Umrah Step by Step — A Complete Illustrated Guide

Before entering ihram, it is sunnah to prepare the body. Perform ghusl (a full ritual bath), trim the nails, remove underarm and pubic hair, and men may apply unscented oil to the hair. Men may apply perfume to the body (not the ihram cloth) before making the intention.

Men wear two clean, white, unstitched sheets: the izar (wrapped around the lower body) and the rida (draped over the upper body). Women have no specific ihram dress — they wear ordinary modest clothing that covers the body, and the face and hands are left uncovered during ihram.

Tip: Do all your grooming before ihram. Once in ihram you cannot cut hair or nails, use scented products, or wear stitched clothing (for men).

The miqat is the boundary station where pilgrims must enter ihram before proceeding to Makkah. If you fly into Jeddah or Madinah, your ihram station is set by your route (for example, those coming from Madinah use Dhul-Hulayfah / Abyar Ali). Many pilgrims enter ihram at the airport or on the plane before crossing the miqat.

After entering the state of ihram, make the intention for Umrah in your heart and say the words of niyyah aloud:

Tip: If you fear you may not be able to complete Umrah (illness, visa, etc.), you may add a condition: "If anything prevents me, my place is wherever You hold me back."

Immediately after the intention, begin reciting the Talbiyah. Men say it aloud; women say it softly. Continue repeating it often — on the coach, in the hotel, and all the way until you begin tawaf.

Enter the Sacred Mosque with your right foot first, reciting the dua for entering the masjid. When your eyes fall upon the Kaaba for the first time, it is a moment of great acceptance — raise your hands and make heartfelt dua for whatever you wish.

Tawaf is circling the Kaaba seven times in an anti-clockwise direction, keeping the Kaaba on your left. Begin and end each circuit at the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad).

Start by facing the Black Stone. Point toward it or touch/kiss it if easily possible (do not push or harm others), and say "Bismillah, Allahu Akbar." This gesture is called istilam. Men uncover the right shoulder (idtiba’) for the whole tawaf, and walk briskly (raml) in the first three circuits only.

There is no fixed dua for each circuit — you may make any dua, recite Quran, or send salawat. As you pass between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone, it is sunnah to recite the well-known verse:

Tip: Lost count? Always assume the lower number and complete the circuit. Wudu is required for tawaf, as it is like prayer.

After completing the seventh circuit, cover both shoulders and go behind Maqam Ibrahim (the Station of Ibrahim) to pray two short rakat. If it is crowded, you may pray anywhere in the mosque.

It is sunnah to recite Surah al-Kafirun in the first rakat and Surah al-Ikhlas in the second. Then make dua.

After the two rakat, go to the Zamzam dispensers and drink your fill of the blessed water. It is sunnah to drink while facing the Qiblah, in three breaths, and to make dua — for Zamzam is "for whatever it is drunk for."

Proceed to the Mas’a (the walkway between Safa and Marwah). Sa’i commemorates Hajar’s search for water for her son Isma’il. It is seven trips: Safa to Marwah is one, Marwah to Safa is two, and so on, ending at Marwah on the seventh.

As you approach Safa for the first time, recite the verse below, then climb Safa, face the Kaaba, raise your hands, and make dua. Men jog between the two green marker lights; women walk normally throughout.

Tip: Wudu is recommended but not required for sa’i. There is no fixed dua for each trip — make any dua you wish.

The final rite is cutting the hair. Men either shave the whole head (halq — greater reward) or trim it evenly all over (taqsir). Women cut a fingertip’s length (about 2.5 cm) from the ends of their hair — women do not shave.

With this, you exit the state of ihram and all its restrictions are lifted. Your Umrah is now complete — may Allah accept it.

Tip: Use a licensed barber or your own clippers. Men, shaving the full head brings greater reward, as the Prophet ﷺ supplicated three times for those who shave.