The Umrah, Step by Step — The Authenticated Ḥanafī Method with Every Duʿā

The whole of ʿUmrah is four acts wrapped inside one sacred state. You enter iḥrām with an intention and the talbiyah; you circle the House of Allah seven times (ṭawāf); you pray two rakʿah and drink Zamzam; you walk the seven lengths of saʿī between Ṣafā and Marwah; then the head is shaved or the hair trimmed (ḥalq / qaṣr) and the iḥrām is released. Nothing below adds to those acts — it simply walks you through them exactly as the Ḥanafī manuals record, with the duʿā for each moment placed where you will need it. Read as you go, do as you read.

Part I — Before iḥrām: the preparation

1. Groom yourself

Before entering iḥrām, tidy the hair of the head, trim the moustache, remove the hair of the underarms and below the navel, and clip the nails. Once the iḥrām begins, none of this will be permitted until the ʿUmrah is complete. Ghunyat al-Nāsik

2. Ghusl with the intention of iḥrām

Perform a full bath (ghusl) with the intention of iḥrām — this is the sunnah even for a woman in her period. If a bath is not possible, wuḍū suffices. Use unscented soap; perfume on the body before the intention is permitted for men, but nothing scented may touch the iḥrām sheets themselves. Ghunyat al-Nāsik

3. Put on the two sheets

Men now remove all stitched clothing and wear two plain white sheets — one tied around the waist (izār), the other draped over the upper body (ridāʾ). Take off shoes and socks and wear open sandals that leave the raised middle bone of each foot uncovered. Ghunyat al-Nāsik

4. Pray two rakʿah nafl of iḥrām

Cover the head and pray two rakʿah nafl with the intention of iḥrām. It is preferred to recite Sūrah al-Kāfirūn in the first rakʿah and Sūrah al-Ikhlāṣ in the second. Ḥayāt

5. Flying to Jeddah? Do this on the plane

When travelling by air it is more prudent to prepare fully before the flight: complete everything above — the ghusl, the sheets, the nafl — at home or at the airport, and leave only the intention and the talbiyah. Then, once the aircraft is airborne and well before the mīqāt is announced, make the intention and recite the talbiyah. From that moment you are in iḥrām.

Part II — Niyyah & Talbiyah: the iḥrām begins

6. Make the intention of ʿUmrah

Men now uncover the head. Turn the heart to Allah and make the intention. The intention is valid in any language; the manuals record it in these words: Ghunyat al-Nāsik

7. Recite the Talbiyah three times

The moment the intention is made, say the talbiyah three times. Men raise the voice; women say it softly. With the intention and the first talbiyah together, the iḥrām — and all its restrictions — takes effect. Ghunyat al-Nāsik

8. Send ṣalawāt, then ask

After the talbiyah, recite durūd sharīf upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and then ask Allah for His pleasure and for Paradise, and seek His refuge from His displeasure and the Fire. The booklet

9. The restrictions of iḥrām now apply

From the moment of the intention and talbiyah until the hair is cut at the end of ʿUmrah, the following apply. Learn them now; nearly every penalty pilgrims incur comes from forgetting one of these. Ghunyat al-Nāsik

Part III — Makkah al-Mukarramah & the first sight

10. Keep the talbiyah alive on the road

When the blessed journey toward the Ḥaram begins, recite the talbiyah again and again along the way, and enter Makkah al-Mukarramah reciting it with longing and love. Ḥayāt · Ghunyah

11. Enter al-Masjid al-Ḥarām

Enter with complete reverence, right foot first, saying: Ghunyat al-Nāsik

Also make the intention of nafl iʿtikāf for your time inside the mosque — worship upon worship at no extra cost — and move forward without inconveniencing anyone.

12. The first sight of the Kaʿbah

The moment your eyes fall on the House of Allah, step out of the walkway and stand to one side. This is a special hour of acceptance — the manuals record that duʿā at the first sight of the Kaʿbah is answered. Say each of these three times, then raise both hands, send durūd upon the Prophet ﷺ, and ask Allah to your heart's fill — for yourself, your family, and every Muslim. Ghunyat al-Nāsik

Part IV — Ṭawāf of ʿUmrah: seven rounds of the House

13. Prepare: wuḍū and iḍṭibāʿ

Wuḍū is a condition of ṭawāf — confirm it now. Then men perform iḍṭibāʿ: pass the upper sheet under the right armpit and drape both ends over the left shoulder, leaving the right shoulder bare. It stays this way for the whole ṭawāf. The talbiyah stops when the ṭawāf begins. Ghunyat al-Nāsik

14. Stand at the line and make the niyyah

Come to the side of the Kaʿbah where al-Ḥajar al-Aswad (the Black Stone) is set and stand so that the whole Stone is to your right — the brown-black strip on the marble marks the alignment. Then, without raising the hands, make the intention: Ḥayāt

15. Face the Stone, raise the hands

Now slide a little to your right so that you stand squarely facing the Ḥajar al-Aswad. Raise both hands to the ears with the palms facing the Stone, say the words below, then lower the hands. Ḥayāt

16. Istilām — greet the Stone

Perform istilām: if you can reach the Stone without harming anyone, place both palms on it and kiss it. In today's crowds, the sunnah is fully carried by the gesture: raise the palms toward the Stone as before, say the same words, and kiss both palms. Ghunyat al-Nāsik

17. Begin — the House on your left

Turn to your right and begin the ṭawāf, moving anticlockwise with the Kaʿbah on your left. Two rules govern every step: Taʾkīd

• Apart from the moments of istilām, it is not permissible during ṭawāf to turn your chest or your back toward the Kaʿbah. Take special care when the crowd swirls, and when tempted to photograph.
• The Ḥaṭīm — the low semicircular wall — is part of the House itself. Every round must pass around it, never through it, or that round does not count.

18. Raml — the first three rounds

In the first three rounds only, men walk with raml: chest out, shoulders moving with a soldier's bearing, steps short and quick. In the remaining four rounds walk normally. Women never perform raml. Ḥayāt

19. What to recite while circling

Ṭawāf is itself an act of worship, and filling it with dhikr and duʿā multiplies the reward. Reciting the third kalimah in ṭawāf is established from ḥadīth: The booklet

Beyond this, ask for whatever you wish in any language — the real duʿā, the manuals insist, is the one made with presence of heart. The famous seven round-duʿās are given at the end of this guide, with an honest note on their status.

20. The Rukn Yamānī

When you reach the Rukn Yamānī — the corner before the Black Stone — touch it with both hands or with the right hand if it is easy, and move on making duʿā until you arrive before the Ḥajar al-Aswad. The Rukn Yamānī is not kissed, and if it cannot be reached, simply pass by — there is no gesture toward it from afar. Ḥayāt

21. Between the Yamānī corner and the Stone

Along this final stretch of every round, recite the transmitted duʿā: Thābit min al-ḥadīth

22. Seven rounds, then the eighth istilām

Each time you arrive back at the Black Stone, one round is complete: greet the Stone with istilām or its gesture and begin the next. When the seventh round ends, perform the istilām or gesture an eighth time — with it, the ṭawāf is complete. Ḥayāt

Part V — After the ṭawāf: prayer, Multazam, Zamzam

23. Cover both shoulders again

The iḍṭibāʿ was only for the ṭawāf. Now bring the sheet back over both shoulders — the two rakʿah that follow must be prayed with both shoulders covered. Ghunyat al-Nāsik

24. Two rakʿah at Maqām Ibrāhīm

Behind Maqām Ibrāhīm — or anywhere in the mosque if it is crowded — pray the two rakʿah wājib of ṭawāf, head uncovered as you remain in iḥrām. It is sunnah to recite Sūrah al-Kāfirūn in the first rakʿah and Sūrah al-Ikhlāṣ in the second. Then ask Allah earnestly. Ḥayāt

25. Al-Multazam — the door of weeping

Come to al-Multazam, the stretch of wall between the Black Stone and the door of the Kaʿbah. The way of the pious is to cling to it and beg Allah with tears and utter humility — this is a place where duʿā is poured out. Ḥayāt

26. Drink Zamzam to your fill

Now drink Zamzam — the adab is to face the Kaʿbah, say بِسْمِ الله, drink in three breaths to your fill, and praise Allah. Zamzam is for whatever it is drunk for — so drink it with this duʿā: Muʿallim al-Ḥujjāj

Part VI — Saʿī: seven lengths between Ṣafā and Marwah

27. The ninth istilām, then out to Ṣafā

To begin the saʿī, return toward the Black Stone and perform the istilām or its gesture a ninth time, then set out for Mount Ṣafā. Being in wuḍū for the saʿī is sunnah. Ḥayāt

28. On Ṣafā: face the House and intend

Climb Ṣafā until the Kaʿbah is before you, face it, praise Allah and send durūd, then make the intention and raise the hands and ask long — this standing-place of duʿā is beloved. Ḥayāt

29. Walk to Marwah — jog between the green lights

Descend from Ṣafā and walk toward Marwah. When you reach the stretch marked by the green pillars of light, men run lightly; women do not run, in any length. Along the way, and especially between the lights, recite: Muʿallim al-Ḥujjāj

30. Count the lengths — seven, ending at Marwah

Reaching Marwah, turn toward the qiblah and make duʿā — that is one length. The second ends back on Ṣafā, the third on Marwah, and so on: the seventh length finishes on Marwah. In every length the men jog between the green lights and the women walk. ʿUmdat al-Manāsik

31. Two rakʿah of gratitude

After the saʿī — provided it is not a makrūh time — pray two nafl of shukrānah (gratitude) inside the Ḥaram. Ḥayāt · Ghunyah

Part VII — Ḥalq or qaṣr, and the iḥrām is released

32. Shave, or trim properly

Men now have the whole head shaved — the greater reward — or the hair of the whole head trimmed. Women gather all their hair and cut slightly more than one finger-joint's length from the ends of all of it; a woman never shaves. Make certain, at the very least, that the hair of a full quarter of the head has been cut. Ghunyat al-Nāsik

33. Your ʿUmrah is complete

With the ḥalq or qaṣr, the ʿUmrah is complete and every restriction of iḥrām is lifted. Change into your clothes and live as normal. Then thank Allah with heart and soul that He granted you the felicity of ʿUmrah — value the remaining moments of this journey and of this life, and spend them seeking the pleasure of your Lord.

The seven round-duʿās of ṭawāf

First round

Second round

Third round

Fourth round

Fifth round

Sixth round

Seventh round

At the end of every round, close the duʿā when you reach the Rukn Yamānī, and recite رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً… along the stretch to the Black Stone, as given in step 21.

Madīnah — presenting the salām, step by step

Visiting Madīnah is not a rite of ʿUmrah, but it is deeply beloved, and the manuals give it the same careful, step-by-step treatment.

M1. The intention for the journey

When you set out for Madīnah al-Munawwarah, make this intention: "O Allah, I travel to Madīnah to visit the blessed resting place of the Master of both worlds ﷺ; O Allah, accept it from me." On the road, keep the sunnahs of travel and recite durūd sharīf in great abundance — this is the journey of durūd. ʿUmdat al-Manāsik

M2. Prepare, then walk to the Mosque

At your lodging, set down your things and perform ghusl — or at least wuḍū. Wear your best clothes, apply perfume (you are no longer in iḥrām), and walk toward al-Masjid al-Nabawī reciting durūd with reverence and love.

M3. Enter — Bāb Jibrīl if you can

Enter through Bāb Jibrīl or Bāb al-Salām — otherwise any door — right foot first, with the intention of nafl iʿtikāf, saying: The booklet

M4. Two rakʿah of greeting

If it is not a makrūh time, pray two rakʿah taḥiyyat al-masjid — in Riyāḍ al-Jannah beside the Prophet's miḥrāb ﷺ if you can reach it, otherwise anywhere in the mosque. Then praise Allah, make duʿā, and renew your tawbah. Ḥayāt

M5. Stand before the Sacred Chamber

With the utmost humility, stillness and respect, come before the golden grills of the blessed resting place. Stand facing the first opening, about four paces back, with the gaze lowered — the manners here are the worship. Then, in a moderate voice, present the salām: Ḥayāt

M6. Ask for his intercession

Then request the Prophet's ﷺ intercession, saying three times أَسْأَلُكَ الشَّفَاعَةَ يَا رَسُوْلَ اللهِ — "I ask you for intercession, O Messenger of Allah" — and make duʿā to Allah through his blessed means (wasīlah), asking especially for a good end (ḥusn al-khātimah), for Allah's pleasure, and for forgiveness. Ghunyat al-Nāsik

M7. Convey the salāms entrusted to you

Whoever asked you to convey their salām — a parent, a relative, a friend — present it now, saying the person's name in place of fulān ibn fulān: The booklet

M8. Salām to Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq (raḍiyallāhu ʿanhu)

Move a little to your right, before the second opening, and present the salām to Sayyidunā Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq: The booklet

M9. Salām to ʿUmar al-Fārūq (raḍiyallāhu ʿanhu)

Move a little further right, before the third opening, and present the salām to Sayyidunā ʿUmar al-Fārūq: The booklet

M10. Then both together

Step back slightly to the left, so you stand between the two, and say: The booklet

Then return once more before the first opening, present durūd and salām to the Beloved ﷺ with love and longing, and ask Allah — for yourself, your family, your parents and all whom you carry in your heart.

M11. Weep and ask, facing the qiblah

Afterwards move to a spot in the mosque where, facing the qiblah, your back is not toward the Sacred Chamber ﷺ — and there pour your heart out to Allah in duʿā. This is the complete manner of presenting the salām.

M12. The forty prayers — a clarification

Men should try to pray with the congregation in al-Masjid al-Nabawī, and many strive for forty prayers there. Know its true status: the forty are not obligatory and not binding; it is merely commendable (mustaḥabb). Do not shorten your stay in Makkah, or burden the sick, for the sake of a number. The booklet

M13. Qubāʾ, al-Baqīʿ, and the farewell

• Masjid Qubāʾ: on a Saturday — otherwise whenever the chance comes — pray two rakʿah nafl there, outside the makrūh times.
• Jannat al-Baqīʿ: visit from time to time; send reward (īṣāl-e-thawāb) and duʿā of forgiveness for those who rest there, and through their means ask for yourself.
• The farewell: when leaving Madīnah, present the salām at the Sacred Chamber once more in the manner above, let the tears of parting fall, and return with the yearning of being brought back again.

Mistakes that cost pilgrims dearly

• Touching the perfumed stones in iḥrām. The Ḥajar al-Aswad, Rukn Yamānī and Multazam usually carry fresh perfume — greet from a step away while in iḥrām, or risk a dam.
• Chest or back toward the Kaʿbah mid-round — usually while taking photos. Outside the istilām it is not permissible; the affected portion of the round must be redone.
• Cutting through the Ḥaṭīm. It is part of the House — a round through it does not count.
• Raml in all seven rounds. It belongs to the first three only; women never do it.
• Gesturing to the Rukn Yamānī from afar. It is touched when easy; otherwise simply pass by.
• The few-strands haircut at Marwah. For a Ḥanafī it does not release the iḥrām — at least a quarter of the head must be trimmed, and shaving is best for men.
• Women jogging between the green lights. The jog is for men only, in ṭawāf's raml and in saʿī alike.
• Praying the two rakʿah of ṭawāf at sunrise, zenith or sunset. Wait out the makrūh window, then pray them.
• Pushing through the crowd to kiss the Stone. Harming a Muslim to reach a sunnah inverts the reward — the gesture carries the sunnah in full.

Sources & method

This guide follows the Ḥanafī school. Its sequence, wordings and warnings are drawn from the classical Ḥanafī manuals of pilgrimage rites, each instruction carrying a citation. The same tags appear throughout this page:

• غنية الناسك — Ghunyat al-Nāsik fī Bughyat al-Manāsik, the classical Ḥanafī reference of pilgrimage rites.
• معلم الحجاج — Muʿallim al-Ḥujjāj, the standard Urdu manual carried by generations of pilgrims.
• عمدة المناسك and حيات — ʿUmdat al-Manāsik and Ḥayāt, as cited in the booklet.
• Aḥkām-e-Ḥajj of Muftī Muḥammad Shafīʿ ʿUthmānī and the rulings of Muftī Muḥammad Taqī ʿUthmānī (Dārul ʿUlūm Karāchī) — with which this method accords.

اَللّٰهُمَّ تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيْعُ الْعَلِيْمُ

O Allah, accept from us — truly You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.

When you are ready to plan the practical side of the journey, we can help you find a stay near the Ḥaram, pre-book a private car for your airport transfer and the Makkah–Madīnah leg, or answer any question — see our Umrah hub.