Umrah step by step

Before departure

Intention. Umrah starts at home, not in Makkah — with a sincere intention for Allah and with settling your debts to people. Ask forgiveness from those you have wronged and leave your family everything they need while you are away.

Ihram. Men wear two seamless white cloths, women their usual modest clothing. Ihram is entered at the miqat: our groups do it either at the hotel in Madinah before leaving for Makkah, or on the plane above the miqat when flying straight to Jeddah. The Hajj leader announces in advance when to perform ghusl, put on ihram and make the intention.

Talbiyah. From that moment until the Kaaba the pilgrim repeats “Labbayk Allahumma labbayk…”. In ihram you may not cut hair or nails, use perfume, hunt or quarrel.

In Makkah

Tawaf. Seven circuits around the Kaaba counter-clockwise, starting from the Black Stone. Men walk briskly for the first three. After tawaf — two rak'ahs behind the Station of Ibrahim and Zamzam water.

Sa'i. Seven passes between the hills of Safa and Marwa (Safa → Marwa counts as one). Between the green markers men quicken their pace. Our guide walks ahead of the group and makes sure nobody gets lost.

Halq or taqsir. Men shave or cut their hair short, women cut a lock the length of a fingertip. Umrah is complete and ihram is removed.

What we take care of

The group goes through the rites in a class before departure and repeats them on the bus to the miqat. During tawaf and sa'i two escorts walk with the group: one ahead, one at the back. Elderly pilgrims are taken along the upper floor of the mosque, where it is less crowded, and a wheelchair is arranged when needed.