Performing Umrah is a deeply spiritual journey that allows Muslims to cleanse their hearts, seek forgiveness, and strengthen their bond with Allah (SWT). Unlike Hajj, Umrah can be performed at any time of the year and carries immense rewards for those who undertake it with sincere intention. This Umrah guide offers a complete, detailed walkthrough of the entire Umrah performing procedure, including preparations, rituals, and post-Umrah tips.
Before diving into the step by step Umrah guide, it’s important to understand what Umrah is. Umrah, often referred to as the ‘lesser pilgrimage,’ involves specific acts of worship performed in Makkah, including Tawaf, Sa’i, and shaving/trimming the hair. Though not mandatory like Hajj, Umrah holds significant spiritual value and offers countless blessings and opportunities for forgiveness.
One of the most crucial parts of a successful pilgrimage is Umrah pilgrimage preparation. This phase includes your travel, documentation, mental preparation, and understanding of the rituals ahead.
It’s important to understand the key Ihram rules and guidelines fully. Ihram is the state of spiritual purity and physical attire that marks the beginning of Umrah. It is a sacred state that pilgrims enter before performing the rites. The word Ihram comes from the Arabic root haram, meaning prohibited or sacred, and it signifies a state where certain actions become prohibited.
Once in Ihram, several actions become prohibited. These include:
Awareness of these prohibitions is essential to maintaining the sanctity of your pilgrimage.
After wearing the garments and formally entering the state of Ihram with your intention and Talbiyah, it is sunnah to perform Salah al-Ihram, a two-rak’ah nafl prayer dedicated to the start of your Umrah. This can be done at home, the airport, on the plane, or at the Miqat if you’re in Madinah or traveling from within Saudi Arabia. If you’re performing it before boarding or during the flight, ensure the plane offers prayer accommodations. This prayer can be read with your head covered since you’re not yet in the sacred state.
It is preferred to recite Surah al-Kafirun in the first rak’ah and Surah al-Ikhlas in the second. After completing the prayer, raise your hands and sincerely make du’a, asking Allah to accept your pilgrimage.
As you approach the Miqat boundary, make the niyyah (intention) for Umrah. It is ideal to delay this until you’re very close to Miqat so that you don’t spend unnecessary time under the Ihram restrictions. Make the intention both verbally and internally. Some common intentions are:
“Labbayka Allahumma Umrah” – O Allah, here I am for Umrah.
“Allahumma inni uridu al-Umrah fa yassirha li wa taqabbalha minni” – O Allah, I intend to perform Umrah, so make it easy and accept it from me.
This step formally begins your Umrah performing procedure.
Immediately after your niyyah, recite the Talbiyah — a crucial declaration of entering the sacred state of Ihram. It goes:
Labbayka Allahumma labbayk. Labbayka la sharika laka labbayk. Innal hamda, wan-ni’mata, laka wal-mulk, la sharika lak.
Repeat this throughout your journey until you reach the gates of Masjid al-Haram. It’s also sunnah to send salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ and make personal supplications during this phase.
As you approach the boundaries of the Haram of Makkah, increase your remembrance of Allah. It is a sacred area where specific actions are forbidden:
Respect for the sanctity of this space is vital. If you plan to perform another Umrah later, you’ll need to exit the Haram zone (commonly to Masjid Aisha) to re-enter the state of Ihram.
Upon entering Makkah, continue reciting Talbiyah and increase your dhikr and du’a. A beautiful du’a to recite at this point is:
Allahumma haza haramuka wa amnuka, fa harrimni ‘ala an-naar, wa aminni min adhabika yawma tab’athu ibadak, waj’alni min awliya’ik wa ahl ta’atika.
Translation: “O Allah, this is Your sanctuary and place of safety. Make me forbidden to the Fire, protect me from Your punishment, and make me one of Your obedient servants.”
Enter the mosque with your right foot, saying:
Bismillah, Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad. Allahummaghfir li waftah li abwaba rahmatik.
Once inside, lower your gaze until you approach the mataf (open space around the Kaaba). When ready, raise your eyes toward the Kaaba. This is one of the most powerful moments of the pilgrimage. Take time to reflect, make heartfelt du’a, and send salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ.
Recite:
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illa Allah.
Also consider this beautiful du’a:
Allahumma zid haza al-bayt tashrifan wa ta’zeeman…
Ask for forgiveness, peace, and acceptance as you prepare to begin the Tawaf — the first main ritual of Umrah.
Now that you’ve arrived in Masjid al-Haram, it’s time to begin the actual rituals of Umrah. Below is a detailed step by step umrah guide — starting with Tawaf, followed by Salah at Maqam Ibrahim, Sa’i, and finally the completion through Halq or Taqsir.
Tawaf is one of the core rites of Umrah. It involves walking seven times around the Kaaba in a counter-clockwise direction, starting and ending at the Black Stone (Hajr al-Aswad). This ritual reflects the unity of Muslims in the worship of the One Lord, as they circle His sacred house in harmony and humility.
To begin, make your way to the line marking the Black Stone and raise your hand to it while saying, “Bismillah, Allahu Akbar.” If you can, kiss the stone; otherwise, just point towards it.
Complete your seventh round at the Black Stone. With that, your Tawaf is complete.
After completing Tawaf, proceed to Maqam Ibrahim, the place where Prophet Ibrahim (AS) stood while building the Kaaba. If you are unable to pray directly behind it due to the crowd, you may offer the prayer anywhere within Masjid al-Haram.
If possible, take a moment to reflect on the spiritual significance of what you’ve just completed. This prayer is a beautiful moment to seal your Tawaf with gratitude and sincerity.
After the prayer, proceed to the Zamzam water stations. Drink with the intention of spiritual healing and offer a heartfelt du’a.
Sa’i is the ritual of walking back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwah, commemorating the devotion and determination of Hajar (AS), the wife of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), as she searched for water for her infant son, Ismail (AS). It symbolizes faith, struggle, and reliance on Allah.
Take your time during Sa’i, reflecting on the patience and perseverance demonstrated by Hajar (AS), and use this opportunity to connect with Allah through sincere prayers.
This is the final ritual of Umrah.
Once done, you are officially out of the state of Ihram and your Umrah is complete.
Now that you’ve arrived in Masjid al-Haram, it’s time to begin the actual rituals of Umrah. Below is a detailed step by step umrah guide — starting with Tawaf, followed by Salah at Maqam Ibrahim, Sa’i, and finally the completion through Halq or Taqsir.
Tawaf is one of the core rites of Umrah. It involves walking seven times around the Kaaba in a counter-clockwise direction, starting and ending at the Black Stone (Hajr al-Aswad). This ritual reflects the unity of Muslims in the worship of the One Lord, as they circle His sacred house in harmony and humility.
To begin, make your way to the line marking the Black Stone and raise your hand to it while saying, “Bismillah, Allahu Akbar.” If you can, kiss the stone; otherwise, just point towards it.
Complete your seventh round at the Black Stone. With that, your Tawaf is complete.
After completing Tawaf, proceed to Maqam Ibrahim, the place where Prophet Ibrahim (AS) stood while building the Kaaba. If you are unable to pray directly behind it due to the crowd, you may offer the prayer anywhere within Masjid al-Haram.
If possible, take a moment to reflect on the spiritual significance of what you’ve just completed. This prayer is a beautiful moment to seal your Tawaf with gratitude and sincerity.
After the prayer, proceed to the Zamzam water stations. Drink with the intention of spiritual healing and offer a heartfelt du’a.
Sa’i is the ritual of walking back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwah, commemorating the devotion and determination of Hajar (AS), the wife of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), as she searched for water for her infant son, Ismail (AS). It symbolizes faith, struggle, and reliance on Allah.
Take your time during Sa’i, reflecting on the patience and perseverance demonstrated by Hajar (AS), and use this opportunity to connect with Allah through sincere prayers.
This is the final ritual of Umrah.
Once done, you are officially out of the state of Ihram and your Umrah is complete.
The spiritual benefits of Umrah extend far beyond the physical rituals. It is an opportunity to reset your faith, cleanse your heart, and seek closeness to Allah (SWT) in a way that is deeply personal and powerful. Some of the key benefits include:
These benefits highlight the immense rewards of Umrah for both the soul and one’s spiritual journey.
Proper planning and small travel hacks can help make your Umrah smoother and more spiritually fulfilling. Here are some essential Umrah travel tips and advice to keep in mind:
These reminders, combined with your Umrah travel essentials, will help you avoid stress and stay present during every step of your spiritual journey.
This comprehensive Umrah guide was created to provide clarity, comfort, and confidence to anyone preparing for this life-changing act of worship. With this step by step Umrah guide, you now know exactly how to perform Umrah in detail. May your Umrah be accepted, and may it leave a lasting impact on your heart and soul.
Umrah can be performed at any time of the year, but many prefer to go during Ramadan for increased rewards, or during off-peak months (like Muharram, Safar, or Rajab) to avoid large crowds and high costs.
Yes, under the current Saudi regulations, women are allowed to perform Umrah without a Mahram if they are part of a registered travel group and meet specific visa conditions. However, it’s always best to check the latest rules before planning.
Your Umrah travel essentials should include: Ihram garments, unscented toiletries, comfortable shoes, a drawstring bag, power bank, prayer mat, copies of ID/passport, and printed or digital Essential Duas for Umrah.
It is mandatory to perform Sa’i right after Tawaf. However, if you’re tired or it’s extremely crowded, you can take a short rest before starting.
Performing Umrah more than once offers recurring forgiveness, helps build spiritual discipline, and strengthens your connection with Allah. Each Umrah renews your soul, multiplies rewards, and draws you closer to divine mercy.
