How to Perform Umrah Step by Step: Full Guide

Umrah is the "lesser pilgrimage" — a visit to the Sacred Mosque in Makkah that can be done at any time of year, unlike Hajj. It is shorter and simpler than Hajj, but every step carries deep meaning, and the reward is immense. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed between it and the previous one" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1773). Allah (SWT) links it directly to Hajj in the Quran: "And complete the Hajj and Umrah for Allah" (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:196).

This guide walks you through the four core rites in order, exactly as they are performed — so you arrive knowing what to do at each stage.

What you'll learn:

• The four essential steps of Umrah, in sequence
• How to enter ihram and what its rules are
• Exactly how to perform tawaf and sai
• How to exit ihram and complete your Umrah correctly

What Is Umrah and Is It Obligatory?

Umrah (عُمْرَة) means "to visit a populated place." In the sacred sense, it is the visit to the Kaaba to perform tawaf, sai, and halq or taqsir. Unlike Hajj, it has no fixed date — you can perform it in any month.

Scholars differ on its ruling. The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools hold it is obligatory once in a lifetime for anyone able. The Hanafi and Maliki schools hold it is a strongly confirmed sunnah (sunnah muakkadah). Either way, it is among the most beloved and rewarded acts a Muslim can do.

Umrah rests on four pillars performed in order: ihram, tawaf, sai, and halq/taqsir. Miss one or do them out of sequence and the Umrah is affected — so the order matters.

Before You Begin

Prepare yourself physically and spiritually before you reach the miqat:

• Clip your nails, trim unwanted body hair, and perform ghusl — the full ritual bath is a strong sunnah before ihram. (New to it? See our guide on how to perform ghusl.)
• Men wear two unstitched white sheets — one around the waist (izar), one over the shoulder (rida) — with no underwear sewn to fit. Women wear ordinary modest clothing that covers properly; there is no special dress, and the face is left uncovered in ihram.
• Apply perfume to the body (not the ihram cloth) before entering ihram — after that, scent is forbidden.
• Know your miqat — the boundary point where ihram becomes obligatory.

Step-by-Step: How to Perform Umrah

Step 1: Enter Ihram at the Miqat

Ihram is both the state of sacredness and the clothing. You enter it at the miqat, one of five boundary points the Prophet ﷺ fixed for pilgrims coming from each direction. If you are flying, you enter ihram before the plane crosses the miqat — the crew usually announces it.

At the miqat:

1. Pray two rak'ahs (if it is a valid time to pray).

2. Make the intention (niyyah) for Umrah in your heart. You may say aloud:

   لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ عُمْرَةً — Labbayka Allahumma 'Umrah — "Here I am, O Allah, for Umrah."

3. Begin the talbiyah and repeat it often — while traveling, ascending, descending, and after prayers:

   لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ

   Labbayka Allahumma labbayk, labbayka la sharika laka labbayk, inna al-hamda wan-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." — Sahih al-Bukhari 1549

Once in ihram, the restrictions apply: no cutting hair or nails, no perfume, no hunting, no marital relations, and — for men — no stitched clothing and no covering the head.

Step 2: Perform Tawaf Around the Kaaba

When you reach the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram), stop the talbiyah and prepare for tawaf — circling the Kaaba seven times counter-clockwise.

1. Start at the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad). Face it, and if you can reach it, kiss or touch it; if not, point toward it and say "Allahu Akbar." Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) kissed it and said plainly, "I know you are a stone that can neither benefit nor harm — I only kiss you because I saw the Prophet ﷺ kiss you" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1597).
2. Circle the Kaaba seven times, keeping it on your left. Each full loop back to the Black Stone is one circuit.
3. Men do raml (walking briskly with short steps) in the first three circuits, then walk normally for the rest.
4. Make dua freely throughout — there is no fixed script for most of the tawaf. Between the Yemeni corner and the Black Stone, the sunnah is to recite: "Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah wa fil-akhirati hasanah wa qina 'adhab an-nar."
5. After seven circuits, pray two rak'ahs behind Maqam Ibrahim if there is room, otherwise anywhere in the mosque. Then drink Zamzam water.

Step 3: Perform Sai Between Safa and Marwa

Sai is walking seven times between the two small hills of Safa and Marwa, re-living Hajar's search for water for her son Isma'il. Allah ﷻ calls them His symbols: "Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah" (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:158).

1. Begin at Safa. Face the Kaaba, raise your hands, and make dua.
2. Walk to Marwa — that is one trip. Walk to Safa — that is two. Continue until you reach seven, ending at Marwa.
3. Men jog lightly between the two green markers along the way; women walk normally throughout.
4. Make dua at each hill and along the path — again, there is no fixed formula, so ask Allah for whatever you need.

Step 4: Shave or Trim Your Hair (Halq or Taqsir)

The final rite that ends your Umrah:

• Men: shave the whole head (halq, more rewarded) or trim it evenly all around (taqsir).
• Women: gather the hair and cut about a fingertip's length (roughly 2–3 cm) from the ends. Women do not shave.

With that, you exit ihram. Its restrictions lift and your Umrah is complete.

Umrah at a Glance

While you are in the Haramain, keep your five daily prayers on time — Islamful's free tools make that easy, whether you're at home preparing or already in Makkah:

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Crossing the miqat without ihram. If you pass it un-ihramed, you must go back or offer a compensation (dam). Enter ihram before the boundary.
• Miscounting the circuits. Losing track in the crowd is common — count deliberately, and if unsure, build on the lower number you are certain of.
• Men covering the head or wearing stitched clothes. Both break ihram rules and require a fidyah.
• Starting sai before tawaf. The order is fixed: tawaf comes first, then sai.
• Women shaving the head. Women only trim a small amount; shaving is not permitted for them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I perform Umrah on behalf of someone else? Yes — you may perform Umrah for a deceased person or someone unable to travel due to age or illness, provided you have already performed your own Umrah first.

How long does Umrah take? The rites themselves usually take two to four hours depending on the crowd. In peak seasons like Ramadan, it can take much longer.

Do I need a mahram as a woman? The majority of scholars require a woman traveling for Umrah to be accompanied by a mahram. Rulings and local regulations vary, so check the requirements that apply to you.

Summary

Umrah is four rites, done in order, that wipe away sins and draw you close to Allah:

• Ihram at the miqat with intention and the talbiyah (Sahih al-Bukhari 1549).
• Tawaf — seven circuits around the Kaaba, starting at the Black Stone.
• Sai — seven trips between Safa and Marwa, ending at Marwa (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:158).
• Halq or taqsir — shave or trim to exit ihram and complete the Umrah.

New to worship in general? Ground the basics first with how to pray salah for beginners, and keep your prayer times accurate throughout your journey. May Allah accept your Umrah. And Allah knows best (والله أعلم).