Umrah — Rawzat

The Legal Status of Umrah

The majority position (Maliki, Hanafi): Umrah is a confirmed Sunnah (Sunnah mu’akkada) — highly recommended but not individually obligatory.

The minority position (Shafi’i, Hanbali): Umrah is obligatory (wajib) once in a lifetime, like Hajj — based on the Quranic verse “And complete the Hajj and Umrah for Allah.” (2:196)

The Prophet’s practice: The Prophet performed Umrah four times:

Umrat al-Hudaybiyya (6 AH) — the Quraysh blocked this; it became the occasion for the Treaty of Hudaybiyya and its Quranic section
Umrat al-Qada’ (7 AH) — the makeup Umrah the following year
Umrat al-Ji’rana (8 AH) — after the Battle of Hunayn
Umrat al-Hajj (10 AH) — during the Farewell Hajj, combined with Hajj (Hajj al-Qiran)

Step 1: Ihram — Entering the Sacred State

The miqat: The designated boundary outside Mecca where the pilgrim must enter ihram before proceeding to Mecca. The five miqats for approaching from different directions:

Dhu al-Hulayfa (Bir ‘Ali): For pilgrims coming from Medina (9 km from Medina)
Al-Juhfa (Rabigh): For pilgrims coming from Syria/Egypt/Morocco
Qarn al-Manazil (al-Sayl al-Kabir): For pilgrims coming from Najd/Gulf
Yalamlam: For pilgrims coming from Yemen
Dhat ‘Irq: For pilgrims coming from Iraq/Persia

For pilgrims flying directly to Jeddah: ihram is entered on the plane when the captain announces crossing the miqat, or at the airport.

The ihram garments:

Men: Two unstitched white cloths — izar (worn below the waist) and rida’ (worn over the shoulder). No stitched clothing, no head covering, no sewn shoes (sandals only).
Women: Modest, covering Islamic dress (all clothing is permissible; no specific color or style required). Face and hands are left uncovered (niqab and gloves are not worn in ihram according to the majority).

The niyyah (intention): Before or at the miqat, make intention for Umrah: “Labbayk Allahumma bi ‘Umrah” (Here I am, O Allah, for Umrah).

The Talbiyah: After the intention, recite continuously: “Labbayk Allahumma labbayk, labbayk la sharika laka labbayk, inna al-hamda wal-ni’mata laka wal-mulk, la sharika lak.” (Here I am, O Allah, here I am; here I am, You have no partner, here I am; indeed all praise and blessings are Yours, and all sovereignty — You have no partner.)

The ihram prohibitions (must be avoided until halq/taqsir):

No cutting hair or nails
No use of perfume or scented products
No marital relations
No hunting or killing animals
No removing plants within the Haram
No marriage contracts (for oneself or others)
For men: no covering the head

Step 2: Tawaf — Circling the Ka’ba

Upon reaching the Masjid al-Haram, stop reciting the Talbiyah. Enter from Bab al-Salam (the Door of Peace) if possible, reciting the du’a’ for entering a mosque.

Beginning tawaf:

The Hajar al-Aswad (Black Stone) is the starting/ending point
Face the stone and raise hands: “Bismillah, Allahu Akbar” (do NOT say any specific niyyah aloud — the niyyah is in the heart)
If possible, kiss the stone (as the Prophet did); if not, touch it with the right hand; if crowded, point toward it with the right hand and say “Allahu Akbar”

The seven circuits: Walk counter-clockwise around the Ka’ba, keeping it to your left. Complete seven full circuits.

Idtiba’ (for men, during Tawaf al-Qudum): Pass the right end of the rida’ under the right armpit and drape it over the left shoulder, leaving the right shoulder bare.

Raml (for men, in the first three circuits): Walk briskly (not running) — a practice the Prophet established to show the Quraysh that the Muslims were strong. Only in the first three circuits of the Tawaf al-Qudum; not required for regular Umrah tawaf.

Du’a’ between Rukn al-Yamani and Hajar al-Aswad: “Rabbana atina fi al-dunya hasanatun wa fi al-akhirati hasanatun wa qina ‘adhab al-nar.” (Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.) — 2:201

See also: Tawaf, Tahara Ritual Purity

Step 3: Prayer at Maqam Ibrahim

After tawaf, move to the Maqam Ibrahim and pray 2 rak’as:

Rak’a 1: al-Fatiha + Surah al-Kafirun (109)
Rak’a 2: al-Fatiha + Surah al-Ikhlas (112)

Then proceed to Zamzam: drink Zamzam water facing the Ka’ba, making du’a’. The Prophet: “Zamzam water is for whatever it is drunk for.” — Ibn Maja

See also: Maqam Ibrahim, Zamzam Well

Step 4: Sa’y — Between Safa and Marwa

The Quranic foundation: “Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever makes Hajj to the House or performs ‘Umrah — there is no blame upon him for walking between them. And whoever volunteers good — then indeed, Allah is appreciative and Knowing.” (2:158)

The seven traversals: Walk from al-Safa to al-Marwa (one traversal), then from al-Marwa back to al-Safa (another traversal) — seven traversals total (ending at al-Marwa after the 7th).

At al-Safa: Climb the hill (or the incline if the original rock is not accessible), face the Ka’ba, and recite: “Inna al-safa wal-marwata min sha’airillah.” Then: “La ilaha illAllahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir.” (three times, with du’a’ between each)

The green lights section (between the two green pillars): Men jog through this section; women walk at normal pace. This commemorates Hajar’s running between the hills searching for water.

See also: Safa Marwa

Step 5: Halq or Taqsir — Exiting Ihram

Halq (shaving the head completely) — preferred for men, especially for the first Umrah Taqsir (trimming at least one inch of hair from the entire head) — the minimum

Women: Trim approximately one inch from the ends of the hair.

After halq/taqsir, all ihram prohibitions are lifted and the pilgrim returns to normal dress and routine. The Umrah is complete.

The Prophet (SAW): “O Allah, have mercy on those who shave.” The people said, “And those who trim their hair, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “O Allah, have mercy on those who shave.” They said it again. He said, “And those who trim their hair.” — Bukhari (three rounds of mercy for the shavers vs. once for the trimmers)

Umrah in Ramadan

“An Umrah in Ramadan equals a Hajj — or a Hajj with me.” — Bukhari, Muslim (narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas, from a woman who was unable to join the Hajj)

This hadith is among the most powerful motivators for Umrah. The last ten nights of Ramadan — the prime time for Laylat al-Qadr — combined with the sacred status of being at the Ka’ba creates a convergence of spiritual opportunity that the Prophet described as equivalent to Hajj itself.

Umrah — The Lesser Pilgrimage: A Complete Guide