How to perform Umrah, step by step

Umrah is short: the rites usually take a few hours. Here are the steps in order, as most scholars teach them. Your group leader or a local scholar can guide you on details for your school of thought.

1. Ihram at the Miqat

Ihram is the sacred state you enter before crossing the Miqat, the boundary for pilgrims arriving towards Makkah. Men wear two plain white unstitched sheets. Women wear modest everyday clothing and do not cover the face or wear gloves.

• Bathe, then put on Ihram clothing before reaching the Miqat. Pilgrims flying to Jeddah usually change before or during the flight, because the plane crosses the Miqat before landing.
• Pilgrims going to Madinah first enter Ihram later, at Dhul Hulayfah (Abyar Ali) on the way to Makkah.
• Make the intention (niyyah) for Umrah and begin the Talbiyah: لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ (Labbayk Allahumma labbayk).

2. Tawaf

Tawaf is seven circuits around the Kaaba, anticlockwise, starting and ending at the line of the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad).

• Stop the Talbiyah when you begin Tawaf.
• Men uncover the right shoulder (idtiba) for this Tawaf, and walk briskly (raml) in the first three circuits if it is possible without pushing.
• After the seventh circuit, pray two rak'ahs, ideally behind the Maqam Ibrahim if there is space, otherwise anywhere in the mosque.
• Drink Zamzam water.

3. Sa'i

Sa'i is walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah, remembering Hajar's search for water for her son Isma'il.

• Start at Safa and finish at Marwah: Safa to Marwah is one, Marwah back to Safa is two.
• Men jog lightly between the green lights.
• Wheelchairs and electric carts are available for those who need them.

4. Halq or Taqsir

Men shave the head (halq) or shorten the hair all over (taqsir). Women cut a fingertip's length from the end of their hair. This completes Umrah, and the restrictions of Ihram end.

Visiting Madinah

Most packages include days in Madinah to pray at the Prophet's Mosque (Masjid an-Nabawi). Visiting the Rawdah needs a time slot booked in the official Nusuk app. Visiting Madinah is recommended but is not part of Umrah itself.

Questions pilgrims ask