How to Perform Umrah for Beginners

If you're unfamiliar with how to perform Umrah, learning the steps and some acts of worship is vital. The worst thing is your Umrah might not be accepted if you do it each year without knowing. In short, it is done in 4 steps: Ihram, Tawaf, Sa’i, and Halaq.

Before you leave Bangladesh and go to the House of Allah (Ka’bah) to do Umrah, it’s crucial to understand these steps. So, I’m going to dive into each step of Umrah so you can follow along easily and know exactly what to do. Let's begin!

Here’s How to Perform Umrah as a Beginner

Before you get into the airline and reach the Ka’bah, you should know exactly how is Umrah performed. To help you out, here are the details of the Umrah procedure:

1. Ihram

Ihram simply means a state where you must enter the area where some conditions apply. In other words, the lawful (halal) things will become unlawful (haram) right when you say the Talbiyah.

Step 1: Purification

To begin with, you as a pilgrim should cut the nails and shave the armpits or any sort of hair. Plus, you should take a bath, brush your hair, wear perfume (only for men), and make wudu (ablution).

In this state, the male pilgrim must wear 2 white unsewn pieces of clothing, and the female pilgrim wears the usual clothes. However, women shouldn’t cover their faces and men shouldn’t cover their heads.

If you are a male pilgrim, you’ll need to wear sandals or slippers to keep the center bone of the foot uncovered.

Step 2: Perform Salah Al-Ihram

Once you do all the prep and follow the dos and don’ts of Umrah, it is sunnah to pray 2 rak’ahs of Nafls.  Based on one hadith in Bulugh al-Maram, the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) recited Surah Al-Kafirun in the first rak’ah and Surah Al-Ikhlas in the second rak’ah.

Step 3: Do Proper Niyyah and Say Talbiyah

After you enter the state of Ihram, you’ll need to do your Niyyah (intention) in your heart. It is recommended (mustahabb) to intent internally by saying. However, if you want to say it in Arabic, here’s what you can recite:

لَبَّيْكَ اَللَّهُمَّ عُمْرَةً۝

Labbaik Allahumma `Umrah.

Here I am Ya Allah, (in response to Your call) making Umrah.

Note that the men should recite the intention loudly while the women should do this by whispering. Once everything is done, you’ll need to say the following recitation which is Talbiyah:

Labbaikallāhumma labbayk, labbaika lā sharīka laka labbayk, innal-ḥamda wan-naiʿmata, laka wal-mulk, lā sharīka lak.

I respond to your call, O Allah, I respond to your call. At Your service, you have no partner, I respond to your call. All praises, favors, and sovereignty are for you. You have no partner.

Keep in mind you’ll need to recite the Talbiyah as it is obligatory (wajib) to do so based on the Hanafi and Maliki school of thought. However, it’s sunnah based on Shafi’i and Hanbali. Just ensure to recite it once as skipping this will invalidate your Umrah.

Step 4: Enter Mecca and Masjid Al-Haram

Before you enter the holy city of Mecca, you as a pilgrim should learn and have some politeness (Adab). It would be better if you stay in the state of wudu and keep on reciting the Talbiyah along with Durud, Tahleel, Takbeer, and other dikhrs.

When you move forward and enter the Masjid Al-Haram, be sure to do it with your right foot and make this dua:

Bismillah, wassalamu-ala rasulillah, Allahummaghfirli dhunubi waftah li abwaba rahmatika.

In the Name of Allah, and may peace and honor be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah! Pardon me, my sins and open for me the gates of your mercy.

No matter when you enter the Haram or any other masjid, try to make an intention of Itikaf. It is a state in which you isolate yourself and remain attached to the masjid.

And, when you are around the Ka’bah, raise your hands and say Allahu Akbar (Takbeer), recite Durud and make a lot of duas.

2. Tawaaf

This is the next step after you do Ihram. Tawaf means you circle around the Ka’bah 7 times starting from The Black Stone.

Step 1: Prepare Yourself

• Move the upper sheet of the Ihram garment from under the right arm and drape it on the left shoulder. It is necessary that the right shoulder stays uncovered to perform Idtiba.
• Do wudhu before you do the Tawaf.
• Stop reciting the Talbiyah when you reach The Black Stone (Hajr-e-Aswad).

Step 2: Make Intention and Do Istilam

Once you are ready, it’s high time to make niyyah (intention) for performing the Tawaf. You can do this right in front of the Ka’bah facing The Black Stone and simply make your intention in your native language.

Then, you can go near The Black Stone and kiss it directly or you can use a stick to do the same thing. After that, raise your hands by keeping your palms open toward The Black Stone and say this dua:

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ وَاللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ۝

Bismillahi Allahu Akbar WaLila Hil Hamd.

In the name of Allah, Allah is greatest (biggest). All praises belong to Allah.

Next, you can drop your hands down and point your palms to The Black Stone and kiss your hand. This act is Istilam.

Step 3: Start of Tawaf and Ramal

To start the Tawaf, you’ll need to walk around the Ka’bah counterclockwise. When you begin each circle, make a sigh with your right hand to The Black Stone and recite Allahu Akbar (Takbeer).

For the first 3 circles, only men are required to walk fast (ramal) as it’s a sunnah act. And, in the other 4 circles, they should walk at the usual pace.

There’s no specific dua you have to make during Tawaf. However, it is sunnah to recite the given dua when you go between Ar Rukn Al Yamani (Yemeni Corner) and The Black Stone:

Rabbana ‘aatina fid dunya hasanatan wa fil aakhirati hasanatan wa qinaa ‘azaban naar.

Our Rab (Lord), gives us the goodness of the Dunya (world) and the Akhira (Hereafter) and saves us from the punishment of the hellfire.

Step 4: Encircle the Hatim and End the Tawaf

It is obligatory to encircle the Hatim (a semi-circular and half-built wall) during Tawaf. When it’s done and you completed the 7 rounds, your Tawaf is complete and you can cover your both shoulders.

Step 5: Perform 2 Rak’ahs of Prayer and Drink Zamzam

After that, you’ll need to perform two Nafl rak’ahs of prayer behind or close to Maqam-e-Ibrahim without hiding your head. Then, you can drink the Zamzam water while facing the Ka’bah while standing and make duas.

3. Sa’i

This is the third step of Umrah which means walking and running 7 times from two mountains called Safa and Marwa. In this step, you don’t have to do niyyah (intention). It’s Makrooh (disliked) to get into vain talk during this.

Step 1: Do Istilam of The Black Stone

It is a sunnah to perform Istilam (kissing The Black Stone by hands or mouth) before you do the Sa’i. To do that, you only need to do Istilam for the 9th time after the 8th time during Tawaf.

Step 2: Begin the Sa’i

To start the Sa’i, you’ll need to go toward the Mount of Safa. When you are proceeding, it is a sunnah to recite the given dua:

Innas Swafa wal marwata min Sha’airillah. Faman Hajjalbaita awi’tamara fala junaha ‘alaihi ain-yattawwafa bihima. Waman tatawwa’a khairan fainnallaha shakirun ‘Aleem.

Verily, the Ṣafa and Marwah mounts are among the signs of Allah. So, whoever makes the major (Hajj)or minor (Umrah) pilgrimage to the Sacred House (Ka’bah), let them walk between the two mounts. And, whoever does good willingly, Allah is truly Appreciative, and All-knowing.

Then, you’ll need to climb the Mount of Safa and face the Ka’bah. During this, raise your hands in dua and recite this as it’s sunnah to do that:

Allahu akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allah akbar wa lillahil Hamd. Laa ilaha illallahu wahdahu laa sharika lahu, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu, Yuhyi wa yumeetu, wahua hayyun laa yamootu. Wahua ala kulli shayin qadir.

La ilaha illa-llahu waḥdah, anjaza waʿdahu wa-naṣwara abdahu wa-hazama al-ahzaba waḥdah.

Allah is the Greatest! Allah is the Greatest! Allah is the Greatest! All praises belong to Allah. There is none worthy of worship except Allah, Alone without a partner. To Him belongs the sovereignty, and to Him is all the praise. He gives life and causes death. He is Living and does not die. All good is in His Hand and He has power over everything.

There is no deity except Allah. He has fulfilled His promise and helped His slave, and He alone has defeated the Confederates.

Apart from this dua, you can also recite other supplications, dikhrs, or read the Quran. You can recite this dua during Sa’I as Abdullah bin Masood (RA) used to recite it:

ربِّ اغْفِرْ وارْحَمْ، إنَّكَ أنْتَ الأعَزُّ الأآْرَمُ۝

Rabbi-ghfir warham, innaka antal-A'azzul-Akram.

O Allah forgive me and have mercy upon me, for You are the most Mighty and Honorable.

Step 3: Go to Mount of Marwah

After climbing down the Safa Mount, you’ll need to start walking to the Marwah Mount. During this, you can do dhikrs, recite durud, or make duas in the Bangla language. However, male pilgrims must jog or walk briskly between the green lights.

When you reach the top of the Marwah Mount, you’ll need to praise Allah facing the Ka’bah and recite the same words that you recited at Safa Mount.

Step 4: Complete Sa’i

You’ll need to make seven rounds from Safa to Marwah, starting from Safa and ending with Marwah. After completing the Sa’i, you can pray 2 rak’ahs of Nafl prayer in the Masjid Al-Haram. It is not compulsory to pray.

4. Halaq or Qasar

This is the fourth step of Umrah which means to shave or trim hair after the Sa’i. For male pilgrims who have an inch length of hair, it is preferable to shave the entire head.

However, if the hair of men is not shaved, cut it at least 1 inch or more. Even if it’s not preferable, the minimum requirement for cutting hair is 1/4th of the head to the finger joint or 1-inch length.

For female pilgrims, it is preferable to cut off an inch or more from the bottom after making a ponytail. Women are not allowed to shave their hair.

And then, you can leave the Masjid Al-Haram with the left foot and try to recite this dua:

اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أَسْأَلُك مِنْ فَضْلِكَ۝

Allahumma innee as’aluka min fadlika.

Ya Allah, verily I ask you from your favor.

After reciting duas, durud, and dhikrs, you can remove the Ihram, and all the restrictions are now lifted. Finally, you can thank Allah for granting you a chance to perform the Umrah.

Further Reading: How Much Does It Cost to Go to Umrah From Bangladesh?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How long does it take to perform Umrah?

It only takes around 4 to 5 hours on average to perform Umrah. However, it can take more than 7 days if you come from Bangladesh in an Umrah package.

Q. Can a woman perform Umrah alone?

A woman can perform Umrah alone without a male guardian (Mahram) based on last year's announcement by the Saudi Government.

Q. Can I sleep while in Ihram?

You can sleep or rest in Ihram if required. However, you shouldn’t take out the ihram garments and wear normal clothes.

Ending Notes

There you have it, the complete guide on how to perform Umrah! Before you plan your trip, learn about the rewards and benefits of Umrah to keep you inspired.

And for a stress-free Umrah journey, consider booking with ITS Holidays Ltd. They bear airfare, hotel, transfer, visa, and so on service costs so that you can solely focus on worshiping Allah.

Hope this detailed guide helps you to give full insights into Umrah. Have a Great Umrah!