Umrah is a meaningful act of worship, so it helps to understand the main steps clearly before you travel. Alongside learning the rituals, you’ll also need to sort out your flights, visa, hotels and transport. There are a variety of Umrah packages out there, so it’s worth choosing one that fits your needs before you focus on the rituals themselves. Plan Your Umrah is a trusted UK-based company offering Hajj and Umrah packages for different budgets, so once your travel is arranged, here is a complete guide on how to perform Umrah step by step.
The 4 Main Steps of Umrah
Step 1 – Ihram: Take a bath and put on the Ihram clothing to enter the state of Ihram, then make your intention to begin the journey.
Step 2 – Tawaf: Once you enter Masjid al-Haram, perform Tawaf, which means walking around the Kaaba seven times in an anti-clockwise direction.
Step 3 – Sa’i: Perform Sa’i, which means walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah.
Step 4 – Taqseer: Before leaving the state of Ihram, men shave their heads, while women cut a small lock of hair to complete their Umrah.
How to Perform Umrah Step by Step
Let’s break each step down in more detail to make the process easier to follow.
Step 1: Ihram
Once you’ve set off for Saudi Arabia, make sure you’re dressed in the Ihram clothing. After leaving home, begin reciting the following dua and continue reciting the Talbiyah, which should be said aloud at least once:
Dua:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ
(In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah and there is no might nor power except with Allah.)
Talbiyah:
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
(At Your service, Allah, at Your service. At Your service, You have no partner, at Your service. Truly all praise, favour and sovereignty are Yours. You have no partner.)
Before entering Ihram, make sure you’re properly prepared:
Men wear sandals and two plain white sheets..
women wear their usual modest clothing along with a hijab or jilbab.
- Trim your nails
- Remove underarm and pubic hair
- Men should trim their moustache if needed
- Take a bath with the intention of Ihram
- Perfume can be applied to the body, but never to the Ihram sheets
- Wear the Ihram sheets
- Offer two rak’ahs of Nafal with your head covered
You haven’t actually entered the state of Ihram until you’ve made your intention and this happens once you cross the Miqat. With your head uncovered, declare your intention by saying:
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ العُمْرَةَ فَيَسِّرْهَا لِي وَتَقَبَّلْهَا مِنِّي
(O Allah, I intend to perform Umrah, please make it easy for me and accept it from me.)
When you enter Masjid al-Haram, recite the Darood e Sharif and ask Allah to open the doors of His mercy, then walk towards the Kaaba:
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
(O Allah, exalt the mention of Your Messenger. O Allah, forgive my sins and open the gates of Your mercy for me.)
Keeping your eyes fixed on the Kaaba, say:
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ
(Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, there is no god but Allah, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest and to Him belongs all praise.)
After this, continue reciting the Talbiyah and move forward to begin Tawaf.
Prohibitions of Ihram
While in Ihram, avoid the following:
- Cutting your nails
- Cutting hair or removing hair from any part of the body
- Using any scent on the body or Ihram sheets
- Wearing stitched clothing
- Wearing stitched sandals or footwear that covers the ankle or back of the foot
- Covering the face or head
- Hunting animals, even something as small as lice
- Any form of intimate contact
Keeping these rules in mind is an essential part of learning how to perform Umrah correctly.
Step 2: Tawaf
Tawaf means walking around the Kaaba seven times with respect and devotion, keeping the Kaaba on your left at all times. Stop reciting the Talbiyah once you reach the Kaaba and make sure you’re in a state of wudu before beginning. Men leave the right shoulder uncovered throughout Tawaf, a practice known as Idtiba and cover both shoulders again once Tawaf is complete.
Start at the Black Stone. If you can, kiss it; if not, touch it with your right hand; and if that isn’t possible either, simply face it and point towards it with your right hand, saying:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
(In the name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest.)
Men are encouraged to walk briskly, known as Raml, during the first three rounds if space allows, then walk normally for the remaining four. Upon reaching the Yemeni Corner, either touch it with your right hand while saying the same words above, or if that isn’t possible, continue without any specific gesture. Between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone, recite:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
(Our Lord, grant us good in this life and good in the hereafter and save us from the punishment of the Fire.)
After completing all seven rounds, perform Istilam by touching or kissing the Black Stone once more, saying:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
(In the name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest.)
Then proceed to Maqam Ibrahim and recite:
وَاتَّخِذُوا مِنْ مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى
(And take the station of Ibrahim as a place of prayer.)
Offer two rak’ahs of nafal near Maqam Ibrahim, with your head uncovered.
Zamzam water
After your prayer, head to the Zamzam well, located in the basement of the Haram and drink the water while standing, saying Bismillah and making the following dua:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا وَرِزْقًا وَاسِعًا وَشِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ
(O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, plentiful provision and healing from every illness.)
Step 3: Sa’i
Sa’i means walking, or briskly moving, seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah, located to the north and south of the Kaaba. As you leave the mosque, it’s customary to recite:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
(In the name of Allah and prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, I ask You for Your favour.)
As you approach Mount Safa, recite:
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا وَمَنْ تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ
(Verily, Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever performs Hajj or Umrah of the House, there is no blame on him for going between them. And whoever does good voluntarily, then verily Allah is All-Recognizing, All-Knowing.)
نَبْدَأُ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللَّهُ بِهِ
(We begin with what Allah began with.)
Climb Mount Safa, face the Qiblah, raise your hands and recite three times:
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
(Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest.)
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
(There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise. He gives life and causes death and He has power over all things.)
Walking from Safa to Marwah counts as the first lap and walking back from Marwah to Safa counts as the second, continuing in this way until the seventh lap ends at Marwah. After finishing, offer two rak’ahs of Nafal.
Step 4: Taqseer
After completing Sa’i, men have their heads fully shaved, while women trim a section of hair equal to roughly the length of a fingertip.
Once this is done, all the rules of Ihram are lifted and your Umrah is complete.
May Allah accept your Umrah, Ameen!!.
Conclusion
This guide covers an overview of how to perform Umrah step by step, from entering Ihram through to Tawaf, Sa’i and Taqseer. You’re welcome to read further or ask a trusted scholar for anything you’re unsure about. In the meantime, focus on preparing spiritually for your Umrah packages and let Plan Your Umrah manage your travel arrangements, including flights, accommodation and transport. Get in touch with the team today to start planning your journey.