Umrah Guide in English
Step-by-step guidance for your spiritual journey.
Umrah Guide in English
1ST IHRAAM
1. Remove unwanted hair, trim moustache, clip nails etc.
2. Make full Ghusl (both) or at least make Wudu (ablution)
3. Before reaching the Meewat (boundary) put on the Ihraam clothes (white un sewn sheets for men; and regular clothes for women). Women must not let any cloth touch their face whilst in the state of ihraam.
4. Pray 2 Rakaats of Salaah- Avoid MAKROOH times. It is Sunnat to recite, Surah Kaafirun in the 1st Rakaat and Surah Ikhlas in the 2nd Rakaat after Surah Faatihah.
5. Make Niyyat (intention) for Umrah in any language: “Alla humma inni ureedul fa yas-sir haa lee wa taqabbal haa minni” (Oh Allah, I intend to perform Umrah; make it easy for me and accept from me)
6. Recite Talbiyyah: “labbayka Allaahuma labbayk, labbayka laa shareeyka laka labbayk, Innal-hamda wan-ni mata laka wal-mulk, laa shareeyka lak. (Here I am O Allah, here I am. Here I am. You have no partners, here I am Verily All praise and blessings, and all sovereignty, are yours, You have no partner)
7. Proceed to Masjid al- Haram, reciting the Talbiyyah, (men to recite loudly; women to recite quietly.
8. When reaching and entering the Masjid al- Haram, enter with your right foot and recite Du’aa for entering the Masjid.
9. On seeing the Ka’bah, say “Allahu Akbar, Laa ilaaha illallah”
2ND TAWAF
1. Before proceeding to the starting point of Tawaaf, corner with the Hajare Aswad (Black Stone), uncover the right sholder (men only) while making Tawaaf (this is known as idhtiba).
2. Make Niyyat for Tawaaf (can be made in any language) “ Oh Allah, I intend to perform Tawaaf; make it easy for me and accept it from me”
3. Face the Ka’bah with your whole body and recite: “Bismillahi Allahu Akbar, wa lil laahil hamd” (“In the name of Allah, Allah is the greatest and all praise is for Allah”). Touch and kiss the Hajare Aswad. If you cannot kiss or touch it, then hold the palms out towards the black stone and then softly kiss the palms without making a sound. This is called Istilam. Start your 1st circuit. Repeat “Bismillahi Allaahu Akbar” every time when starting a new circuit until all 7 circuits are complete.
4. Men should walk briskly (Raml) during the First 3 circuits. The remaining four circuits are done at a normal pace.
5. Perform Istilam for the 8th time to finish.
6. During Nafl Tawaaf, ONLY if possible face your head towards the Ka’bah and touch the Yamani corner with the right hand (the corner before Hajare Aswad) and say: “Bismillaahi, Allahu Akbar” During Umrah when in ihraam this is NOT done due to ltr applied there. Note: At no point should one turn his/her body towards the Ka’bah, this can only be done at the start and end of Tawaaf when making Istilam. Try to avoid touching the Ka’bah whilst in Ihraam due to ltr being applied on the Ka’bah.
7. Recite Qur’aam, make Du’aa or Dhikr etc, during Tawaaf. It is Sunnah to recite the following Du’aa between the Yamani corner and the corner with the Hajare Aswad during each circuit. “Rab-banaa aatinaa fid-dunyaa hasanah was fil aakhirati hasanah waqina ‘azaaban naar” (o Allah, grant us goodness in the world, and goodness in the hearafter, and save us from the punishment of the fire).
8. After Nafil Tawaaf, if possible, stand between the door of the Ka’bah and Hajare Aswad and make Du’aa- This area is called Multazam- This is NOT done during Umrah due to ltr applied there.
9. Once Tawaaf is complete, (i) Cover your right sholder (ii) Offer 2 Rakaats anywhere in the Haram. It is Sunnah to recite, Surah Kaafirun in the 1st Rakaat and Surat Ikhlaas in the 2nd after Surah Faatihah.
10. Drink Zam Zam water- Make Du’aa when drinking Zam Zam.
11. It is desirable (Mustahab) to perform istilam for the 9th time before going to Sa’ee.
3RD SA’EE
1. Proceed to Mount Safa and make Niyyat (intention) of Sa’ee (this can be done in any language)
2. Ascend Mount Safa, face the direction of the Ka’bah and say: “Laa ilaaha il-lal laahu wal-laahu akbar” 3 times.
3. Raise the hands and facing the direction of Ka’bah, make as much Du’aa as possible.
4. From Mount Safa proceed to Mount Marwah.
5. Make Du’aa, Dhikr etc, along the way.
6. Men (only) should Jog/ Quicken their pace between the set of green lights- you may recite the Du’aa above.
7. When reaching the other Mount, again make Du’aa facing the direction of Ka’bah.
8. Going from one Mount to the other is counted as one circuit.
9. Return back to Safa- Go 7 time times total between Safa and Marwah repeating steps 5,6 & 7 (above).
10. Finish the 7th circuit at Marwah and make Du’aa.
4TH SHAVING HEAD/ TRIMMING HAIR
1 After completing Sa’ee, Men should shave off their hair (Halaq) or trim a minimum of 1 inch of the hair evenly all over (Qasr). Qasr is only permissible if your hair is more than 1 inch long- Women should gather the hair together and trim about 1 inch off the end of their plait, themselves. Men’s barber shops van be found in many places outside Haram.
REMOVE IHRAAM CLOTHES – UMRAH NOW COMPLETE
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FAQs
What are the essential steps of Umrah in Islam?
The four key steps of Umrah are:
Ihraam – entering a state of spiritual purity and intention
Tawaaf – circling the Ka’bah seven times
Sa’ee – walking seven times between Safa and Marwah
Hair removal – shaving (men) or trimming (women) to complete the Umrah
How do I enter the state of Ihraam for Umrah?
To enter Ihraam, perform ghusl or wudu, wear the prescribed clothing (two white sheets for men; modest clothing for women), pray two rakats, and make the niyyah (intention) for Umrah. Then begin reciting the Talbiyyah: “Labbayk Allahumma labbayk…”
What is the correct way to perform Tawaaf during Umrah?
Tawaaf involves circling the Ka’bah seven times, starting from the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad). Men perform the first 3 circuits briskly (Raml), while the last 4 are at a normal pace. After completing, offer 2 rakats and drink Zamzam water.
How do I perform Sa’ee between Safa and Marwah?
Start at Mount Safa, make du’aa, and walk toward Mount Marwah, jogging between the green lights (men only). Each journey from one mount to the other counts as one circuit, totaling seven trips, ending at Marwah.
What do I say during Umrah rituals like Tawaaf and Sa’ee?
During Umrah, you may recite du’aa in any language. A common supplication between the Yamani corner and Hajar al-Aswad is:
“Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah wa fil-akhirati hasanah wa qina ‘adhaban-naar.”
You may also engage in Dhikr and Qur’an recitation throughout.
Can women perform Umrah without a male guardian (mahram)?
As of recent Saudi regulations, women from selected countries (including Europe, the UK, and North America) may perform Umrah without a mahram, but must be part of a recognized group. Always confirm the latest rules with Noble Hajj Umrah before booking.
What are the Ihraam restrictions during Umrah?
While in Ihraam, pilgrims must avoid cutting nails or hair, applying perfume, engaging in marital relations, arguing, or hunting. Men must not cover their heads, and women must not let any cloth touch their face.
What do I need to do after completing Umrah?
After completing Sa’ee, men must shave or trim their hair, and women trim around one inch. This marks the end of Umrah. You can then exit Ihraam and resume regular activities.
Is there a full English Umrah guide available for beginners?
Yes, Noble Hajj Umrah provides a step-by-step Umrah Guide in English, covering all rituals with transliterations and translations. It’s ideal for first-time pilgrims seeking clarity and confidence during their spiritual journey.
How can Noble Hajj Umrah help with my Umrah journey?
We offer personalized Umrah assistance, group or private packages, expert guidance, and full spiritual and logistical support—before, during, and after your journey. Contact us for help with visas, bookings, training, or ritual preparation.
