The complete Umrah reference

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

An exhaustive, Sunnah-aligned reference covering preparation, Miqat boundaries, Ihram rulings, Tawaf, Sa’i, Tahallul, phonetics, and Fiqh solutions.

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The 5 Designated Sacred Miqat Boundaries

Dhul Hulaifah (Abyar Ali)

Miqat

450 km north of Makkah (9 km from Madinah)

The Miqat for pilgrims residing in or traveling through Madinah.

Al-Juhfah (Rabigh)

Miqat

183 km northwest of Makkah

The Miqat for pilgrims arriving from North America, Europe, Turkey, Syria, Egypt, and North Africa.

Qarn al-Manazil (As-Sayl al-Kabir)

Miqat

75 km east of Makkah

The Miqat for pilgrims coming from Najd, Riyadh, UAE, Qatar, Oman, and the Arabian Gulf.

Yalamlam (Sa’diyyah)

Miqat

92 km southeast of Makkah

The Miqat for pilgrims coming from Yemen, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Southeast Asia.

Dhat Irq

Miqat

94 km northeast of Makkah

The Miqat for pilgrims coming from Iraq, Iran, and eastern inland routes.

Masjid Ayesha (Tan’eem)

Miqat

7.5 km from the Haram plaza

The official Miqat for residents or visitors already inside Makkah who wish to initiate a secondary Umrah.

Exhaustive Step-by-Step Ritual Breakdown

1) Physical Preparation & Entering Ihram before Miqat

#1

Purification, Sunnah Ghusl, Attire, & Intention (Niyyah)

Before reaching the designated Miqat boundary, perform Sunnah Ghusl (ritual bath), trim your nails, remove unwanted body hair, and apply perfume to your skin (never to the Ihram cloth).

Men wear the Ihram attire consisting of two unstitched white towels: the Izar (wrapped around the lower waist) and the Rida (draped over the shoulders). Sandals must leave the ankles and top ridge of the foot exposed.

Women wear loose, modest clothing of any opaque color (no specific color required), ensuring full Hijab while keeping their face and hands uncovered (avoiding tight-fitting niqabs or gloves tied to the face).

When crossing the Miqat boundary (or when the aircraft flight captain announces 20 minutes prior to crossing), state your verbal intention (Niyyah) for Umrah.

Prescribed Sunnah Supplication

لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ عُمْرَةً

"Labbayk Allāhumma ‘Umratan"

Here I am at Your service, O Allah, to perform Umrah.

Key Practical Guidance

▪Flight Tip: Put on your Ihram garments at home or your departure airport prior to boarding, then make the verbal Niyyah when the aircraft approaches the Miqat line in the air.

▪Prohibitions during Ihram: No cutting hair or nails, no perfume/scented soap, no romantic speech or intimacy, no hunting, no head covering for men (hats/hoods), and no gloves or tight face veils for women.

2) The Sacred Talbiyah Chant & Journey to Makkah

#2

Continuous Dhikr from Miqat until Tawaf Begins

Immediately after formulating Niyyah at the Miqat, begin reciting the Talbiyah continuously. Men raise their voices moderately, while women recite softly to themselves.

Recite the Talbiyah while walking, riding, standing, and sitting, maintaining presence of heart and reflecting upon the glory of Allah until your eyes gaze upon the Holy Kaaba.

Prescribed Sunnah Supplication

لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكُ، لاَ شَرِيكَ لَك

"Labbayka Allāhumma Labbayk, Labbayka Lā Sharīka Laka Labbayk. Inna al-Ḥamda wa an-Ni‘mata Laka wa al-Mulk, Lā Sharīka Lak."

Here I am at Your service O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Truly all praise, grace, and sovereignty belong to You. You have no partner.

3) Entering Masjid al-Haram & First Sight of Kaaba

#3

Sacred Entrance Etiquette & Supplication

Enter Masjid al-Haram through any open gate with your right foot first, reciting the Sunnah supplication for entering mosques.

Upon first sighting the Holy Kaaba, raise your hands, pause peacefully, and offer heartfelt supplications—as prayers offered at first sight of the Kaaba are answered by Allah.

Prescribed Sunnah Supplication

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ، اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ

"Bismillāh, wa as-Salātu wa as-Salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh. Allāhumma-ftaḥ lī abwāba raḥmatik."

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.

4) Performing Tawaf al-Umrah (7 Circuits Counter-Clockwise)

#4

Hajar al-Aswad, Raml, Idtiba’, & Supplications

Men adjust their upper Ihram cloth to perform Idtiba’—uncovering the right shoulder and placing both ends over the left shoulder (only during Tawaf).

Proceed to the starting line aligned with Hajar al-Aswad (indicated by the green light on the courtyard wall). Face the Black Stone, raise your right hand, and say: "Bismillāhi Allāhu Akbar".

Circumambulate the Kaaba keeping it to your left. For men, perform Raml (brisk walking with short steps) during the first 3 circuits, then walk normally for the final 4 circuits.

Touch the Yemeni Corner (Rukn al-Yamani) if possible without pushing, or pass it without pointing. Between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone, recite the prescribed Quranic Dua.

Prescribed Sunnah Supplication

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

"Rabbanā ātinā fī ad-dunyā ḥasanatan wa fī al-ākhirati ḥasanatan wa qinā ‘adhāba an-nār."

Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the Fire.

Key Practical Guidance

▪Idtiba’ is Sunnah ONLY during the 7 circuits of Tawaf. Cover your shoulder before performing the 2 Rakah prayer behind Maqam Ibrahim.

▪If you lose track of circuits, build upon the lower number you are certain of (e.g. if unsure whether 4 or 5, count as 4).

5) Two Rakah Prayer Behind Maqam Ibrahim & Drinking Zamzam

#5

Sunnah Prayer & Blessed Hydration

Cover your right shoulder. Proceed behind Maqam Ibrahim (or anywhere in Masjid al-Haram if crowded) and pray two Rakahs.

Recite Surah Al-Kafirun in the 1st Rakah and Surah Al-Ikhlas in the 2nd Rakah.

Proceed to the Zamzam water fountains. Drink while standing, face the Qibla, and make sincere Dua for health, knowledge, and forgiveness.

Prescribed Sunnah Supplication

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا وَرِزْقًا وَاسِعًا وَشِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ

"Allāhumma innī as’aluka ‘ilman nāfi‘an wa rizqan wāsi‘an wa shifā’an min kulli dā’."

O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, abundant provision, and cure from every disease.

6) Sa’i Between Mount Safa & Mount Marwah (7 Laps)

#6

Commemorating the Devotion of Hajar (RA)

Proceed to Mount Safa. When approaching, recite Quran verse 2:158: "Inna aṣ-Ṣafā wa al-Marwata min sha‘ā’irillāh..."

Ascend Safa, face the Kaaba, raise your hands, recite Takbir 3 times, and declare: "Lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah..."

Walk towards Mount Marwah. When passing between the two sets of green fluorescent lights, men jog lightly (Harwalkah).

Reaching Marwah completes Lap 1. Returning to Safa completes Lap 2. Complete 7 total laps, ending at Mount Marwah on Lap 7.

Prescribed Sunnah Supplication

إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ ۖ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا

"Inna aṣ-Ṣafā wa al-Marwata min sha‘ā’irillāh..."

Indeed, Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah.

7) Tahallul: Hair Shaving or Trimming & Umrah Completion

#7

Exiting the Ihram State

Men: Shaving the entire head (Halq) is most virtuous, carrying triple blessings, or trimming hair evenly from all sides (Taqseer).

Women: Gather hair together and trim a fingertip’s length (approx. 1-2 cm) from the end.

Once hair cutting is complete, all Ihram restrictions are lifted and your Umrah is officially accepted, SubhanAllah!

The practical side of the trip

Where to stay, when to book, and how to get between the cities

Real door-to-gate walking times and whether the route has any shade, a calendar of which months cost what and why, and a full guide to the Haramain line linking straight to the operator.

Hotel distance tablearrow_forwardHaramain train guidearrow_forward
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Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Crossing the Miqat boundary on an airplane without wearing Ihram garments or making Niyyah.
  • Keeping the right shoulder uncovered (Idtiba’) during prayer or Sa’i (it is Sunnah ONLY during Tawaf).
  • Aggressively shoving through crowds to touch Hajar al-Aswad (harming fellow Muslims is Haraam).
  • Miscounting a round trip from Safa to Marwah as 1 lap (Safa ➔ Marwah is Lap 1; Marwah ➔ Safa is Lap 2).
  • Women cutting hair before men in their group finish theirs, or cutting hair in public unshielded areas.

Umrah Fiqh & Practical FAQs

What should I do if I lose count of Tawaf circuits?expand_more

Build upon the lower number of which you are certain. For example, if you are unsure whether you completed 4 or 5 circuits, count it as 4 circuits and complete 3 more.

Can women perform Umrah without a Mahram?expand_more

Yes! The Saudi Ministry of Hajj & Umrah permits women to travel for Umrah without a Mahram in safe group travel, aligned with contemporary Fiqh council rulings.

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