Your first Umrah can feel overwhelming. You have saved, planned and travelled far, and now you want to get every step right. The good news is that Umrah is simple at its heart. It has four main parts, and millions of people perform it every year, including children and elderly grandparents.

This guide walks you through each step in plain words, with tips from the road that make the day calmer. It follows the widely taught method; small details differ between schools of fiqh, so keep a trusted scholar’s guidance close.

Before you start: three things to prepare

• Your permit: book an Umrah permit in the official Nusuk app for a time that leaves room for travel and rest.
• Your Ihram: know your miqat and pack Ihram clothes in your hand luggage. See the Ihram guide.
• Your energy: after a long flight, rest at the hotel first if your permit time allows. Umrah involves around 6 to 8 km of walking.

Step 1: Enter Ihram at the miqat

Before crossing your miqat, clean yourself (ghusl if possible), and men change into the two white sheets. Women wear normal modest clothes. Then make the intention for Umrah in your heart and begin the Talbiyah: Labbayk Allahumma labbayk…

From this moment the rules of Ihram apply: no perfume, no cutting hair or nails, men do not cover their heads, and everyone avoids arguments. Coming from Madinah, the miqat is Dhul Hulaifah; if you are already in Makkah, go to Masjid Aisha. Read our Miqat guide.

Step 2: Enter Masjid al-Haram

Enter with your right foot and say the dua for entering a mosque. When you first see the Kaaba, many pilgrims pause to make dua; it is a moment you will never forget. Stop the Talbiyah when you are about to begin Tawaf.

Tip: note the number of the gate you entered. It makes finding your family and your ride much easier afterwards.

Step 3: Tawaf, seven rounds around the Kaaba

Tawaf means walking around the Kaaba seven times, anticlockwise, keeping the Kaaba on your left. You need wudu for Tawaf.

• Start in line with the Black Stone corner (a green light on the wall marks the line). Face it, raise your right hand and say “Bismillah, Allahu Akbar”. See our Hajr-e-Aswad guide.
• Men uncover the right shoulder (idtiba) for this Tawaf, and walk briskly in the first three rounds (raml) if there is space.
• Make any dua in any language. There is no fixed dua for each round.
• Between the Yemeni corner and the Black Stone, many recite “Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah…”.
• Each time you pass the Black Stone line, a round is complete. After seven, men cover the shoulder again.

Busy times? Use the upper floors. The rounds are longer but calmer, and many elderly pilgrims prefer them.

Step 4: Pray two rak’ahs and drink Zamzam

After Tawaf, pray two short rak’ahs behind Maqam Ibrahim if there is space, or anywhere in the mosque. Then drink Zamzam water, which is available in coolers throughout the Haram, and make dua.

Step 5: Sa’i between Safa and Marwah

Sa’i remembers Hajar (may Allah be pleased with her) searching for water for her baby Ismail. Go to the hill of Safa, face the Kaaba, raise your hands and make dua. Then walk to Marwah: that is one trip. Marwah back to Safa is the second. Seven trips end at Marwah.

Men jog lightly between the green lights; women walk normally. The full Sa’i is roughly 3 km. Wheelchairs and electric carts are available for those who need them; ask staff at the Haram.

Step 6: Cut or shave the hair

Men shave the head (most rewarded) or trim hair from all over the head. Women cut about a fingertip’s length from the end of their hair, in private. There are many barbers near the Haram. With this, your Umrah is complete and the rules of Ihram end. Alhamdulillah.

Common first-time mistakes to avoid

• Crossing the miqat without Ihram.
• Starting Tawaf from the wrong place, or counting rounds wrongly. If you are unsure, go with the lower number.
• Pushing to reach the Black Stone.
• Doing Tawaf without wudu.
• Rushing in the midday heat without water.
• Forgetting your Nusuk permit.

Getting to and from the Haram

From Jeddah Airport, the drive to Makkah takes about 1 to 1.5 hours; see our travel guide and Jeddah Airport to Makkah taxi. For a second Umrah from Makkah, our Masjid Aisha return taxi waits while you change and pray.

Final thoughts

Umrah is not a test of perfection. It is an act of love and humility. Prepare well, move calmly, ask staff or scholars when unsure, and give your full heart to each step. May Allah accept it from you.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides and services

• Nusuk app guide
• Ihram guide
• Miqat guide
• Jeddah Airport to Makkah taxi
• Masjid Aisha Meeqat taxi
• All routes and fixed prices

Sources and further reading

• Ministry of Hajj and Umrah
• Nusuk – official platform for Umrah, Hajj and Rawdah
• General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques
• Quran 2:158 – Safa and Marwah (quran.com)

This guide is general information for pilgrims. Religious rulings can differ between schools of thought, so please ask a qualified scholar about your own situation. Official rules change often; always check the official Nusuk platform and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah before you travel.

Written by the Zikr Cabs team: we drive pilgrims between Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah and Taif. Questions? Message us on WhatsApp.

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