Umrah is a voluntary pilgrimage to Makkah that Muslims can perform at any time of the year except during the five days of Hajj. It is a powerful way to seek forgiveness and draw closer to Allah. Over 500,000 British Muslims apply for Umrah each year, making it one of the most common spiritual journeys from the UK. The entire Umrah ritual takes about 3 to 5 hours once inside Masjid al-Haram, but you will walk 10 to 15 kilometres.

Step 1: Ihram (State of Purity)

Ihram is both a physical garment and a spiritual state. It signals the formal beginning of your Umrah and carries specific obligations that every pilgrim must observe from the moment they enter this state.

What to Do

• Perform Ghusl, which is a full ritual bath, before your flight departs.
• Put on your Ihram garments:
  • Men: Two plain white unstitched sheets known as the Izar and the Rida.
  • Women: Loose, modest clothing that covers the entire body apart from the face and hands.
• Form the intention, known as Niyyah, for Umrah sincerely within your heart.
• Begin reciting the Talbiyah aloud: “Lab-bayk Allahumma Lab-bayk…” Continue this recitation consistently until Tawaf begins.

When to Enter Ihram from the UK

Most UK flights travelling to Jeddah or Madinah will make an announcement approximately 30 to 60 minutes before landing to alert passengers that the plane is approaching the Miqat boundary. You must be fully dressed in Ihram before the aircraft crosses this boundary. If you miss this point, you face two options:

• Travel back to the Miqat boundary and enter Ihram there, which carries no penalty, or
• Pay Damm (الدم), which is the sacrifice of one sheep carried out in Makkah and typically costs around £200.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Waiting until you land in Jeddah. Jeddah sits inside the Miqat boundary. Arriving at the airport without Ihram means Damm becomes obligatory.
• Using scented products. Perfumed soap, deodorant, cologne, and scented lotions are all prohibited. Switch to unscented alternatives before you enter Ihram.
• Men covering the head. Wearing a hat, cap, or even draping a towel over your head is not permitted while in Ihram.
• Women wearing a face veil. Women must keep their face uncovered throughout the state of Ihram, even if they normally wear niqab.
• Forgetting to recite Talbiyah. Begin your recitation the moment you make your intention and maintain it until Tawaf starts.

Step 2: Tawaf (Circling the Kaaba)

Tawaf involves walking around the Kaaba seven complete times in an anti-clockwise direction. It is one of the central acts of worship in Umrah and requires full concentration and reverence.

What to Do

• Enter Masjid al-Haram with your right foot, reciting the dua that is customary when entering a mosque (اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ).
• Proceed to the Black Stone, known as Hajar al-Aswad. If you are able to touch or kiss it, do so. If the crowd makes this impossible, simply point towards it with your right hand and say: “Bismillah, Allahu Akbar, (بسم الله، الله أكبر)“
• Walk around the Kaaba seven full times, ensuring that the Kaaba always remains on your left side throughout each circuit.
• Men only: Uncover the right shoulder, known as Idtiba, for the duration of Tawaf. Walk at a brisk pace, which is called Raml, during the first three rounds only.
• You may recite any duas you wish, in any language. There are no fixed or compulsory supplications assigned to each individual round.
• Between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone, recite: “Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina adhaban-nar, (رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ)“
• Once all seven rounds are complete, offer two Rak’ah of prayer behind Maqam Ibrahim wherever possible.
• Drink Zamzam water and spend time in sincere dua.

How Long Tawaf Takes

• During off-peak periods: roughly 30 to 60 minutes.
• During peak season: between 1.5 and 2.5 hours.
• During Ramadan: can extend beyond 2 hours.
• The ground floor tends to be the most congested; the upper floors generally allow for a faster pace.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Pushing through the crowd. Patience is essential. Forcing your way through other worshippers has no basis in the Sunnah and causes harm.
• Touching or wiping the walls of the Kaaba. This practice is not established from the Sunnah and should be avoided.
• Following group leaders who recite loudly. Loud communal recitation disturbs surrounding pilgrims. Make your own duas quietly and personally.
• Assuming fixed duas are required each round. You are free to supplicate in your own words and your own language throughout Tawaf.
• Performing Tawaf on behalf of living relatives. You cannot carry out Tawaf for another person who is alive and capable without a valid religious basis for doing so.
• Stopping in the main walking area to make extended duas. Keep your movement steady. Step outward to a less busy area if you need to pause for a longer supplication.

Step 3: Sa’i (Walking Between Safa and Marwah)

Sa’i honours and commemorates the remarkable actions of Hajar, the wife of Prophet Ibrahim, as she ran between two hills desperately searching for water for her infant son Ismail. You complete seven laps between the hills of Safa and Marwah.

What to Do

• Make your way to Safa. Face the direction of the Kaaba, raise your hands, and say: “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, (الله أكبر، الله أكبر، الله أكبر)“ Then recite: “Laa ilaha illallahu wahdahu laa shareekah lah…(لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ)“ Follow this with your personal duas.
• Begin walking towards Marwah. This single walk from Safa to Marwah counts as one lap.
• Men only: Pick up your pace to a light jog between the two green lights that are marked along the pathway. Women maintain a normal walking pace throughout.
• Upon reaching Marwah, repeat the same supplications you made at Safa.
• Turn and walk back towards Safa. This return journey counts as another lap.
• Continue until you have completed seven laps in total, finishing your final lap at Marwah.

Distance and Time

• The one-way distance between the two hills is approximately 450 metres. Seven laps amount to roughly 3.15 kilometres in total.
• During off-peak periods: between 30 and 60 minutes.
• During peak season: between 1 and 2 hours.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Neglecting hydration. Drink water before you begin Sa’i and take small sips whenever you have the opportunity during the laps.
• Rushing without any reflection. Sa’i is an act of worship. Use the time to contemplate Hajar’s unwavering trust in Allah and connect the ritual to its deeper meaning.
• Women attempting to jog. The light jog between the green lights applies exclusively to men. Women walk at a steady, normal pace for all seven laps.
• Men skipping the jog between the green lights. For men, jogging between the green markers is a recommended Sunnah act and should not be abandoned without reason.
• Stopping in the middle of the walkway. Keep moving throughout Sa’i and make your supplications while walking rather than halting in the pathway.

Step 4: Halq or Taqsir (Shaving or Trimming Hair)

This is the concluding step of Umrah. Performing it correctly releases you fully from the state of Ihram and lifts all the restrictions that came with it.

What to Do

• Men: Shaving the head completely, known as Halq, carries greater reward than simply trimming, known as Taqsir. If you choose to trim instead, ensure that hair is cut evenly from all areas of the head rather than from one section only.
• Women: Trim approximately a fingertip’s length, roughly 1 centimetre, from the ends of your hair. No more than this is required or recommended.
• Visit one of the barbers located close to the Haram. Agree on the price before you take your seat. The standard rate typically falls between 10 and 20 SAR, which is approximately £2 to £4.
• After the haircut is done, you may change back into your normal clothes. All restrictions associated with Ihram are now completely lifted.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Delaying the haircut without cause. Complete this step promptly after Sa’i. There is no benefit to remaining in Ihram longer than necessary.
• Women cutting too much hair. Only a small trim from the tips is required. Cutting large amounts is unnecessary and goes beyond what the ritual demands.
• Not confirming the price with the barber beforehand. Some barbers in busy areas charge significantly more than the standard rate, particularly to visitors who appear unfamiliar with local pricing. Always agree on the cost before sitting down.
• Choosing a barber far from the Haram without a plan. Decide on your barber location before completing Sa’i so that you can move there directly and without unnecessary confusion.

Your Umrah is Complete

Once Halq or Taqsir is done, your Umrah has been fulfilled. All four essential rites have been completed. Take this time to sit in sincere dua, offer voluntary prayers, and quietly reflect on the magnitude of what you have just experienced.

UK-Specific Tips

• Download the Nusuk app as soon as you receive your travel authorisation. You will need it to book prayer slots and to arrange your visit to Rawdah in Madinah.
• ATOL protection matters. Always book your Umrah packages through an ATOL-protected travel agent. This safeguards your money in the event that the company ceases trading.
• Prepare your body in advance. Begin walking for 30 to 45 minutes each day at least one month before your departure. Incorporate stair climbing into your routine to build stamina for the terrain around the Haram.
• Travel light. Bring only what you genuinely need. Ihram garments, a pair of comfortable and well-worn walking shoes, unscented toiletries, a small dua book, and a portable charger will cover most of your requirements.

Summary Table: Steps of Umrah at a Glance

Step	What You Do	Duration	Key Mistake to Avoid
1. Ihram	Wear Ihram, make intention at Miqat, recite Talbiyah	5–10 minutes	Crossing Miqat without entering Ihram
2. Tawaf	Circle Kaaba 7 times, pray 2 Rak’ah, drink Zamzam	30 min – 2.5 hours	Pushing in crowds, touching Kaaba walls
3. Sa’i	Walk Safa to Marwah 7 times, men jog between green lights	30 min – 2 hours	Not hydrating, women attempting to jog
4. Halq/Taqsir	Shave or trim hair, exit Ihram	5–15 minutes	Delaying haircut, not agreeing barber price