How to Perform Umrah: A Step-by-Step Guide

Based on the Amity Travel Umrah seminar by Sh. Mustapha Elturk. Watch the full video, or follow the steps below.

The four pillars of Umrah

Umrah has four essential pillars. If any of them is missed, the Umrah is incomplete.

1. Ihram: entering the sacred state
2. Tawaf: circling the Ka‘bah seven times
3. Sa‘i: walking seven times between Safa and Marwah
4. Tahallul: shaving or trimming the hair

Step 1: Prepare before ihram

• Clip your nails, remove underarm and pubic hair, and (men) trim the mustache.
• Take a full bath (ghusl).
• Men may apply perfume before entering ihram, but not after.
• Put on the ihram garments.

Men wear two unstitched, usually white, sheets: the izar from the waist to below the knees, and the rida over the upper body. Footwear must be sandals or open shoes that leave the ankles and the front of the feet uncovered.

Women wear their usual modest clothing, commonly simple white or dark dresses or robes.

Ihram is the sacred state of worship you enter with your intention, not just the white cloth.

Step 2: Enter ihram at the miqat

When traveling from Madinah, the miqat is Dhul Hulayfah (Abyar Ali). Already bathed and dressed in ihram, pray at the miqat masjid and make your intention:

Labbayk Allahumma Umrah
(Here I am, O Allah, answering Your call to perform Umrah.)

Then recite the talbiyah often until you reach the Haram:

Labbayk Allahumma labbayk, labbayka 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. Verily all praise, grace, and sovereignty belong to You. You have no partner.)

While in ihram, avoid

• Cutting, trimming or plucking any hair
• Cutting or biting nails
• Perfume or scented products
• Marital relations
• Hunting or killing land animals
• Men: covering the head with fitted items (hats, caps, turbans)
• Women: niqab or gloves (a medical mask for health reasons is permitted)

If you do any of these out of forgetfulness or not knowing, no expiation (kaffarah) is required.

Step 3: Arrive at al-Masjid al-Haram

• Enter with your right foot and say the du‘a for entering a masjid (Bismillah, was-salatu was-salamu ‘ala Rasulillah, Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik).
• Stop the talbiyah when you see the Ka‘bah, and take a moment for your own du‘a.
• Men: uncover the right shoulder (idtiba‘) by passing the rida under the right armpit and over the left shoulder.

Step 4: Perform tawaf

1. Start at the corner with the Black Stone, in line with the green light on the wall.
2. Raise your right hand towards the Black Stone and say "Bismillah, Allahu Akbar".
3. Circle the Ka‘bah counter-clockwise, seven rounds in total.
4. Between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone, say:

   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 torment of the Fire.)

5. At the Black Stone line each round, raise your hand, say "Allahu Akbar" and continue.

Keep your focus on worship: Quran, du‘a, blessings on the Prophet (peace be upon him) and dhikr. Avoid worldly talk and taking photos during tawaf.

Step 5: Pray two rak‘ah and drink Zamzam

• Men cover both shoulders again.
• Pray two rak‘ah behind or near Maqam Ibrahim, in accordance with the Quranic command: "And take the station of Abraham as a place of prayer."
• Drink Zamzam water before going on to sa‘i.

Step 6: Perform sa‘i

1. Start at Safa. Facing the Ka‘bah, recite: "Innas-Safa wal-Marwata min sha‘a’irillah…" (Indeed, Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah…)
2. Safa to Marwah is one lap; Marwah back to Safa is two.
3. Complete seven laps, finishing at Marwah.
4. Men walk faster between the two green-light markers; women walk at a normal pace throughout.

Step 7: Shave or trim your hair

• Men: shave the whole head (halq) or trim evenly across the whole head (taqsir). Shaving is more rewarded.
• Women: trim only, about a fingertip's length (one-third of an inch) from a gathered lock of hair.
• A few strands are not enough.
• This completes your Umrah, and the restrictions of ihram end.

May Allah accept your Umrah.

How to wear the men's ihram

Izar (lower sheet): wrap it from above the navel to below the knees, bring both ends to one side, tuck them firmly into the waist and fold the top edge down. An ihram belt helps hold it in place and carry documents.

Rida (upper sheet): drape it over both shoulders, cross the longer side over your chest onto the opposite shoulder. For tawaf, bring the right side under your right armpit (idtiba‘); cover both shoulders again before the two rak‘ah.