Quick answer: Umrah has four rites performed in order: entering ihram at or before your miqat, seven circuits of tawaf around the Kaaba, seven passes of sa’i between Safa and Marwah, and finishing with halq or taqsir (shaving or trimming the hair). The sequence is the same across the four Sunni schools; they differ mainly on whether Umrah itself is obligatory and on some conditions within tawaf. Always check the official Saudi visa and health pages before you book, since rules and fees change.
The four rites of Umrah, in order
Umrah is performed in four steps: entering Ihram at the Miqat, the Umrah Tawaf of 7 circuits around the Kaaba, Sa’i between Safa and Marwa of 7 circuits, and exiting Ihram by shaving or trimming the hair. Everything else, the two rak’ahs after tawaf, drinking Zamzam, the Talbiyah on the way to Makkah, supports these four steps rather than adding new ones.
| Step | Rite | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ihram | Ghusl, ihram clothing, intention and Talbiyah at or before the miqat boundary |
| 2 | Tawaf | Seven circuits around the Kaaba, Kaaba kept on the left |
| 3 | Sa’i | Seven passes on foot between the hills of Safa and Marwah |
| 4 | Halq or taqsir | Shaving or trimming the hair, which ends the state of ihram |
Step 1: reaching your miqat and entering ihram
A miqat is a boundary around Makkah. You must enter ihram at it or before it if you are passing through on your way to the city. The 5 primary Miqat locations in Saudi Arabia are Dhul Hulayfah, Al-Juhfah, Qarn al-Manazil, Yalamlam, and Dhat Irq. Which one applies to you depends on your route, not your nationality.
| Miqat | Also known as | Distance to Makkah (km) | Typically used by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhul Hulayfah | Masjid ash-Shajarah / Abyar Ali | 424 | Medina |
| Al-Juhfah | Rabigh | 179 | Ash-Sham: Syria, Palestine, Jordan and similar routes |
| Qarn al-Manazil | As-Sayl al-Kabir | 82 | Najd and the Gulf |
| Yalamlam | As-Sa’diyyah | 105 | Yemen and southern routes |
| Dhat Irq | Near As-Sayl al-Kabir | 110 | Iraq and Iran |
If you fly directly into Jeddah, cabin crew usually announce the miqat point before landing so you can enter ihram in the air. Pilgrims who are already inside Makkah and want to perform a further Umrah normally travel out to a nearby point in the Hill zone. Makkah residents and repeat Umrah pilgrims use 6 local Miqat points within the Al-Hill zone, the nearest being Masjid Aisha at 7–8 km from Masjid al-Haram.
Before the miqat, pilgrims normally bathe, trim nails, and put on ihram clothing: ghusl is performed, men wear two unsewn white garments (izar and rida) and women wear normal modest clothing; the intention for Umrah is made, the Talbiyah recited and Ihram prohibitions begin. Women do not have a fixed ihram colour or cut; loose, modest, comfortable clothing is enough, and the face and hands stay uncovered in front of men who are not mahram, though a woman may let her head covering fall forward as a screen when needed.
What the four schools say about ihram and the ruling of Umrah
The schools agree on the four rites and their order. They differ on how binding Umrah is in the first place, and on a few technical conditions inside tawaf.
| School | Ruling of Umrah | Purity (wudu) required for valid tawaf |
|---|---|---|
| Hanafi | Sunnah mu’akkadah | Not covered in the sources used for this article |
| Maliki | Sunnah mu’akkadah | Required; freedom from hadath and khabath is necessary, so tawaf performed while junub or during hayd or nifas is not valid |
| Shafi’i | Obligatory | Required, on the same terms |
| Hanbali | Obligatory | Required, on the same terms |
The schools also set out what ihram asks of a pilgrim’s conduct, not only clothing. A hadith reported in Sahih al-Bukhari links a sincerely performed Hajj or Umrah to a fresh start:
مَنْ حَجَّ لِلَّهِ فَلَمْ يَرْفُثْ وَلَمْ يَفْسُقْ رَجَعَ كَيَوْمِ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ
Narrated Abu Huraira:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever performs Hajj for Allah's pleasure and does not have sexual relations with his wife, and does not do evil or sins then he will return (after Hajj free from all sins) as if he were born anew
That is one reason the classical manuals spend so much time on the manners of ihram: no quarrelling, no obscene speech, no hunting, and for men, no perfume or stitched garments over the body until halq or taqsir is done.
Steps 2 and 3: arriving in Makkah and performing tawaf
From the miqat onward, pilgrims keep reciting the Talbiyah, the declaration that they have answered the call to Umrah, until they reach the Haram. Once inside, tawaf begins at the corner holding the Black Stone. You begin your seven circumambulations, moving to the right so that you keep the Kaaba to your left, counter-clockwise, around the Kaaba. During the first three circuits men may uncover their right shoulder and move with quick, short steps, a procedure called Ramal, while the remaining four circuits are performed at a normal walking pace.
Schools differ on some details of how exactly tawaf must start and on whether walking is a strict requirement. The schools disagree on whether tawaf must be undertaken on foot: the Hanafi, Hanbali, and Maliki schools consider it obligatory, while the Shafi’i school holds it is not obligatory. After the seven circuits, pilgrims pray two rak’ahs, traditionally near the Maqam Ibrahim if space allows, then drink Zamzam water before moving to sa’i.
Step 4: sa’i between Safa and Marwah
Sa’i recalls the search for water by Hajar, the wife of the Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), and is performed inside a covered, air-conditioned gallery today. The Quran names these two hills directly:
۞ إِنَّ ٱلصَّفَا وَٱلْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَآئِرِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَمَنْ حَجَّ ٱلْبَيْتَ أَوِ ٱعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا ۚ وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًۭا فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ
Indeed, as-Safa and al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever makes Hajj to the House or performs 'umrah – there is no blame upon him for walking between them. And whoever volunteers good – then indeed, Allah is appreciative and Knowing.
The distance between Safa and Marwa is approximately 450 m, so seven trips back and forth amount to roughly 3.15 km. Walking from Safa to Marwah counts as one pass, and the return counts as the second, so four full lengths plus one more complete the seven. Between Safa and Marwah there are two sets of green fluorescent lights about 50 metres apart, marking the stretch where Hajar is remembered to have moved quickly; these markers are known as the two green mileposts. Men are asked to walk briskly through that marked stretch; women keep a normal walking pace throughout.
Step 5: halq or taqsir, and leaving ihram
The final rite ends the state of ihram. Men may choose between the two options, though one is preferred:
- Men may choose Halq, complete shaving of the head, or Taqsir, shortening the hair all over the head; Halq is considered more virtuous, though Taqsir is entirely valid.
- Women are not required to shave; instead they cut a small portion of hair, roughly a fingertip’s length, from the ends, a practice known as the fingertip rule that applies regardless of hair length or style.
The Hanafi school treats this step as obligatory in its own right: Halq or Taqsir is wajib according to the Hanafi school, and failing to perform it invalidates the completion of Umrah. Once the hair is cut, all ihram restrictions lift and Umrah is complete.
Health rules, visa checks and a simple checklist before you fly
Health requirements come from the Saudi Ministry of Health, not from travel agents, and they are updated most years. For the current season: the Kingdom’s health authorities set out requirements and vaccines for anyone travelling to Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah or Taif for Umrah during 1447H (2026). The headline rule concerns meningitis: adults and children aged over 2 years arriving for Umrah or Hajj must submit a valid vaccination certificate with a quadrivalent (ACYW) meningococcal vaccine administered not less than 10 days before arrival, with the polysaccharide form valid for 3 years and the conjugate form valid for 5 years. Build this into your planning early, since the certificate has to predate travel by at least 10 days.
On entry documents, pilgrims performing Umrah can currently enter Saudi Arabia on a tourist e-visa, an Umrah visa, or a transit visa, but Hajj itself can only be performed on a Hajj visa issued through the Nusuk platform. Visa categories, fees and the list of eligible nationalities change, so check the official portal shortly before you book rather than relying on older articles, including this one.
A short, checkable list helps more than a long one. Keep ihram garments, travel documents and the vaccination certificate together in hand luggage, not in checked bags.
| Category | Item | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Documents | Passport, visa confirmation, vaccination certificate | Carry in hand luggage, keep a photo copy on your phone |
| Ihram, men | Two unstitched white garments (izar and rida), plus a spare set | Pack one set in hand luggage in case checked bags are delayed |
| Ihram, women | Loose, modest, comfortable outer clothing | No fixed colour or style is required |
| Footwear | Open sandals | Men’s ihram does not cover the ankle bones during ihram |
| Toiletries | Unscented soap and sunscreen | No perfume once ihram begins, for men and women alike |
A printable version of a packing and rite checklist is available on our downloads page if you prefer a paper copy for your bag.
Ask a qualified scholar familiar with your school about anything specific to your health, your cycle, or your journey before you travel; the general outline here does not replace that conversation.
Sources
- U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia: Hajj and Umrah Pilgrimage Travelers
- Saudi Ministry of Health: Health Requirements and Recommendations for Umrah Travellers 1447H
- Saudia: Saudi Ministry of Health Requirements
- Wikipedia: Miqat
- Wikipedia: Safa and Marwa
- The Five Schools of Islamic Law: Tawaf
- Hajinformation: Rituals of Umrah
- Umrah Guide 2026: How to Perform Umrah, Complete Step-by-Step Guide
- Human Appeal: How to Perform Umrah
- Nureharam Travels: Umrah Hair Cutting Rules (Hanafi)
This article explains what the four Sunni schools say and links its sources. It is not a fatwa. Entry rules, fees and dates change, so check the official pages before you book, and ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.
Header photo of Safa and Marwa: Press Information Department, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.