How to Perform Umrah Step by Step
Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage, is a visit to the Sacred Mosque in Makkah that can be performed at any time of the year. For many Pakistanis it is the journey of a lifetime, and most confusion comes from one thing: the order of the rites. This guide gives you the four steps in order, plus the practical tips first-timers from Pakistan usually need. Before you fly, budget your trip with our Umrah Cost Planner.
The short version: enter ihram at the miqat, then tawaf (7 circuits around the Kaaba), then sai (7 walks between Safa and Marwa), then halq or taqsir (shaving or trimming the hair). Once the fourth step is done, your Umrah is complete. Most pilgrims finish in two to six hours, depending on the crowd and their pace.
Step 1 — Enter Ihram Before the Miqat
Ihram is the sacred state you must enter BEFORE crossing the miqat, the boundary around Makkah. Pilgrims flying from Pakistan usually enter ihram before the flight crosses the boundary — many travellers wear their ihram garments from Pakistan itself.
To enter ihram: take ghusl (a full bath), men wear two white unstitched cloths while women wear their normal modest clothing, make the intention (niyyah) for Umrah by saying Labbaik Allahumma Umrah (here I am, O Allah, for Umrah), and then begin reciting the talbiyah: Labbayk Allahumma labbayk, labbayka la shareeka laka labbayk (here I am at Your service, O Allah, here I am — You have no partner). Repeat the talbiyah often while travelling.
In ihram, certain things become forbidden until your Umrah ends: using perfume or scented products, cutting hair or nails, covering the head (men), wearing sewn fitted clothing (men), marital relations, hunting, and arguing or fighting. Women keep their faces uncovered while in ihram but otherwise dress modestly as usual.
Step 2 — Tawaf: Seven Circuits Around the Kaaba
When you reach the Haram in Makkah, enter the mosque with your right foot and head to the Kaaba. Tawaf is seven counterclockwise circuits around it. Start each circuit at the Black Stone (Hajr-e-Aswad), with the Kaaba on your LEFT side, and finish where you began — then repeat until you complete seven.
Make dua and recite whatever prayers you know during the circuits; there is no single fixed text, though our Umrah Dua Checklist gives you ready duas for each round. Men walk briskly (raml) in the first three circuits and pass the right shoulder of the ihram under the armpit (idtiba) — unless the area is packed, in which case walk normally.
After the seventh circuit, pray two rakahs behind Maqam Ibrahim (the small glass structure near the Kaaba), or anywhere else in the mosque if you cannot reach it. Then drink Zamzam water and make dua.
Step 3 — Sai: Seven Walks Between Safa and Marwa
After tawaf, go to the covered walkway between the hills of Safa and Marwa. Sai is seven one-way walks: Safa to Marwa counts as one, Marwa back to Safa counts as two, and so on. You start at Safa and finish at Marwa. This walk commemorates Hajar, the wife of Prophet Ibrahim, who ran between the two hills searching for water for her infant son.
Men walk briskly between the two green markers, and normally elsewhere. Women walk at a normal pace throughout. Recite dua and remembrance of Allah during the walks — the Umrah Dua Checklist has the recommended supplications for Safa and Marwa.
A common mistake is losing count of the laps. Count each one-way trip on your fingers or use the counter on a phone or a simple tasbeeh — walking an extra lap out of confusion is far more common than walking too few.
Step 4 — Halq or Taqsir: Shave or Trim the Hair
This is the final rite and it ends the state of ihram. Men either shave the whole head (halq), which is the more rewarded option, or trim the hair (taqsir). Women trim a small amount — about a fingertip length — from the ends of their hair.
The moment the hair is cut, all ihram restrictions are lifted and your Umrah is complete.
Practical Tips for Pakistani Pilgrims
- Time it smartly: the rites take 2 to 6 hours. Going after Fajr prayer or late at night avoids both heat and the worst crowds.
- Stay hydrated: Makkah is hot. Drink Zamzam and water between rites, and rest on the mosque floors between steps if you need to — nothing in Umrah forbids pausing.
- Shoes and bags: wear comfortable slip-on sandals and carry a small drawstring bag; plan your packing with our Umrah Packing Checklist.
- Elderly or disabled pilgrims: wheelchairs are available for tawaf and sai. Plan rest days between Umrah and sightseeing with the Umrah Itinerary Planner.
- Before you fly: make sure your visa and documents are sorted — see our Umrah Visa Document Checklist — and budget your trip with the Umrah Cost Planner.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Mixing up the order — tawaf must come before sai, and sai before the haircut. Learn the four-step sequence before you travel.
- Breaking ihram rules unknowingly — the most common slip is using scented soap or wipes after entering ihram. Use unscented toiletries from the miqat onwards.
- Losing count in sai — Safa to Marwa is one lap, not a round trip. Keep a manual count.
- Delaying the haircut — once sai is done, complete the haircut promptly; you remain in ihram until then.
- Skipping the two rakahs — the two rakahs after tawaf are an established part of the rite; do not walk straight to sai.
Quick Checklist
- Enter ihram before crossing the miqat, with the intention for Umrah.
- Complete 7 circuits of tawaf, starting at the Black Stone.
- Pray two rakahs, then drink Zamzam water.
- Complete 7 one-way walks of sai, from Safa to Marwa.
- Finish with halq or taqsir — only then are ihram restrictions lifted.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to perform Umrah?
Most pilgrims complete the four rites — ihram, tawaf, sai and the haircut — in two to six hours once they reach the Sacred Mosque. The time depends on crowd levels, your walking pace and whether you rest between rites. First-timers often spread it across a longer stay to manage jet lag and heat.
What is the correct order of the Umrah rituals?
The fixed order is: (1) enter ihram before crossing the miqat boundary, (2) perform tawaf — seven counterclockwise circuits around the Kaaba starting at the Black Stone, (3) perform sai — seven one-way walks between Safa and Marwa, starting at Safa and ending at Marwa, and (4) halq or taqsir — shaving or trimming the hair, which ends the state of ihram.
What is the difference between halq and taqsir?
Halq means shaving the entire head and taqsir means trimming the hair. Both end the state of ihram for men, and shaving is the more rewarded option. For women, only taqsir applies — trimming a fingertip length from the ends of the hair.
Can I use my phone to count the laps during tawaf and sai?
Yes. Losing count is one of the most common mistakes first-timers make. Using your phone counter, a finger count or a simple tasbeeh to track each circuit of tawaf and each one-way walk of sai is perfectly fine and widely practiced.
What is forbidden while in the state of ihram?
While in ihram you may not use perfume or scented products, cut hair or nails, cover your head (men) or wear sewn fitted garments (men), engage in marital relations, hunt, or argue and fight. These restrictions last from the miqat until your hair is cut after sai.