Umrah has four main steps: enter Ihram with the intention before the Miqat, perform Tawaf around the Kaaba seven times, walk Sa'i between Safa and Marwah seven times, then shave or shorten the hair.
1. Ihram and intention
Ihram is the sacred state you enter before reaching the Miqat. Men wear two plain white sheets and women wear modest everyday clothes. Make the intention for Umrah and begin the Talbiyah. If you fly straight to Jeddah, you pass the Miqat in the air, so men usually put on Ihram before the flight or on board and make the intention before the plane crosses the Miqat.
Things to avoid in Ihram
While in Ihram, avoid:
Cutting hair or nails
Using perfume or scented products
Arguing and bad speech
For men: covering the head or wearing stitched clothes
For women: covering the face with a niqab or wearing gloves
2. Tawaf
At Masjid al Haram, walk around the Kaaba seven times anticlockwise, starting and ending at the line of the Black Stone. Make dua and remember Allah in your own words. After Tawaf, pray two rak'ahs behind Maqam Ibrahim if you can, or anywhere in the mosque, and drink Zamzam water.
3. Sa'i
Walk seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah, starting at Safa and finishing at Marwah. Each one way trip counts as one. Wheelchairs are available at the Haram for anyone who needs them.
4. Shaving or shortening the hair
Men shave the head or shorten the hair all over, and women cut a small amount, about a fingertip length, from the end of their hair. Your Umrah is now complete and the restrictions of Ihram are lifted.
A gentle reminder
This guide is a simple overview. Learn the rulings from a trusted scholar before you travel, especially if you have questions about your own situation.
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