ʿUmrah Procedure (Download Free E-Guide: Umrah-in-Four-Steps-SSS01)
ʿUmrah entails 4 major steps:
- Iḥrām (intention and getting into the required state for pilgrimage)
- Ṭawāf (circling the Ka’abah in the Grand Mosque at Makkah)
- Saeʿīe (pacing between the two hills)
- Ḥalaq/ Qasr (shaving or trimming the hair on the head)
Step 1, Iḥrām
Approximately two hours prior to landing or crossing the miqāt (designated borders before entering the sacred lands), put on your Iḥrām garments. Men will wear two unstitched sheets. One sheet wrapped from the navel down. The other draped around the top of the upper body, covering the back and the arms. No headgear. Women will wear their regular loose Islamic clothing covering the entire body, apart from the face and hands.
Once the garments of Iḥrām are on, be sure to have wudū (ritual ablution). Perform 2 units of prayer. Thereafter make the intention to be in the blessed state of Iḥrām and to perform ʿUmrah. Now consistently, whenever possible, recite the ‘talbiyah’ (the statement of pilgrimage, “Labbayk…”).
Remember, while in the state of Iḥrām, clipping nails, trimming hair, applying perfumes and scents, marital relations are temporarily prohibited.
Step 2, Ṭawāf
When ready, proceed to the Grand Mosque in Makkah. Enter with your right foot. Say, “Allāh Akbar” (God is the Greatest) upon seeing the Ka’abah for the first time. Make some supplications.
One must be in the state of ritual purity (wudū) in order to complete the ṭawāf. Start your ṭawāf (circumambulating) in line with the black stone. This is the corner of the Ka’abah that has the most embroidery. You will walk anti clockwise, seven times around the Ka’abah. Each time you reach the corner of the black stone, you will raise your hands making istilām (indicating with a wave, the start of the next round), while looking at the corner.
During each round of the ṭawāf, one can recite supplications, words of God’s praises and recitation of the Qurʿān.
One may talk if necessary. One may also hold the hands of family members to stay together in the crowds. Once 7 rounds are complete, drink the blessed Zam Zam water.
Now to complete the ṭawāf, offer 2 units of prayer anywhere in the Grand Mosque, if the preferred location near the Station of Ibrāhīm is not possible [due to crowds]. This completes the ṭawāf. All praise to the Almighty!
Step 3, Saeʿīe
Saeʿīe is the ritual of pacing between the two hills named Ṣafā and Marwa. The pilgrim starts the Saeʿīe at Mount Ṣafā. The pilgrim will commence by facing the Ka’abah while on the Ṣafā hill. Supplicate and begin by walking towards Marwa.
In between, while pacing towards the Marwa hill from Ṣafā, there are green lights above. In this area, the male pilgrim is encouraged to walk a faster pace. The same on the way back, under the green lights, from Marwa to Ṣafā. The pilgrim will complete 7 rounds. Reaching at each hill means one is complete. Thus, walking from Ṣafā to Marwa is one, then from Marwa to Ṣafā is two, so on and so forth. Thus, the 7 rounds commence at Ṣafā and conclude at Marwa.
While pacing in between these two hills, any recitation, dhikr and or supplication may be recited.
If required, one may also talk. It is best to occupy oneself in reflection and in chants of the Almighty’s praises and supplications to Him. The seventh round of the Saeʿīe will conclude this third step of ʿUmrah, the Saeʿīe. May the Almighty accept.
Step 4, Ḥalaq or Qaṣr
The final step to conclude ʿUmrah is to trim (qaṣr) or shave (ḥalaq) the hair of the head. Sisters will trim approximately an inch from the bottom of their hair in a line. Brothers have the option of either trimming one inch of most of the head hair or preferably shaving all the hair on their head. This is highly recommended as there are triple the blessings in this. The Prophet Muḥammad (peace and blessings upon him) also shaved his hair during his pilgrimage.
After trimming or shaving, you have completed all the steps of ʿUmrah. You are now released from the state and clothing of Iḥrām. May the Almighty accept your ʿUmrah and prayers.
