The Umrah Process

Pre-Journey Preparations

• Spiritual Intent: Make a sincere intention (niyyah) to perform Umrah solely for the pleasure of Allah.
• Physical Purity: Before putting on the Ihram garments, it is highly recommended (Sunnah) to perform a full-body wash (Ghusl), trim nails, and remove unwanted body hair.

Ihram Garments:

• Men: Wear two clean, seamless white cloths
• Women: Wear any modest, loose-fitting clothes that adhere to Islamic guidelines, ensuring the face and hands remain uncovered

Salah al-Ihram: It is Sunnah to perform two rak’ahs of prayer before making the formal intention for Ihram

Entering the State of Ihram

• Timing: If traveling by air, change into your Ihram clothing at home, the airport, or on the plane. Airlines often announce when you are approaching the Miqat (usually 30-45 minutes before landing in Jeddah).
• Intention (Niyyah) & Talbiyah: At or just before the Miqat, make your formal intention for Umrah by saying: “Labbaik Allahumma Umrah“. Immediately after, start reciting the Talbiyah frequently:

“Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik, Labbaik La Sharika Laka Labbaik, Innal Hamda Wan Ni’mata Laka Wal Mulk, La Sharika Lak“.

• Remain in Ihram: Stay in the state of Ihram until you complete the final step of cutting your hair. The Talbiyah should be recited often until you reach the Kaaba and begin Tawaf. 

• Applying perfume or using scented products (including soap).
• Cutting hair or nails.
• Engaging in sexual activity or intimate talk.
• Hunting animals.
• Using foul language or arguing.
• For men only: Wearing stitched clothing, covering the head, or wearing footwear that covers the central bone of the foot. 

• Start: Enter the Masjid with your right foot and, upon first sight of the Kaaba, you can make sincere personal Duas (supplications). Proceed to the starting point near the Hajar al-Aswad (Black Stone).
• Circuits: Start the first of seven anti-clockwise circuits, keeping the Kaaba on your left.
• Istilam (Salute): If you can’t kiss or touch the Black Stone due to crowds, simply point towards it and say “Bismillah Allahu Akbar“.
• Raml & Idtiba (Men Only): For the first three rounds, men should walk briskly with short steps (Raml) if possible. They should also expose their right shoulder by placing the middle of the upper Ihram garment under the right armpit (Idtiba).
• Recitation: There are specific Duas for between the Rukn Yamani (third corner after the Black Stone) and the Black Stone: “Rabbana Aatina fi’d-dunya hasanah wa fil-akhirati hasanah wa qina ‘adhaban-naar“. For the rest of the circuit, you can recite any Dua, Quran, or Dhikr in any language.
• Completion: You don’t say “Bismillah Allahu Akbar” when you finish the seventh round. 

• Pray 2 Rak’ahs: Pray two units of prayer (Rak’ahs) anywhere in the mosque, but it is preferred to do so behind Maqam Ibrahim (Station of Ibrahim).
• Drink Zamzam: Drink from the Zamzam water which is available throughout the Haram. 

• Proceed to Safa: Walk to the hill of Safa. Upon reaching it, face the Qiblah (Kaaba), raise your hands, and make Dua, reciting specific verses and supplications three times with personal Duas in between.
• Circuits: Walk towards Marwah. The distance between Safa and Marwah counts as one round. The return trip from Marwah to Safa counts as the second round.
  
  • Men Only: Men should jog or walk briskly between the green lights.
• Completion: The seventh round ends at Marwah. You do not need to be in a state of Wudu for Sa’ee, though it is recommended. 

• Men: Should either shave their head completely (Halq, which is more rewarding) or trim their hair all around (Taqsir).
• Women: Should gather their hair and cut a small portion, about an inch or the length of a fingertip, from the end of their hair.