niʿmata laka wa l-mulk, lā sharīka lak.
Meaning: Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. All praise and blessings are Yours, and all sovereignty. You have no partner.
Entering the mosque (Muslim, Ibn Majah)
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللّٰهِ، اللّٰهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
Bismillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā rasūlillāh. Allāhumma-ftaḥ lī abwāba raḥmatik.
Meaning: In the name of Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy.
At the Black Stone (start of each circuit) (Bukhari; Bayhaqi)
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ وَاللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ
Bismillāhi wallāhu akbar.
Meaning: In the name of Allah; Allah is the Greatest.
Between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone (Al-Baqarah 2:201; Abu Dawud)
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbanā ātinā fid-dunyā ḥasanatan wa fil-ākhirati ḥasanatan wa qinā ʿadhāban-nār.
Meaning: Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
Approaching Safa (first time only) (Al-Baqarah 2:158; Muslim)
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللّٰهِ، أَبْدَأُ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللّٰهُ بِهِ
Innaṣ-ṣafā wal-marwata min shaʿā’irillāh. Abda’u bimā bada’allāhu bih.
Meaning: Indeed, Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah. I begin with what Allah began with.
On Safa and Marwah, facing the Kaaba (Muslim)
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ، أَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ، وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ، وَهَزَمَ الْأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ
Lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahū lā sharīka lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamdu wa huwa ʿalā kulli shay’in qadīr. Lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdah, anjaza waʿdah, wa naṣara ʿabdah, wa hazamal-aḥzāba waḥdah.
Meaning: There is no god but Allah alone, without partner; His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He has power over all things. There is no god but Allah alone; He fulfilled His promise, helped His servant, and alone defeated the confederates.
Common mistakes
- Passing the miqat without ihram. If it happens, a sacrifice (dam) is due unless you go back to a miqat; ask a scholar.
- Starting tawaf away from the Black Stone line, or counting the Hijr Ismail (the semicircle) as outside the circuit by walking through it.
- Uncovering the right shoulder (idtiba) outside tawaf, for example during prayer.
- Counting Safa to Marwah and back as one lap; each one-way walk is one lap.
- Cutting only a few hairs from one side of the head; men should shorten the hair all over.
Frequently asked questions
Can I perform Umrah on behalf of someone else?
Yes, for someone who has died or cannot travel, provided you have already performed your own Umrah. Make the intention in their name at the miqat.
Do I have to do tawaf and sa'i on the same day?
It is best to do sa'i straight after tawaf; a short break to rest or pray is fine.
What if I lose count during tawaf?
Build on the number you are sure of (the lower one) and complete the rest.
More guides
- Duas for Umrah
- Tawaf and Sa'i
Ready to go? See our Umrah packages from Dhaka.
[Reviewer: add the name and credentials of the Islamic scholar who checked this guide (also in the page's Expert fields) before publishing]