Umrah can be performed at any time of the year. It has no standing at Arafah, no nights at Muzdalifah or Mina and no stoning of the jamarat. This guide follows the order a pilgrim goes through, from the miqat to tahallul.
Missing any pillar, deliberately or not, makes the umrah invalid, and a pillar cannot be delegated to someone else.
Some explanations (e.g. the Federal Territory Mufti) count four pillars, without listing 'in order' separately. The substance is the same: everything is done in sequence.
Sources: JAWHAR — Hajj and Umrah Guidelines · Federal Territory Mufti — Bayan Li Al-Haj No. 2: Hajj and Umrah defined (Malay)
Missing an obligation leaves the umrah valid, but a penalty (dam) is due. Leaving one deliberately is sinful; forgetting is not, though the dam still applies.
Sources: JAWHAR — Hajj and Umrah Guidelines
Calculated with the Umm al-Qura method (Saudi Arabia’s official method); Isha is 30 minutes later in Ramadan. An estimate: follow the adhan of the Masjid al-Haram.
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SunnahBefore reaching the miqat
It is sunnah to trim the nails, remove the hair that is recommended to be removed, take the ihram bath and pray the ihram prayer (unless excused).
Men wear two unstitched sheets: one around the lower body and one over the upper body. Women cover the whole body except the face and the palms.
Sources: JAWHAR — Management Manual for Hajj Ifrad, Tamattu' and Qiran (Malay)
PillarAt the miqat or before it
The intention is the first pillar: without it, deliberately or by mistake, the umrah is invalid. Making it at the miqat is an obligation; passing the miqat without it requires a dam of one goat.
Pilgrims flying from Southeast Asia: Qarnul Manazil (in flight, before landing in Jeddah) if going straight to Makkah, or Bir Ali (Dhul Hulaifah) if setting out from Madinah.
After the intention, recite the talbiyah often and keep the ihram restrictions until tahallul.
نَوَيْتُ الْعُمْرَةَ وَأَحْرَمْتُ بِهَا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى
Nawaitul 'umrata wa ahramtu biha lillahi ta'ala
I intend to perform umrah and enter ihram for it, for the sake of Allah the Exalted.
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
Labbaikallahumma labbaik. Labbaika la syarika laka labbaik. Innal hamda wan ni'mata laka wal mulk, la syarika lak.
Here I am, O Allah, here I am. You have no partner. All praise, blessing and sovereignty are Yours. You have no partner.
Sources: JAWHAR — Hajj and Umrah Guidelines · JAWHAR — Management Manual for Hajj Ifrad, Tamattu' and Qiran (Malay)
PillarOn arriving at the Masjid al-Haram
Start and finish at the Black Stone line, keep the Kaaba on your left, and complete seven circuits with certainty.
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah, wa fil-akhirati hasanah, wa qina 'azaban-nar.
Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
Sources: JAWHAR — Hajj and Umrah Guidelines · JAWHAR — Management Manual for Hajj Ifrad, Tamattu' and Qiran (Malay) · Quran, al-Baqarah 2:201
PillarAfter a valid tawaf
Sa'i is valid only after a valid tawaf: if the tawaf is invalid, so is the sa'i. Start at Safa and finish at Marwah, seven trips. Safa to Marwah counts as one, Marwah back to Safa as another.
Reach the end of each hill, stay within the walls of the Mas'a and do not leave through one door and return by another. Each trip is about 420 m, so seven trips are about 2.94 km.
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ
Innas-safa wal-marwata min sya'a'irillah.
Indeed, Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah. (al-Baqarah 2:158)
Sources: JAWHAR — Hajj and Umrah Guidelines · JAWHAR — Management Manual for Hajj Ifrad, Tamattu' and Qiran (Malay) · Quran, al-Baqarah 2:158
PillarAfter sa'i
Cut at least three strands of hair. Shaving is better for men. Someone without hair passes the razor over the head.
Women cut from any part of the hair, no fewer than three strands. After tahallul every ihram restriction is lifted and the umrah is complete.
Sources: JAWHAR — Hajj and Umrah Guidelines
ObligationJust before departing
The farewell tawaf is required of anyone leaving Makkah for two marhalah or more. Leaving it out is sinful and requires a dam. Its conditions are those of the umrah tawaf, with the intention of a farewell tawaf.
Exempt (no sin, no dam) are, among others, women in menstruation or postnatal bleeding, who may stand at a gate of the mosque and supplicate. Do the farewell tawaf only once everything is ready for departure.
Sources: JAWHAR — Hajj and Umrah Guidelines
Sources: JAWHAR — Hajj and Umrah Guidelines
A short guide for learning and revision, compiled from the official sources below. For rulings or your own situation, ask your mutawwif, hajj guide or a mufti’s office.