Step by step

The four rites of Umrah

Umrah is completed through four rites, performed in order: Ihram, Tawaf, Sa'i, and the cutting of the hair. Here is what you do at each — and why.

1Step 1

Ihram — the sacred state

What you do

At or before the Miqat (the boundary stations), the pilgrim performs ghusl or wudu. Men wear two unstitched white cloths (the izar and the rida); women wear ordinary modest dress. You then make the intention (niyyah) for Umrah and recite the Talbiyah.

From this moment the restrictions of Ihram begin: no cutting hair or nails, no perfume, no sewn garments for men, no covering the head for men, no marital relations, and no hunting.

Why we do it

Status and adornment are stripped away. Rich and poor, ruler and labourer stand equal before Allah in two simple white cloths. The Talbiyah is the pilgrim's answer to Allah's call.

Du'a

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

Labbayka-llāhumma labbayk, labbayka lā sharīka laka labbayk, inna l-ḥamda wa n-niʿmata laka wa l-mulk, lā sharīka lak.

“Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Truly all praise, favour and sovereignty are Yours. You have no partner.”

Reference: The Talbiyah; restrictions per the Sunnah

2Step 2

Tawaf — circling the Kaaba

What you do

Make seven circuits counter-clockwise around the Kaaba, beginning and ending at the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad) — kiss it, touch it, or simply point toward it saying “Bismillāh, Allāhu akbar.” Men keep the right shoulder uncovered (idtibāʿ) and walk briskly (raml) in the first three circuits.

Du'a is made throughout; between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone the Prophet ﷺ recited “Rabbanā ātinā fi'd-dunyā ḥasanah…” (Qur'an 2:201). After Tawaf, pray two rak'ah behind the Maqam Ibrahim if possible, then drink Zamzam.

Why we do it

To circle the House of Allah is to orbit the very heart of monotheism — the same House whose foundations were raised by Prophet Ibrahim عليه السلام and his son Isma'il عليه السلام.

Du'a

⟶ paste Qur'an 2:201 Arabic from quran.com

Rabbana atina fi'd-dunya hasanah wa fi'l-akhirati hasanah wa qina 'adhab an-nar

Reference: Qur'an 2:201

Reference: Qur'an 2:125, 2:127, 22:29

The Black Stone

أَنَّهُ جَاءَ إِلَى الْحَجَرِ الأَسْوَدِ فَقَبَّلَهُ، فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ حَجَرٌ لاَ تَضُرُّ وَلاَ تَنْفَعُ، وَلَوْلاَ أَنِّي رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُقَبِّلُكَ مَا قَبَّلْتُكَ

‘Umar R.A (may Allah be pleased with him) came near the Black Stone and kissed it and said, “No doubt, I know that you are a stone and can neither benefit anyone nor harm anyone. Had I not seen Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) kissing you, I would not have kissed you.”

"بے شک میں جانتا ہوں کہ تو صرف ایک پتھر ہے، نہ تو کوئی نقصان پہنچا سکتا ہے اور نہ ہی کوئی فائدہ۔ اگر میں نے رسول اللہ ﷺ کو تجھے بوسہ دیتے ہوئے نہ دیکھا ہوتا تو میں بھی تجھے بوسہ نہ دیتا۔" (صحیح بخاری، صحیح مسلم)

Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 1597View on sunnah.com

3Step 3

Sa'i — between Safa and Marwah

What you do

Walk seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah (Safa to Marwah is the first; the seventh ends at Marwah). Men jog between the green markers. At Safa, recite “Inna ṣ-Ṣafā wa l-Marwata min shaʿāʾiri-llāh…” (Qur'an 2:158), face the Kaaba, make takbir and du'a.

Why we do it

Sa'i re-lives Hajrah رضي الله عنها's search for water for her infant Isma'il عليه السلام, after Prophet Ibrahim عليه السلام left them — by Allah's command — in the barren valley of Makkah. She ran seven times between the two hills; then the well of Zamzam burst forth beside the baby.

Allah honoured her trust and striving by making her path a rite for every pilgrim until the end of time.

Du'a

⟶ paste Qur'an 2:158 Arabic from quran.com

Inna s-Safa wa l-Marwata min sha'a'iri-llah

Reference: Qur'an 2:158

4Step 4

Halq or Taqsir — cutting the hair

What you do

Men either shave the head completely (halq, which is more rewarded) or trim it (taqsir); women trim a fingertip's length from the ends. This exits the state of Ihram and completes the Umrah.

Why we do it

A physical mark of humility and renewal — the pilgrim emerges cleansed, the Umrah complete.

Reference: Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ

Ready to put it into practice?

Follow the rites in order, from the Miqat to the final haircut, in our practical start-to-finish walkthrough.

How to perform Umrah