This is an easy to understand and complete step by step Umrah guide on how to perform Umrah.
There are 4 essential elements to perform Umrah:
- Entering Ihram State
- Tawaf of the Ka’bah
- Sa’y between Mount Safa and Mount Marwah
- Shaving Head / Cutting Hair
But first let us start from before we leave our home.
Trim facial hair, remove body hair and clip your nails, comb your hair. Take a shower (Ghusl) or perform Wudu to wash away dirt from body. Purify your heart, by asking for Allah’s forgiveness.
You can wear the Ihram at home or before crossing the Meeqat points. One cannot cross the Meeqat points without assuming Ihram.
Duas before leaving the House
Bismillahi, Tawakkaltu, ‘a‐lallahi, wa laa hawla wa laa quwatta illah billah
Meaning of the Dua: In the name of Allaah, I place my trust in Allaah, and there is no might nor power except with Allaah.
Du’a before starting your Journey
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. Subhaa‐nalathee, Sakha‐ra‐la‐naa ha‐thaa wa maa kunaa, lahu muq‐ri‐nee‐na wa innaa ilaa rabbinaa la‐mun‐qa‐le‐boon.
Meaning of the Dua: Allaah is the greatest x3, How perfect He is, The One Who has place this (transport) at our service, and we ourselves would not have been capable of that, and to our Lord if our final destiny.
Duas if there is a break in the journey
A’uthoo bi‐kalimaa tillaah‐hitammaa ti‐min sharri maa khalaq.
Meaning of the Du’a: I take refuge in Allaah’s perfect words from the evil that He has created.
If you are traveling by bus, you can wear the Ihram at the Meeqat point. If you are traveling by flight, then you can wear the Ihram at home or airport or flight.
Step by Step Umrah Guide – Entering Ihram State
On reaching the Meeqat, if it is not Makruh (undesirable time), perform two raka‘ats of nafl with the intention of Ihram keeping the head covered.
In the first raka’at, recite ‘Surah Al Kafiroon’
In the second raka’at, recite ‘Surah Al Ikhlaas’
Uncover your head and make the Niyyah / intention.
Umrah Duas before making the Niyyah or Intention for Umrah
Allaahumma innee ureedul umrata fayassirhaa lee wataqabbalhaa minnee
Meaning of the Du’a: O Allah, I intend to perform Umrah. Make it easy for me and accept it from me.
Next, make the Niyyah for Umrah.
Umrah Dua for making the Niyyah or Intention for Umrah also known as the Talbiyah
Labbaik Allaahumma ‘Umrah
Meaning of the Du’a: Here I am O Allah, making Umrah
Repeat this for three times.
You are now in the state of Ihram.
Enter the holy city in remembrance of Allah. It is advised to recite the Talbiyah as many times as you can from the time you enter into the state of Ihram and until you start the Tawaf. The Tabbiyah should be recited individually.
Read Forbidden and Prohibited Acts in Ihram
Step by Step Umrah Guide – TAWAF of Ka’bah
Before you start the Tawaf, stop reciting the Talbiyah.
Enter the Masjid Al Haram with your right foot and recite:
Bismillahi, Allallhumma salli ‘alaa muhammadin wa sallim ‐ allaahumma aftah lee abwaaba rahmatika
Meaning of the Du’a: In the name of Allah, may peace and salutations (of Allah) be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, forgive my sins and open the doors of your mercies for me.
Tawaf is the circumambulation of the Ka’bah or going around the Ka’bah 7 times in anti-clockwise direction. The Tawaf starts at the Hajr Aswad (Black stone) and ends at the Hajr Aswad (Black stone).
Start Tawaf
Head towards the corner of the Hajr Aswad (Black stone).
Men should uncover the right sight of their shoulder and place the Rida (upper cover) beneath the right armpit. The left shoulder will remain covered.
Start the Tawaf from the Hajr Aswad (Black stone).
Point towards the Hajr Aswad (Black stone) and recite Allahu Akbar or Bismillahi Allahu Akbar.
During the Tawaf, you can recite any Dikhrs or make any supplications in remembrance of Allah.
When you are beside the Yemeni corner (Rukn-e-Yamani), it is Sunnah for men to touch it with your hands without kissing it. If it is not possible, you should continue with your Tawaf without pointing towards it.
It is also Sunnah to recite the below Du’a while walking between the Yemeni corner (Rukn-e-Yamani) to the Black Stone (Hajr Aswad).
Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil ‘akhirati hasanatan waqina ‘adhaban-nar
Meaning of the Du’a: Lord, grant us good in this life and good in the hereafter and save us from the punishment of the fire.
When you reach the Black stone, you have completed the first round of Tawaf.
You will repeat this for 7 times.
For the first three rounds, men should take short but fast steps also known as Raml. For the next four rounds, continue to walk normal. Women can walk at their normal pace.
Do not make Tawaf inside the Haijr Ismail, as it is a part of the Ka’bah.
At the end of the 7th circle, do not point towards the ka’bah as this is done only at the beginning of the circle.
Men should cover their right shoulder.
Rak’ats of Tawaf
Go behind the Maqam Ibrahim and perform the 2 rak’ats of Tawaf.
In the first raka’at, you can recite ‘Surah Al Kafiroon’
In the second raka’at, you can recite ‘Surah Al Ikhlaas’
Now, you can drink the water from the Zam Zam as told by the Prophet Mohammed (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam).
Step by Step Umrah Guide – Sa’y between Mount Safa and Mount Marwah
Head towards place of Sa’y (Back and forth between Mount Safa and Mount Marwah)
Mount Safa
Ascend Mount Safa and recite the below verse from Surah Al-Baqarah (Baqara)
Innas-safa wal marwata min sha’a’irillahi faman hajjal baita ‘awi’tamara falaa janaaha ‘alaihi an yattawwafa bihima wa man tatawwa’a khiran fa’innallaha shakirun ‘aleem(un)
Meaning of the Du’a: “Verily! As-Safaa and al-Marwah are of the signs of Allaah. So it is not a sin on him who performs Hajj or ‘Umrah of the House to perform the Tawāf between them. And whoever does good voluntarily, then verily, Allah is All-Recogniser, All-Knower,” – “we begin with what Allah began with.”
Face the Ka’bah, and make supplications to Allah.
It was a practice of Prophet Mohammed ( Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam ) to face the Ka’bah and recite the Du’a below. This is followed by Du’a for yourself and family members. This was repeated three times by Prophet Mohammed (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam)
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La illaha illAllahu wahdau la shareekalahu, lahul mul ku wa lahul hamdu, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shai’in qadeer. Laa ilaha illAllahu wahdahu anjaza wa’dahu, wa nasara ‘abdahu wa hadhamal ahzaaba wahdahu
Meaning of the Du’a: “Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. There is none truly worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner. To Him belongs all sovereignty and all praise. He alone gives life and causes death, and He is All-Powerful over everything. There is none truly worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner. He has fulfilled His promise, and helped His servant, and He alone has defeated the confederates.”
Descend from Mount Safa and walk towards Mount Marwah. While walking, make supplications of Allah and Dikhrs of your choice.
Run between the two green marks placed between Mount Safa and Mount Marwah. You will complete the first round when you reach Mount Marwah.
Mount Marwah
When you reach Mount Marwah, recite the same Du’a that that you recited at Mount Safa.
Return back to Mount Safa in the same way. And repeat the same until you complete the 7th round. After the end of the 7th round, ascend Mount Marwah, without saying anything. This completes the Sa’y.
Shave Head or Cutting Hair
After the Sa’y has been complete. Men must shave their head or cut their hair. Women must cut their hair (length of their fingertip).
The Rituals of Umrah is now complete.
