Umrah is a beautiful act of worship that combines body, heart, and tongue in obedience to Allah. It is not just a journey to Makkah, but a journey of returning, repenting, and renewing your connection with your Lord. Allah commanded:
وَأَتِمُّوا الْحَجَّ وَالْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ
“And complete the Hajj and ‘Umrah for Allah.” [Qur’an 2:196]
Performing Umrah “for Allah” means following the Sunnah as closely as possible, purifying your intention, and avoiding innovations. What follows is a step-by-step outline of Umrah according to the Sunnah, from the moment you prepare to enter ihrām until you leave it.
How to Perform Umrah Step by Step According to the Sunnah?
1. Clean Yourself and Prepare for Ihrām
Before reaching the mīqāt, follow the Sunnah of purification:
Take a full bath (ghusl), trim nails, remove underarm and pubic hair, and apply perfume to the body (for men) before entering ihrām. This was the practice of the Prophet ﷺ before ihrām as reported by his companions. Women may also bathe and clean themselves but avoid perfume that can be smelled by others. After the ihrām is put on, no further perfume is applied.
2. Wear the Clothing of Ihrām Correctly
Men wear two unstitched white cloths:
– One wrapped around the waist (izār)
– One over the shoulders (ridā’)
Women wear normal modest Islamic clothing that fulfills hijab, without specific color required, and without beautification for display. Ihrām for them is in state, not in a special uniform.
From the moment you make intention at the mīqāt, certain things become forbidden:
– Cutting hair or nails
– Using scented products
– Marital relations and their precursors
– Hunting land animals
– For men: wearing stitched, fitted clothing, or covering the head directly
3. Enter Ihrām at the Mīqāt With the Niyyah of Umrah
When you reach your designated mīqāt (by land, air, or sea), you enter ihrām there or just before it. For Umrah, form the intention in your heart, for example:
“Labbayka ‘umrah” (Here I am, O Allah, for ‘Umrah).
Then begin reciting the talbiyah as taught by the Prophet ﷺ:
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
“Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Verily all praise, blessings, and sovereignty belong to You. You have no partner.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 1549 | Sahih Muslim 1184]
Continue the talbiyah frequently on the way to Makkah.
4. Enter Masjid al-Ḥarām With Respect and Dhikr
When you reach Masjid al-Ḥarām, enter with your right foot and say the du‘ā for entering a masjid. Among what is authentically reported:
بِاسْمِ اللَّهِ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ، اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
“In the Name of Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy.”
[Sahih Muslim 713]
Let your heart be filled with awe when you first see the Ka‘bah. There is no specific, fully authentic du‘ā fixed for that first sight, but you may make heartfelt personal du‘ā, asking for forgiveness, guidance, and acceptance.
5. Begin Ṭawāf: Start From the Black Stone
For Umrah, your first act in the sanctuary is ṭawāf (circling the Ka‘bah seven times).
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Go to the Black Stone (al-Ḥajar al-Aswad).
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Align yourself with it, with the Ka‘bah to your left.
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If possible without harming others, touch and kiss it. If not, point toward it with your right hand and say بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ (“In the Name of Allah, Allah is Greatest.”).
Men perform iḍṭibā‘ (uncovering the right shoulder) during this ṭawāf only: place the upper cloth under the right armpit and over the left shoulder.
In the first three circuits, men (if there is enough space) perform raml (a slightly brisk, energetic walk). In the last four, walk normally.
[Sahih al-Bukhari 1603]
6. Complete Seven Circuits With Humility and Dhikr
You circle the Ka‘bah seven times, keeping it to your left, beginning and ending each circuit at the Black Stone. There is no single fixed du‘ā that must be recited each round. You may recite Qur’an, make dhikr, and du‘ā from your heart.
Between the Yemeni Corner (ar-Rukn al-Yamānī) and the Black Stone, it is Sunnah to recite:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً، وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً، وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
“Our Lord, give us in this world good and in the Hereafter good, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” [Qur’an 2:201]
If you can touch the Yemeni Corner without harming anyone, do so; otherwise do not point to it.
7. Pray Two Rak‘ahs After Ṭawāf Behind Maqām Ibrāhīm
After completing seven circuits, cover your right shoulder again (ending iḍṭibā‘). Then go to Maqām Ibrāhīm if possible and place it between you and the Ka‘bah, and pray two rak‘ahs.
If it is too crowded, you may pray the two rak‘ahs in any suitable place in the masjid.
8. Drink Zamzam With Intention and Du‘ā
After the two rak‘ahs, go to the Zamzam area, drink Zamzam water, facing the Ka‘bah if possible, and make du‘ā according to your needs. The Prophet ﷺ said:
مَاءُ زَمْزَمَ لِمَا شُرِبَ لَهُ
“Zamzam water is for whatever it is drunk for.”
[Sunan Ibn Mājah 3062 | Hasan]
9. Go to Ṣafā to Begin Sa‘y
Then proceed to the hill of Ṣafā to begin sa‘y between Ṣafā and Marwah. As you approach, recite the verse:
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ
“Indeed, Ṣafā and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah.” [Qur’an 2:158]
So you start at Ṣafā and end the seventh round at Marwah.
10. Stand on Ṣafā Facing the Ka‘bah and Make Du‘ā
Climb Ṣafā until you can see the Ka‘bah if possible. Face the Ka‘bah, raise your hands, praise Allah and send ṣalāh on the Prophet ﷺ, then recite what he recited:
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ، أَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ، وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ، وَهَزَمَ الْأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ
[Ṣahih Muslim 1218]
After saying this, make personal du‘ā. Then repeat the dhikr above and du‘ā two more times (so you say the dhikr three times, making du‘ā in between).
11. Walk Between Ṣafā and Marwah Seven Times
From Ṣafā, walk toward Marwah. This is one lap. From Marwah back to Ṣafā is the second, and so on, until you complete seven laps, ending at Marwah.
Between the two green markers in the path, men should lightly jog (sa‘y), while women walk normally. There is no fixed du‘ā you must stick to every lap; recite Qur’an, dhikr, and make du‘ā from your heart.
12. Shave or Shorten the Hair to Exit Ihrām
When you finish the seventh lap at Marwah, your Umrah is completed with one final essential step: cutting the hair.
For men:
– The Sunnah and more rewarding is complete shaving (ḥalq).
– Shortening (taqsīr) is allowed: cut from all over the head, not just a few hairs.
For women:
– Do not shave. They trim a small amount (about a fingertip’s length) from the ends of their hair.
The Prophet ﷺ made du‘ā three times for those who shave, and once for those who shorten:
اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمِ الْمُحَلِّقِينَ
They asked, “And those who shorten, O Messenger of Allah?”
He said:
وَالْمُقَصِّرِينَ
[Sahih al-Bukhari 1727 | Sahih Muslim 1301]
After cutting the hair, you come out of ihrām completely: all restrictions are lifted.
How to Avoid Common Mistakes During Umrah?
1. Causing Harm Just to Touch or Kiss the Black Stone
The Prophet ﷺ touched and kissed the Black Stone when possible, but he never harmed anyone.
Shoving, pushing, or climbing over others is a sinful act during a moment meant to purify the heart.
2. Pointing at the Yemeni Corner
The Prophet ﷺ only touched the Yemeni Corner if he could reach it. He did not gesture toward it from afar.
Touch it if possible, otherwise simply pass without pointing.
3. Reciting Talbiyah Inside Ṭawāf
Talbiyah stops when you begin ṭawāf. Continuing it during ṭawāf is not from the Sunnah. The pilgrim should focus on dhikr, Qur’an, and du‘ā during the circling.
«أَنَّهُ كَانَ يُمْسِكُ عَنِ التَّلْبِيَةِ فِي الْعُمْرَةِ إِذَا اسْتَلَمَ الْحَجَرَ»
"The Prophet ﷺ would stop saying Talbiyah in ʿUmrah when he touched the Black Stone."(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, 1817)
4. Cutting Only a Few Hairs for Taqsīr
Men must trim from all parts of the head, not just a few strands. Women trim a fingertip’s length from the end of the hair, not a symbolic snip.
5. Speaking Loudly, Distracting Others, or Filming Excessively
The Haram is a place of humility and remembrance. Loud conversations, laughter, unnecessary recordings, and posing for pictures contradict the spiritual purpose of the rites.
6. Complaining or Losing Patience With Crowds
Pilgrims will bump into you, conditions will be hot, and movement will be slow. Patience during Umrah is part of worship.
Allah says:
وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الصَّابِرِينَ
“And Allah loves the patient.”
[Qur’an 3:146]
How to Handle Menstruation Issues During Umrah?
1. Know That Menstruation Does Not Prevent Ihrām
A woman may enter ihrām while menstruating. There is no prohibition. The Prophet ﷺ told ‘Ā’ishah رضي الله عنها when she got her period before ‘Umrah:
افْعَلِي مَا يَفْعَلُ الْحَاجُّ، غَيْرَ أَنْ لَا تَطُوفِي بِالْبَيْتِ
“Do what the pilgrims do, except do not perform ṭawāf around the House.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 305 | Sahih Muslim 1211]
Ihrām, talbiyah, du‘ā, and dhikr are all allowed.
2. You May Perform All Rites Except Ṭawāf
During menstruation, you may:
• Recite talbiyah
• Make du‘ā
• Perform sa‘y after ṭawāf is done later
• Stand at Ṣafā and Marwah
• Drink Zamzam
• Engage in dhikr
Only ṭawāf is prohibited until purity is regained, based on the hadith above.
3. If Your Group Is Leaving and You Are Still Menstruating
If waiting is possible, you must wait until purity to perform ṭawāf.
If the group cannot delay, scholars allow one of these solutions depending on madhhab and necessity:
• Remain behind until pure
• Travel back later to complete ṭawāf (stronger opinion)
• Follow a concession involving dam (sacrifice) under strict scholarly guidance
These situations require asking a qualified scholar because rulings depend on necessity.
4. Emotional Distress Does Not Affect the Validity of Umrah
Many women cry or feel devastated when menstruation begins. But this is a test of patience, not a sign your Umrah is ruined. Allah does not burden a soul with what it cannot bear.
The Prophet ﷺ comforted ‘Ā’ishah رضي الله عنها when she wept at missing ṭawāf:
إِنَّ هَذَا أَمْرٌ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى بَنَاتِ آدَمَ
“This is something Allah has decreed for the daughters of Adam.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 294]
5. Ihrām Restrictions Continue Until Hair Is Cut
Even if menstruation delays ṭawāf and sa‘y, you remain in ihrām fully until the final shaving or trimming is done.
Avoid:
• Perfume
• Hair or nail cutting
• Marital relations
Performing Umrah step by step according to the Sunnah is not just about correct movements around the Ka‘bah. It is about a heart that walks through each step saying sincerely: this is for Allah alone, as He commanded, in the way His Messenger ﷺ taught, hoping only for His pleasure and His reward.
