The Arabic word ‘Umrah’ has been derived from ‘i’timar’, which is defined as ‘a visit.’ In Islamic terminology, however, Umrah refers to paying a visit to the Holy Ka’abah for the performance of the lesser pilgrimage in Makkah. It is an act of worship based on the teachings of Allah’s Prophet (Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam). As opposed to Hajj, the greater pilgrimage, which is performed during the specified days of Dhul Hijjah, Umrah can be performed any time during the year.
Now that you know what is Umrah, Let’s take a look at how to perform Umrah:
The Umrah ritual comprises four basic pillars including Ihram, Tawaf, Sa’ee, and Halq. We’ll take a look at each of them in detail:
Step 1 – Ihram
For anyone who plans to perform Hajj or Umrah, Ihram is a necessary ritual. Without Ihram, your Umrah or Hajj won’t be acceptable. So what exactly is Ihram? Ihram is a specific state that pilgrims enter and stay in while performing Hajj or Umrah. Entering the sacred state requires undertaking certain cleansing rituals and wearing the right clothes.
When all Hajj or Umrah pilgrims turn up at the house of Allah in the same Ihram attire, it creates total equality, thereby removing all financial and social differences between them. You can’t distinguish the rich from the poor when you go for Umrah or Hajj. It’s also important to understand here that entering Ihram places you under specific restrictions that you must be aware of. These include the following:
- Men are not permitted to shave hair or beards and cut their nails.
- Men are not allowed to wear stitched or woven clothes. For women, any fully white or black clothing that fully covers their body except face and hands is their Ihram. Thus, women are permitted to wear stitched clothes during Umrah or Hajj.
- Women should refrain from exposing any part of their body except the face and hands.
- Neither men nor women should wear any type of scent, including perfumes, deodorants, aftershaves, and scented soaps. You’ll be provided with unscented soaps for use during the trip.
- Pilgrims are not permitted to engage in sexual activity.
- Pilgrims are not allowed to hunt animals or cut plants or trees.
How to Make Umrah Niyyah
An important rule pilgrims must understand is that the niyyah for Umrah or Ihram must be made before crossing one of the Meeqats. Niyyah is the innate intention to perform any act of worship, which should be followed by Talbiyah, which is a special prayer that pilgrims should keep reciting until they reach Masjid Al-Haram.
Meeqats are prescribed stations set by the Prophet (Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam) for entering the state of Ihram for all those proceeding for Hajj or Umrah.
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ عُمْرَةً
Labbayka llāhumma ‘umratan.
O Allah, here I am to perform Umrah.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أُرِيْد الْعُمْرَةَ
Allāhumma innī urīdu l-‘umrata.
O Allah, I intend to perform Umrah.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أُرِيْدُ الْعُمْرَةَ فَيَسِّرْهَا لِيْ وَتَقَبَّلْهَا مِنِّيْ
Allāhumma innī urīdu l-‘umrata fa yassirhā lī wa taqabbalhā minnī.
O Allah, I intend to perform Umrah, so make it easy for me and accept it from me.
Step 2 – Tawaf Al-Umrah
Upon entering Masjid al-Haram, ensure you’re in a state of Wudhu and enter the Mataf, which is the area where Tawaf takes place. If your Tawaf requires it, perform Idtiba by uncovering your right shoulder. The recital of the Talbiyah should stop once the Tawaf commences.
Proceed towards the corner of the Kaaba where the Hajar al-Aswad is situated. This corner is the one that faces a single minaret (the other three corners face two minarets). There is a green light on the wall of the Masjid opposite the Kaaba, which indicates where the Tawaf starts from. This is the starting point of each circuit. Stand just before this starting point facing the Kaaba.
Intention
As with any other act of worship, make an intention to perform Tawaf solely for the sake of Allah. The following intention could be made:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أُرِيْدُ طَوَافَ بَيْتِكَ الْحَرَامِ فَيَسِّرْهُ لِيْ وَتَقَبَّلْهُ مِنِّيْ
Allāhumma innī urīdu l-ṭawwafa baytika l-ḥarāmi fa yassirhu lī wa taqabbalhu minnī.
O Allah, I intend to perform Tawaf of the Sacred Mosque, so accept it from me and make it easy for me.
Supplications for Tawaf
During Tawaf, you may recite the following Duas:
At the start of Tawaf
The following Dua was recited by Ali ibn Ali Talib I:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَاللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُمَّ إِيْمَاناً بِكَ وَتَصْدِيْقاً بِكِتَابِكَ، وَوَفَاءً بِعَهْدِكَ، وَاتِّبَاعاً لِسُنَّةِ نَبِيِّكَ مُحَمَّدْ
Bismi llāhi wa llāhu akbar, Allāhumma īmānan bika wa taṣdīqan bi kitābika wa wafā’an bi ahdika wattibā’an li sunnati nabiyyika Muḥammadin ﷺ.
In the name of Allah, Allah is the greatest. O Allah, out of faith in You, conviction in Your book, in fulfilment of Your covenant and in emulation of Your Prophet’s Sunnah ﷺ.
Between the Rukn al-Yamani and the Hajar al-Aswad
The following two supplications were recited by the Prophet ﷺ:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِيْ الدُنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَّفِيْ الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَّقِنَا عَذَابَ النَار
Rabbanā ātinā fi d-dunyā ḥasanatan wa fi l-ākhirati ḥasanatan wa qinā ‘adhāba n-nār.
O our Lord, grant us the good of this world, the good of the Hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the fire.
اللَّهُمَّ قَنِّعْنِيْ بِمَا رَزَقْتَنِيْ وَبَارِكْ لِيْ فِيْهِ، وَاخْلُفْ عَلَ كُلِّ غَائِبَةٍ لِّيْ بِخَيْرٍ
Allāhumma qanni’nī bimā razaqtanī wa bārik lī fih(i), wakhluf ‘ala kulli ghā’ibatin lī bi khayr.
O my Lord, make me content with what You have given me as sustenance, grant me blessings therein and grant me that which is better than what I have lost.
When passing the Mizab al-Rahmah, between the two corners, the Prophet ﷺ recited:
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الرَّاحَةَ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ وَالْعَفْوَ عِنْدَ الْحِسَابِ
Allāhumma innī as’aluka r-rāḥata ‘inda l-mawti wa l-‘afwa ‘inda l-ḥisābi.
O Allah, I ask You for comfort at the time of death and forgiveness at the time of reckoning.
During Tawaf
It is recorded in Ibn Majah that the following Duas may be read during Tawaf:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَفْوَ وَالْعَافِيَةَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ
Allāhumma innī as’aluka l-’afwa wa l-’āfīyata fi d-dunyā wa l-ākhirah.
O Allah, I ask You for forgiveness and safety in the worldly life and Hereafter.
سُبْحَان اللّٰهِ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ وَلآ اِلهَ اِلّا اللّهُ، وَاللّهُ اَكْبَرُ وَلا حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّة اِلَّا بِاللّهِ الْعَلِىّ الْعَظِيْم َ
Subḥāna llāhi wa l-ḥamdu lillāhi wa lā ilāha illa llāh(u), wa llāhu akbar(u), wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāhi l-’aliyyi l-’aẓīm.
Glory be to Allah. All Praise is due to Allah. There is no god besides Allah. Allah is the Greatest. There is no power or might except with Allah, the Most High and the Most Great.
After Tawaf
Once you’ve completed the seven rounds of Tawaf, follow these steps:
Salah Al-Tawaf
Upon finishing the Tawaf, perform two Rakahs of Salah, preferably in a position where Maqam Ibrahim is between you and the Kaaba. However, keep in mind that since Maqam Ibrahim is situated within the Mataf, there is often nowhere for pilgrims performing Tawaf to move except around and almost over the top of those praying just beyond Maqam Ibrahim, resulting in a great deal of congestion. If it isn’t possible to perform the prayer there as a result of crowding, it can be performed anywhere in Masjid al-Haram.
While moving to the place where you intend to perform the two Rakahs, it is recommended to audibly recite the following:
وَاتَّخِذُوا مِنْ مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى
Wattakhidhu min maqāmi Ibrāhīma muṣalla.
And take the Maqam Ibrahim as a place of Salah.
[Surah al-Baqarah, 2:125]
It is Sunnah to recite Surah al-Kafirun (Surah 109) in the first Rakah and Surah al-Ikhlas (Surah 112) in the second, after Surah al-Fatiha. Make sure you make plenty of Dua after completing the prayer.
Zamzam
After completing Salah and making Dua, drink your fill of Zamzam water which is available around the Tawaf area and from various water fountains and dispensers in Masjid al-Haram. The entrance to the old well of Zamzam has been covered to allow for more room to do Tawaf.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The water of Zamzam is for whatever purpose it is drunk for.” Before drinking the Zamzam water, make an intention that its consumption will be a means of fulfilling your wishes, whether that is good health, success in this world, or protection from the tribulations of the grave. When drinking the water, it is Mustahabb to stand and face the Kaaba, say Bismillah, pause to take a breath three times, and say Alhamdulillah after finishing. You can also rub it on your face and body. You may recite the following Dua after drinking the water:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا وَرِزْقًا وَاسِعًا وَعَمَلًا مُتَقَبَّلًا وَشِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ
Allahumma innī as’aluka ‘ilman nāfi’an, wa rizqan wāsi’an, wa ‘amalan mutaqabbalan, wa shifā’an min kulli dā’.
O Allah, I ask You for knowledge that is beneficial, provision that is abundant, accepted deeds, and a cure for every illness.
Step 3 – Sa’ee
Like Tawaf, Sa’ee is a mandatory step in Umrah. Simply put, it’s the practice of walking between the hills of Safa and Marwah seven times. After completing your Tawaf and performing Salah Al-Tawaf, return to Hajr Al-Aswad to carry out Istilam again before proceeding to the Safa hill to begin Sa’ee. Recite the following Verse from the Quran when approaching the Safa hill:
ِإِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ
Inna ṣ-ṣafā wa l-marwata min sha’ā’iri llāh(i).
Indeed, Safa and Marwa are from the Signs of Allah.
[Surah al-Baqarah, 2:158]
Then say:
أَبْدَأُ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللهُ بِهِ
Abda’u bimā bad’allahu bihi.
I begin with that which Allah has begun with.
These should only be recited once before Sa’i and not at the start of each lap.
Make Dua at Safa
Upon reaching the hill of Safa, face the direction of the Kaaba and raise your hands in supplication. Your view of the Kaaba may be obscured, so make an educated guess about its location and face this direction. Don’t raise your hands up to your earlobes or gesture towards the Kaaba as you would have done during Tawaf. You may say Takbir (Allāhu akbar), Tahlil (lā ilāha illā Allāh) and send Salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ.
It is Sunnah to recite the following Dua:
اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلّٰهِ الْحَمْدُ
Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, wa lillāhi l-ḥamd.
Allah is the greatest; Allah is the greatest; Allah is the greatest, and to Allah belongs all praise.
لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Lā ilāha illallāh waḥdahu lā sharīka lah(u), lahu l-mulku wa lahu l-ḥamdu yuḥyī wa yumīt(u), wa huwa ‘alā kulli shay’in qadīr.
There is no deity except Allah, alone without a partner. To Him belongs the Dominion, and to Him belongs all praise. He gives life and death, and He has power over everything.
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اَللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ، اَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ وَهَزَمَ اَلْأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ
Lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdah(u), anjaza wa’dahu wa naṣara ‘abdahu wa hazama l-aḥzāba waḥdah.
There is no deity except Allah alone. He fulfilled His promise, supported His slave and defeated the Confederates alone.
After reciting this Dua, you may recite your own supplications. Read the Dua a total of three times, making your own supplications in between each time, as was the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
Proceed to Marwa
From Safa, make your way towards Marwa. Between Safa and Marwa, you will encounter two sets of green fluorescent lights approximately 50 metres apart, which indicate the distance that Hajar ran in order to get to higher ground. These two markers are known as Milayn al-Akhdharayn (the two green mileposts). Between these two lights, it is Sunnah for men to run at a medium pace while women should continue normally.
Dhikr & Dua
There is no fixed Dhikr or Dua that has been prescribed to be read during Sa’i, so you may recite any prayers or supplications of your choice and send Salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ.
Make Dua at Marwa
Upon reaching the hill of Marwa, face the direction of the Kaaba, raise your hands in supplication and repeat the same supplications you recited at Safa.
This completes one lap of Sa’i. Returning back to Safa is considered a second lap.
End of Sa’i
Repeat this procedure until you have completed seven laps, at which point you should be at the hill of Marwa.
Leave the Haram
As you leave Masjid al-Haram, step out with your left foot and recite the following Dua, as was the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ when leaving the mosque:
بِسْمِ اللهِ وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَّامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ، اللَّهُمَّ إَنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
Bismi llāhi, wa ṣ-ṣalātu wa s-salāmu ‘ala rasūli llāh. Allāhumma innī as’aluka min faḍlik.
In the name of Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, I ask of you from Your bounty.
Step 4 – Halq or Taqsir
After Sa’ee, you’ll need to perform Halq or Taqsir to exit the state of Ihram. Unless you perform this critical step, you’ll stay in the state of Ihram. Halq refers to the shaving of the head, whereas Taqsir means trimming the hair.
Even if you don’t have any hair, run a razor over your head to complete the ritual. For taqsir, a minimum amount of hair must be trimmed equal to the length of a fingertip from all sides of the head where hair is present. While you may cut your hair on your own, assigning someone else to do that for you is also permitted.
Women, on the other hand, are forbidden to perform Halq. They only need to trim a fingertip’s length from the end of their hair, regardless of how short the hair is.
Step 5 – Ending Ihram
With the completion of Halq or Taqsir, you’ll exit the state of Ihram. As soon as your Ihram ends, you’ll be free from the associated restrictions such as the use of perfumes, cutting nails, engaging in marital relations, etc. You may now change into regular clothes.
Congratulations on Completing Your Umrah!
Congratulations, you’ve completed your Umrah. Instead of feeling proud of your achievement, keep repenting, thanking Allah for the privilege, and constantly make duas that your Umrah gets accepted.
