Umrah Step by Step

Get your documents and plan in order

At home, before you travel.

Umrah goes smoothly when the practical details are sorted before you ever reach Makkah.

• Confirm your Umrah visa (or Nusuk registration) and passport are valid and packed together.
• Save your hotel address, group leader's phone number, and any tour contacts in your phone — and write them on a card in case your phone dies.
• Know your miqat in advance: it depends on how you are entering Saudi Arabia (by air, land, or sea), not on where you live.
• Pack ihram garments (for men) or a simple abaya/loose covering (for women) where you can reach them easily, not buried in checked luggage.

Learn the basics before you're tired and emotional

At home, before you travel.

You will be tired, moved, and surrounded by crowds when you actually perform Umrah — it helps to already know what's coming.

• Read or listen to this whole guide once, calmly, before your trip.
• Practice saying the Talbiyah out loud a few times so it feels familiar.
• If you are traveling with children or elderly family, talk through the plan with them so everyone knows what to expect.

Ghusl and getting dressed

At your hotel, or wherever you are shortly before reaching the miqat.

Before entering ihram it is recommended (not obligatory) to perform ghusl and put on ihram clothing.

• Perform ghusl (a full-body ritual wash) if water is available to you.
• Men: put on the two unstitched white ihram cloths — one wrapped around the waist, one draped over the shoulders. Sandals should leave the top of the foot exposed.
• Women: wear your normal modest, loose clothing that covers the body — there is no special color or garment required. Leave your face and hands uncovered (a full face-veil is not required in ihram, though some women choose to cover with a loose cloth in front of unrelated men).
• Trim nails and underarm/pubic hair now if needed — once you're in ihram, cutting hair or nails is not allowed until you finish.

Good to know: Ghusl before ihram is a recommended sunnah, not a requirement — if water isn't available or you're unable, you can still validly enter ihram.

Reach the miqat and make your intention

At the miqat boundary — the specific point assigned to your route into Makkah (for example Dhul Hulayfah, Al-Juhfah/Rabigh, Qarn al-Manazil/As-Sayl, Yalamlam, or Dhat Irq, or the point above them if arriving by air).

This is the moment Umrah formally begins: you state your intention to Allah and you are now in the sacred state of ihram.

• If flying, listen for the captain's or crew's announcement as the plane approaches the miqat — many pilgrims put on ihram before boarding or shortly after takeoff so they're ready in time.
• Face the intention inward — this is a decision in the heart, not something anyone else can see.
• Say the intention out loud: state that you intend Umrah for the sake of Allah.
• From this moment, the restrictions of ihram apply to you: no cutting hair or nails, no perfume, no marital relations, no hunting, no arguing or fighting, and for men, no stitched clothing or covering the head.

Begin the Talbiyah

From the miqat, all the way to Makkah — recited in the car, bus, or plane.

The Talbiyah is the pilgrim's ongoing declaration of devotion, repeated often from ihram until you begin tawaf.

• Recite the Talbiyah out loud if you're comfortable doing so (men are encouraged to say it audibly; women recite at a lower voice).
• Repeat it often during the journey — when traffic stops, when you board, when you land, whenever it comes to mind.
• Keep repeating it right up until you start walking toward the Black Stone to begin tawaf — that is when it stops.

Travel to Makkah and settle in

On the road/rail into Makkah, then your hotel.

Once in Makkah, most pilgrims rest briefly, freshen up, and prepare before heading to Masjid al-Haram — though heading straight to the Haram is also fine if you're not exhausted.

• Drop your luggage at your hotel if you have one arranged.
• Keep reciting the Talbiyah as you move through the city.
• Use the bathroom and drink water before you head to the mosque — once tawaf starts you'll want to complete it without a long break.
• Reconfirm your meeting point with your group in case you get separated in the crowds.

Enter Masjid al-Haram

At one of the gates of Masjid al-Haram — Gate of Peace (Bab as-Salam) is the traditionally preferred entrance, though any gate is valid.

Entering the mosque has its own simple etiquette, the same as entering any mosque, but here it carries extra weight.

• Step in with your right foot first.
• Say the entry du'a as you cross the threshold.
• Lower your gaze and walk calmly — don't rush toward the Kaaba yet, just move with the flow of people toward the mataf (the open circling area around the Kaaba).

See the Kaaba for the first time

As you come through the columns into the open mataf area.

For most pilgrims this is the most emotional moment of the trip. Take it in before you start moving.

• Pause where you are, even for just a minute, and look at the Kaaba.
• Make any du'a you wish — there is no fixed wording required for this moment, so speak to Allah in your own words and your own language.
• When you're ready, make your way toward the Black Stone corner to begin tawaf.

Get ready to start tawaf

At the Black Stone corner of the Kaaba (Hajar al-Aswad) — the corner nearest the Gate of Peace, marked by a distinct dark stone set in a silver frame in the wall.

Tawaf is walking seven times around the Kaaba, and every circuit starts and ends level with the Black Stone.

• Men only: before starting, uncover your right shoulder by passing the upper ihram cloth under your right arm and over your left shoulder (idtiba'). Keep this only during tawaf, and cover both shoulders again afterward.
• Position yourself level with the Black Stone corner, with the Kaaba on your left side — this is the starting line for every circuit.
• If you are very close and it's safe to do so, you may touch or kiss the Black Stone. If you cannot reach it because of crowding, do not push — simply face it from where you stand.
• Raise your hand toward the stone and say the takbir, then begin walking.

Good to know: Touching or kissing the Black Stone is a sunnah, not a requirement — never fight or push through crowds for it. Facing it and saying the takbir from a distance is fully valid and is what the vast majority of pilgrims do.

Walk the seven circuits

Circling the Kaaba, keeping it on your left shoulder the whole way.

Seven full circuits, starting and ending at the Black Stone corner each time — this is the core of tawaf.

• Walk counter-clockwise, keeping the Kaaba on your left the entire time.
• Each time you pass level with the Black Stone corner, say 'Bismillah, Allahu akbar' again (or simply raise your hand toward it) — that completes one circuit and starts the next.
• Between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone corner (the last stretch of each circuit), recite the du'a below — this is the one specific supplication with the strongest textual basis for tawaf.
• For the rest of each circuit, recite Qur'an, dhikr, or make personal du'a in whatever language you're comfortable in — there is no other fixed or required wording.
• Men only, first three circuits: walk at a brisk, purposeful pace (raml) if the crowd allows it — the last four circuits are walked normally. If it's too crowded to move quickly, skip this without worry.

Good to know: Whether women should also do raml or uncover a shoulder is not applicable — idtiba' and raml are specific to men. Women walk all seven circuits at a normal, modest pace in their regular ihram clothing throughout.

Finish your seventh circuit

Level with the Black Stone corner, completing the last circuit.

Once you pass the Black Stone corner for the seventh time, tawaf is complete.

• Say 'Bismillah, Allahu akbar' (or raise your hand toward the stone) one final time to close the seventh circuit.
• Men: cover your right shoulder again now — idtiba' ends with tawaf.
• Step out of the main circling flow toward the area near Maqam Ibrahim (the Station of Ibrahim) for the next step.

Pray two rak'ahs at Maqam Ibrahim

Behind the Station of Ibrahim (Maqam Ibrahim) if you can reach it, or anywhere else in the mosque if that area is packed.

After tawaf, pray two short units of prayer, ideally near Maqam Ibrahim, facing the Kaaba.

• If you can get near Maqam Ibrahim, pray two rak'ahs with it between you and the Kaaba.
• If the area is too crowded to reach or pray in safely, pray the two rak'ahs anywhere else in the mosque — this is completely valid.
• It is recommended to recite Surah Al-Kafirun in the first rak'ah and Surah Al-Ikhlas in the second, though any Qur'an you know is acceptable.

Drink Zamzam

At one of the Zamzam water coolers or dispensers around the mosque.

Drinking Zamzam water after tawaf is a recommended sunnah with its own reported virtue.

• Find a nearby Zamzam cooler — they are placed throughout the mosque and mataf area.
• Drink as much as you'd like, and it's traditional to make du'a before or while drinking.
• Refill a bottle if you're heading straight into sa'i and may want water on the way.

Head to Safa to begin sa'i

Mount Safa, the small rise at one end of the sa'i gallery, connected to the mataf area.

Sa'i is walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah, remembering Hajar's search for water for her son Ismail.

• Walk to Safa — it's a short walk from the mataf, through a marked passage.
• As you approach Safa, it is recommended to recite the verse below, which is the scriptural basis for walking between the two hills.
• Climb the few steps onto the Safa platform, if you're able, and face the direction of the Kaaba (you'll be able to see it from here through the corridor).
• Raise your hands and make the du'a below, then say your own personal supplications.
• Repeat the same facing-Kaaba du'a two more times, with personal supplication between each repetition, before you begin walking — this is the sunnah pattern at both Safa and Marwah throughout sa'i.

Walk the seven laps between Safa and Marwah

The long enclosed gallery connecting Safa and Marwah.

One full lap is Safa to Marwah OR Marwah to Safa — seven laps total, ending at Marwah.

• Walk from Safa toward Marwah — this is lap 1.
• At Marwah, face the Kaaba's direction again and repeat the same three-times du'a pattern you did at Safa (recite it, pause for personal du'a, repeat two more times).
• Turn and walk back from Marwah to Safa — this is lap 2. Continue back and forth.
• Men only: between the two green lights/pillars marked along the path, walk at a brisk pace (this stretch commemorates Hajar hurrying to check on her son while searching for water). Walk normally the rest of each lap.
• Women walk at a normal, steady pace the entire distance, with no brisk-walking section.
• Keep counting — lap 7 will end at Marwah, not Safa.

Finish sa'i at Marwah

Mount Marwah, at the end of your seventh lap.

Sa'i ends the moment you complete the seventh lap at Marwah — there is no additional ritual attached to it.

• Confirm you've completed 7 laps and that you are ending at Marwah.
• Make any final personal du'a you wish here.
• Sa'i is now complete — the rites of Umrah are essentially finished except for one final step.

Cut or shave your hair (tahallul)

Barber shops are located just outside the mosque exits near the Marwah side — or you can do it yourself/have a companion do it.

This final act — cutting the hair — is what formally ends the state of ihram and completes Umrah.

• Men: either shave the head completely (this carries greater reported virtue) or trim the hair evenly and fully across the whole head — a few snipped strands is not sufficient for men.
• Women: cut a small portion of hair, about a fingertip's length, from the ends of the hair. Women do not shave their heads.
• Once the hair is cut, you have formally exited ihram.

Good to know: Some scholars hold that a man must shave or trim the entire head; trimming only the front or a portion is generally not considered sufficient by most scholars. If you are unsure, ask a knowledgeable scholar on-site.

You have completed Umrah

Wherever you are standing right now — it's done.

Once the hair is cut, every restriction of ihram is lifted. You may change into normal clothes, use perfume, and resume normal daily life.

• Change out of ihram clothing into your regular clothes whenever convenient.
• Take time to sit in the mosque, reflect, and make du'a now that Umrah is complete — there's no rush to leave.
• If you plan to also perform Hajj or additional Umrahs on this trip, ask your group leader or a scholar about the next steps, since those follow a different sequence starting from a new ihram.