How to Perform Umrah Step by Step Guide

Umrah is a special act of worship that allows Muslims to visit the Kaaba in Makkah and seek closeness to Allah. Learning how to perform Umrah step by step helps first time pilgrims understand the rituals and prepare for their pilgrimage with greater confidence.

What Is Umrah?

Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage performed in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Its main rites include Ihram, Tawaf, Sa'i, and shaving or trimming the hair. It offers an opportunity for sincere worship and reflection.

Umrah Steps at a Glance

You will hear these words often, and knowing them removes confusion in the moment. The table below lists each term in plain English.

How to Perform Umrah Step by Step

Step 1: Prepare for Ihram and Make Niyyah

Take a bath or make wudu, then wear your ihram. Men wear two white unstitched sheets, and women wear modest clothing with the hair covered. A clean, calm start sets the tone for the whole Umrah. Many pilgrims pray two rakah, then make the intention at or before the miqat by saying “Labbayk Allahumma Umratan,” meaning “Here I am, O Allah, for Umrah.”

Next, recite the talbiyah: “Labbayk Allahumma labbayk, labbayka la sharika laka labbayk, innal hamda wan ni’mata laka wal mulk, la sharika lak.” Keep saying it until you reach the Kaaba.

If you fly from the USA, you must not pass the miqat without ihram. Your travel team tells you the exact point for your route, so you do not have to guess in the air. Once in ihram, avoid perfume, cutting hair or nails, and arguments.

Step 2: Perform Tawaf Around the Kaaba

Enter Masjid al Haram with your right foot and a simple dua. You need wudu for tawaf. Begin in line with the corner of the Black Stone, keep the Kaaba on your left and complete seven rounds anticlockwise. Counting each round on your fingers or a small counter keeps you focused and stops mistakes.

Use the time for dua in any language. Men may walk briskly in the first three rounds and uncover the right shoulder, which are sunnah acts. Between the Yemeni corner and the Black Stone, many pilgrims read “Rabbana atina fid dunya hasanatan wa fil akhirati hasanatan wa qina adhaban nar.”

After the seventh round, pray two rakah near Maqam Ibrahim. If it is crowded, pray anywhere in the mosque. Many pilgrims then drink Zamzam water. Praying in a quiet corner is perfectly fine when the area is packed.

Step 3: Pray Two Rak'ahs and Drink Zamzam

After Tawaf, pray two Rak'ahs when possible, preferably behind Maqam Ibrahim if space allows. Then drink Zamzam water and make Du'a. Avoid blocking walkways or disrupting other worshippers.

Step 4: Perform Sa'i Between Safa and Marwah

Walk to Safa, face the Kaaba and make dua. Then walk to Marwah, which counts as one trip. Return to Safa for the second trip. You finish the seventh trip at Marwah, not Safa. This simple pattern is easy to track once you see it as seven crossings.

Men walk a little faster between the green markers, and women walk at a normal pace. Sa’i remembers the patience and trust of Hajar in her search for water. Wudu is not required but is better. If you tire easily, ask your guide about wheelchair options before you start.

Step 5: Complete Umrah by Trimming or Shaving Hair

Men shave the whole head, which is preferred, or shorten the hair evenly across the head. Women cut about a fingertip length from the ends of the hair. Do not cut your hair in a rush inside the mosque. Once you cut your hair, the limits of ihram end and your Umrah is complete. Make a dua of thanks and ask Allah to accept your effort.

Tips for First Timers and Families

Crowds, heat and long walks tire everyone. A calm routine makes the rites easier for children and older parents. Agree on a meeting point before you enter Masjid al Haram, carry water and rest between rites. If tawaf looks too busy, a quieter hour may be better.

A hotel close to the Haram also helps. You can rest between rites and return for prayer without long walks. View our hotels in Makkah and Madinah to see what is near the mosque. Always check the walking distance before you book.

Umrah Step by Step for Women

Women perform the same four rites as men: ihram, tawaf, sa’i and halq or taqsir. The main differences are clothing, hair and a few rulings. Women can dress in their usual modest clothing during ihram and do not need special sheets.

A woman in menstruation or postnatal bleeding may do every act of Umrah except tawaf and the two rakah behind Maqam Ibrahim. Talk to your guide or a trusted scholar before you travel if this may apply to your dates. Sisters traveling in a group can agree on a meeting place with their family so no one is separated in the crowd.

Umrah Rules for Men and Women

Common Mistakes to Avoid During Umrah

Umrah Tips for Muslims Traveling from the USA

Check your passport, Saudi entry requirements, flight route, and accommodation before departure. Prepare your Ihram clothing in advance and confirm when your flight will cross the applicable Miqat. Keep essential documents accessible and arrange a meeting point if traveling with family.