Bismillah hir-Rahman nir-Rahim.(In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.)

This is not merely a blog post; it is a heartfelt guide, crafted with the precision of a scholar and the soul of a pilgrim. You have felt the heart’s calling, the pull towards the House of Allah. The journey of Umrah is a conversation between you and your Creator, and every step, every ritual, is a word in that sacred dialogue.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Performing Umrah

• Two Fard (Obligatory) Acts: These are the absolute cornerstones. If one is missed, the Umrah is invalid.
  1. Ihram: The state of intention and consecration.
  2. Tawaf: The seven-circuit circumambulation of the Kaaba.
• Two Wajib (Compulsory) Acts: These are required to complete the Umrah. If one is missed, the Umrah is still valid, but a penalty (Dam) is required as expiation.
  1. Sa’i: The seven laps between the hills of Safa and Marwa.
  2. Halq or Taqsir: The shaving or trimming of the hair.

Pillar 1: Ihram — Shedding the Worldly, Embracing the Sacred (Fard)

Ihram is not just the two white cloths a man wears; it is an inner state, a sacred intention (Niyyah) that transforms you from a tourist into a pilgrim.

The Practical Steps (The What):

1. Cleansing (Ghusl): Before reaching the designated Miqat (the boundary for entering Ihram), perform a full ritual bath (Ghusl), just as you would for Friday prayers. This is a powerful Sunnah.
2. Preparation: Trim your nails and remove any unwanted hair. For men, it is recommended to apply non-alcoholic perfume (Attar) to your body, but not to your Ihram garments.
3. The Garments:
   • Men: Wear your two unstitched white cloths, the Izar (for the lower body) and the Rida (for the upper body). This symbolizes the absolute equality of all men before Allah.
   • Women: There is no special garment. Your regular, modest Islamic clothing (Abaya) is your Ihram. You must not, however, cover your face with a Niqab or wear gloves.

The Intention & The Proclamation (The How):

1. Make your Niyyah (Intention): At the Miqat, you will formally make your intention to perform Umrah. This is the heart of the matter. You can say it in any language, but the intention in your heart is what counts. You can say:
   • “Labbayka Allahumma `Umrah.”
   • (O Allah, I answer Your call to perform Umrah.)
2. Recite the Talbiyah: From this moment until you see the Kaaba, you become a guest of Allah, and your anthem is the Talbiyah. Recite it frequently, with feeling and understanding. Men recite it aloud, and women recite it softly.
   • لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَكَ
   • “Labbayka Allahumma labbayk, labbayka la sharika laka labbayk. Inna al-hamda wa an-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.)

The Spiritual Meaning (The Why):

By entering Ihram, you leave behind your status, your wealth, your nationality. You are now simply a servant of Allah, equal to the millions around you. The restrictions of Ihram (no perfume, no cutting hair/nails, no arguments, etc.) are a training in self-control and mindfulness.

Pillar 2: Tawaf — Orbiting the Heart of Islam (Fard)

Upon reaching the Masjid al-Haram, your Talbiyah will cease, and your eyes will behold the magnificent Kaaba. This is a moment for profound, personal Dua. Enter Masjid al-Haram with the right foot and say “Allāhu Akbar, Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammad.” Make Your Niyyah Again Silently “O Allah, I perform Ṭawāf for Your sake.”

The Practical Steps (The What):

Tawaf consists of seven circuits around the Kaaba, performed in an anti-clockwise direction. You must be in a state of Wudu (ablution) for your Tawaf to be valid.

1. The Starting Point: Begin at the corner of the Kaaba where the Hajr-e-Aswad (The Black Stone) is set. A green light on the opposite wall marks this starting line.
2. Istilam: Uncover your right shoulder (for men only, a practice called Idtiba’). Face the Black Stone and perform Istilam by kissing it if you can without harming others, or by touching it and kissing your hand. If you are too far, simply raise your right hand towards it and say “Bismillahi, Allahu Akbar.” (In the name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest).
3. Begin Circulating: Start your circuits. For the first three circuits, men should perform Raml—a brisk walk with puffed-out chest, a Sunnah commemorating the strength of the early Muslims.
4. The Yamani Corner (Ar-Rukn Al-Yamani): This is the corner before the Black Stone. If you can, touch it with your right hand (do not kiss it). If you cannot, simply pass by without gesturing.

The Supplications (The Duas):

Many dua cards give specific, long duas for each of the seven circuits. Know this: There are no fixed Duas required for each circuit. This is your time to speak to Allah. You can:

• Recite Qur’an.
• Make Dhikr (Tasbeeh, Tahleel, Takbeer).
• Supplicate in your own language for yourself, your family, and the entire Ummah.

However, there is one beautiful, comprehensive Dua that our Prophet (PBUH) consistently recited between the Yamani Corner and the Black Stone in every circuit. Strive to recite this:

• رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
• “Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil ‘akhirati hasanatan waqina ‘adhaban-nar.”
• (Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.)

After Tawaf:

1. Salah: Once you complete seven circuits, cover your right shoulder. Proceed behind the Maqam Ibrahim (Station of Abraham) and pray two Rakats of Salah. It is a Sunnah to recite Surah Al-Kafirun in the first Rakat and Surah Al-Ikhlas in the second.
2. Zamzam: Drink your fill of Zamzam water, facing the Kaaba, and make personal Dua, for it is a time when prayers are answered.

Pillar 3: Sa’i — In the Footsteps of Faith (Wajib)

Now you will perform Sa’i, the walk between the hills of Safa and Marwa, commemorating the desperate search for water by Hajar (AS) for her infant son, Ismail (AS). 

The Practical Steps (The What):

Sa’i consists of seven laps between the two hills. It’s recommended, but not obligatory, to be in a state of Wudu. 

1. Start at Safa: Proceed to the hill of Safa. Upon ascending, face the Kaaba, raise your hands in supplication and say “Allahu Akbar” three times. Recite recommended Duas and then make your own personal prayers.
2. Walk to Marwa: Begin walking towards Marwa. This is one lap.
3. The Green Lights: You will see a stretch marked by green fluorescent lights. This is where Hajar (AS) ran. It is Sunnah for men to jog or run lightly between these lights. Women should continue at a normal pace.
4. Arrive at Marwa: Upon reaching Marwa, face the Kaaba and repeat the same supplications you made at Safa. This completes your second lap.
5. Repeat until 7th leg ends at Marwah (Ṣafā→Marwah = 1, Marwah→Ṣafā = 2 … 7 ends at Marwah).
6. Conclude Saʿī with any dua; raise hands like in ṣalāh.

Recommended Duas: 

1. Begin at Safa: As you approach the hill of Safa, it is a Sunnah to recite the following verse from the Qur’an:
   • إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ
   • “Innas-Safa wal-Marwata min Sha’a’irillah.”
   • (Indeed, As-Safa and Al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allah.) – [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:158]
2. Then say:
   • “Abda’u bima bada’Allahu bihi.”
   • (I begin with what Allah began with.)
3. Face the Kaaba and Supplicate: Upon reaching Safa, turn to face the Kaaba. Raise your hands in supplication and say the following three times:
   • “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.” (Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest.)
4. Then, it is highly recommended to recite this beautiful supplication, also three times:
   • لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ، وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ. لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ، أَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ، وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ، وَهَزَمَ الأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ
   • “La ilaha ill-Allahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in Qadir. La ilaha ill-Allahu wahdah, anjaza wa’dah, wa nasara ‘abdah, wa hazam-al-ahzaba wahdah.”
   • (There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. His is the Sovereignty and His is the praise, and He is powerful over all things. There is no god but Allah alone. He fulfilled His promise, gave victory to His slave, and defeated the confederates alone.)
5. After reciting this, this is a prime time for your own personal, heartfelt Dua. Ask Allah for whatever you desire from the good of this world and the next.
6. Proceed to Marwa: Begin your first lap, walking towards Marwa. Between Safa and Marwa, it is a time for Dhikr and personal Dua.
7. Arrive at Marwa: Upon reaching Marwa, face the Kaaba and repeat the exact same supplications you made at Safa (the Takbir and the long Dua). This completes your first lap.

The Spiritual Meaning (The Why):

Sa’i is a profound lesson in faith and perseverance. It teaches us that we must put in the effort, we must “run” for our needs, but our ultimate reliance and trust (Tawakkul) must be in Allah, who provided for Hajar from a source she could never have imagined.

Pillar 4: Halq or Taqsir — The Release (Wajib)

The Practical Steps (The What):

Men: You have two choices.

Halq (Shaving): To shave the entire head. This is considered more virtuous and the Prophet (PBUH) made Dua three times for those who did so.

Taqsir (Trimming): To trim the hair from all parts of the head, roughly the length of a fingertip.

Women: Women perform Taqsir only. They should gather their hair and trim a fingertip’s length from the end. is the final ritual, signifying your exit from the state of Ihram.

With this act, the restrictions of Ihram are lifted, and your Umrah is complete.

Congratulations — Umrah Complete! 

Reward: “An Umrah to the next Umrah erases the sins between them.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī 1773)

Spend your remaining days in Makkah in ṭawāf, Qurʾān, ṣalāh, and acts of kindness. Remember the souls back home and the Ummah in your prayers.

Beloved pilgrim, you now have the map. But remember, Umrah is not a checklist. It is a journey of the soul. Pour your heart out during Tawaf, feel the desperation and hope during Sa’i, and experience the humility of Ihram. Let it be a journey that cleanses your heart and changes your life.

Should you desire a companion to handle the worldly logistics of travel, accommodation, and transport, allowing you to focus entirely on this sacred conversation, Terrific Travel is here to serve. We design journeys that provide peace of mind, so you can find peace of heart.