Hajj & Umrah guide
Every step in order, with the words to say. Print this page and it fits in a pocket for the journey.
Umrah, step by step
Umrah can be done at any time of the year and takes a few hours: ihram, tawaf, sa‘i and cutting the hair.
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1
Ihram at the miqat
Bathe or make wudu, put on the two white cloths (women wear their ordinary modest clothes), pray two rak‘ahs if it is not a forbidden time, and make the intention for umrah.
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ عُمْرَةًLabbayk Allahumma ‘umrah — Here I am, O Allah, for umrah.
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2
Talbiyah all the way
Say the talbiyah aloud (men) or quietly (women) again and again until you begin the tawaf.
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَHere I am, O Allah, here I am. You have no partner. All praise, favour and dominion are Yours.
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3
Tawaf — seven times round the Ka‘bah
Begin at the Black Stone, keep the Ka‘bah on your left, and go round seven times. Men uncover the right shoulder and walk briskly in the first three rounds. Say whatever du‘a and dhikr you wish.
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِOur Lord, give us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and save us from the fire. (said between the Yemeni corner and the Black Stone)
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4
Two rak‘ahs behind Maqam Ibrahim
Pray two rak‘ahs behind the Station of Ibrahim if there is room, then drink Zamzam water.
وَاتَّخِذُوا مِنْ مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى“And take the Station of Ibrahim as a place of prayer.” (al-Baqarah 2:125)
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5
Sa‘i between Safa and Marwah
Walk seven times between the two hills, beginning at Safa and ending at Marwah. Men jog between the green lights.
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ“Safa and Marwah are among the signs of Allah.” (al-Baqarah 2:158)
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6
Cutting the hair — and umrah is complete
Men shave the head or cut the hair short (shaving is better); women cut a fingertip’s length from the end of their hair. Ihram is over and what it forbade is allowed again.
Hajj, day by day
The five days of hajj, from the eighth of Dhul Hijjah to the thirteenth.
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1
8 Dhul Hijjah — Mina (Yawm at-Tarwiyah)
Put on ihram and make the intention for hajj, go to Mina, and pray Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha and Fajr there — each at its own time, the four-rak‘ah prayers shortened to two.
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ حَجًّاLabbayk Allahumma hajjan — Here I am, O Allah, for hajj.
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2
9 Dhul Hijjah — Arafah, the day of hajj
Stand at Arafah from midday until sunset: du‘a, dhikr, istighfar. Dhuhr and Asr are joined and shortened. This standing is hajj itself. After sunset go to Muzdalifah, pray Maghrib and Isha together there and sleep, gathering pebbles.
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌThe best du‘a is that of the day of Arafah, and the best I and the prophets before me said is: There is no god but Allah alone…
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3
10 Dhul Hijjah — Eid: stoning, sacrifice, tawaf
Throw seven pebbles at the large pillar (Jamratul Aqabah), then sacrifice, then shave or cut the hair, then go to Makkah for the tawaf of hajj and the sa‘i. Ihram ends.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُAllahu akbar — said with every pebble.
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4
11–12 Dhul Hijjah — the days of Mina
Stay in Mina and throw seven pebbles at each of the three pillars every day, after midday, beginning with the small one.
Stand facing the qiblah after the first two and make du‘a at length.
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5
13 Dhul Hijjah and the farewell tawaf
Those who stay on throw the pebbles again on the thirteenth. Before leaving Makkah, make the farewell tawaf — seven rounds, and it is the last thing you do there.
Before you travel
What to settle and what to carry.
This guide follows what most scholars agree on. Your group’s guide or a trusted scholar can answer anything particular to you.