1. What is Umrah?
Umrah is a minor pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia. It’s a worshipful journey that brings a pilgrim closer to Allah through a series of sacred rituals. Unlike Hajj, Umrah can be performed at any time of the year
2. Preparation Before You Go
Before starting your Umrah journey, it’s important to prepare both physically and spiritually:
✔ Make sincere intentions (niyyah) and seek forgiveness.
✔ Learn about the basic Umrah rituals.
✔ Pack your essentials — Ihram clothes, comfortable shoes, travel documents, and prayer items.
✔ Aim to be healthy and rested before your trip.
3. Step 1: Enter the State of Ihram
The first and most important step is entering Ihram — a state of purity and focus:
✨ Take a ritual bath (ghusl) or do wudu (ablution).
✨ Wear the Ihram garments:
• For men: two white unstitched sheets.
• For women: modest, clean clothes that cover the body.
✨ Make the intention (niyyah) for Umrah and recite the Talbiyah:
“Labbayka Allahumma Umrah” (“Here I am, O Allah, ready to perform Umrah”).
Once in Ihram, certain actions are restricted (like cutting hair/nails, using perfume, and marital relations) until Umrah is complete.
4. Step 2: Perform Tawaf
When you arrive at Masjid al-Haram, the first Umrah ritual is Tawaf — circling the Kaaba:
🔹 Walk seven times around the Kaaba in a counter-clockwise direction.
🔹 You can make dua (supplications) and remember Allah during each round.
🔹 If possible, pray two rak’ahs near Maqam Ibrahim after Tawaf.
This act signifies unity with millions of worshipers and closeness to Allah.
5. Step 3: Sa’i Between Safa and Marwa
After Tawaf, you perform Sa’i — walking between the two hills of Safa and Marwa:
✨ Walk back and forth seven times between Safa and Marwa.
✨ This commemorates the devotion of Hajar (peace be upon her) as she searched for water for her son, Ismail.
✨ While walking, you can pray and make supplications of your own choice.
6. Step 4: Halq or Taqsir (Hair Shaving/Trimming)
The final step of Umrah is to symbolically cut your hair and complete your rituals:
✔ Men: Usually shave the whole head (Halq) or trim (Taqsir).
✔ Women: Only a small amount of hair is cut.
This act shows humility and marks the completion of your Umrah.
7. After Completing Umrah
After finishing all the rituals — Ihram, Tawaf, Sa’i, and hair cutting — you are free from the restrictions of Ihram, and your Umrah is complete. You can now change out of Ihram clothing and continue prayers and worship in Masjid al-Haram.
Final Thoughts
Performing Umrah is more than a series of steps — it is a spiritual journey that brings peace, forgiveness, and blessings. Whether this is your first Umrah or one of many, understanding the rituals in a simple way helps you focus on what truly matters — your connection with Allah.
