Umrah Guide: What It Is, Where It Is Performed and How Long It Takes

Umrah is one of the most meaningful journeys a Muslim can make. Every year, pilgrims from around the world travel to Makkah in Saudi Arabia to perform this pilgrimage, many of them for the first time. This Umrah guide explains what Umrah is, where it takes place, how long it takes and how to prepare, so you can plan your trip with confidence.

The rulings (masa’il) in this article follow the Hanafi school. They are taken from fatwas published by Dar-ul-Ifta Ahlesunnat (Dawat-e-Islami), which are listed with links in the Sources section below. This article is a general guide and is not itself a fatwa. If you have a question about your own situation, please ask a qualified scholar.

What Is Umrah?

Umrah is a pilgrimage to Makkah performed by Muslims. The word comes from Arabic (عمرة) and is usually translated as “to visit”. It is often called the “lesser pilgrimage”, to set it apart from Hajj.

Unlike Hajj, which takes place on fixed dates each year, Umrah can be performed at any time of the year, except that in the Hanafi school entering ihram for Umrah between the 9th and 13th of Dhul Hijjah is not permitted. It is made up of a small number of acts of worship carried out in and around Masjid al-Haram, and it holds a special place in Islam as an act of devotion and a chance to seek forgiveness and draw closer to Allah.

Is Umrah Mandatory?

No. In the Hanafi school, Umrah is a Sunnah Mu’akkadah (an emphasised Sunnah) once in a lifetime for a person who is able to perform it. It becomes wajib if a person has made a vow to perform it. Also, a person coming from outside the miqat who passes it to enter the Haram must be in ihram for Hajj or Umrah.

Where Is Umrah Performed?

Umrah is performed in Makkah, in the west of Saudi Arabia. Its main acts take place at Masjid al-Haram, the mosque that surrounds the Kaaba. Pilgrims enter the state of ihram before reaching Makkah, at or before a set boundary point known as a miqat.

Many pilgrims also spend time in Madinah during their trip to visit Masjid an-Nabawi. This visit is not part of Umrah itself, but it is a cherished part of the journey for many.

How Long Does Umrah Take?

The rites of Umrah themselves usually take a few hours. The exact time depends on how busy Masjid al-Haram is, the time of day and your own pace. Tawaf and Sa’i can take longer during peak seasons such as Ramadan and school holidays.

How Many Days Do You Need for an Umrah Trip?

There is no fixed length for an Umrah trip. Many pilgrims plan around a week or two so they have time to rest, pray in the Haram and spend a few days in Madinah. When deciding how many days to stay, think about your travel time, your health and energy, who you are travelling with, and how long you would like to spend in each city.

How to Perform Umrah: A Short Overview

Umrah is made up of four main acts:

  1. Ihram: making the intention of Umrah and reciting the Talbiyah at or before the miqat. Men wear two unstitched sheets.
  2. Tawaf: walking around the Kaaba seven times.
  3. Sa’i: walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah.
  4. Halq or Taqsir: shaving the head or shortening the hair, which completes the Umrah.

This is only a brief summary. For the full step-by-step method, including the duas recited at each stage, see our guide to Umrah rituals and duas.

Rules of Umrah

While in the state of ihram, pilgrims avoid certain actions until their Umrah is complete. In general, these include:

  • using perfume or scented products
  • cutting the hair or nails
  • for men, wearing stitched clothing or covering the head
  • for women, covering the face with anything that touches it
  • hunting land animals
  • marital relations

In the Hanafi school, Tawaf is the rukn (fard) of Umrah. Sa’i is wajib, and it must be performed before shaving or shortening the hair. Starting Sa’i at Safa is also wajib. If you have a specific question, ask a qualified scholar.

Some rules apply differently to women, and there are detailed rules on hair cutting and other situations. These are covered in our guide to Umrah rituals and duas.

Planning Your First Umrah

If this is your first Umrah, good planning makes the journey calmer and lets you focus on worship.

Umrah with Family and Kids

Many families perform Umrah together, and children can take part too. Travelling with young children or elderly relatives usually means planning extra rest time, choosing a hotel that keeps walking to the Haram manageable, and arranging transport in advance. Our hotel booking assistance can help you find accommodation that suits your family.

Planning a DIY Umrah

Some pilgrims prefer to arrange each part of their trip themselves rather than book a package. A DIY Umrah usually means sorting out your visa, flights, hotels in Makkah and Madinah, and transport between the cities on your own. You will also need to book your Umrah permit through the Nusuk app. For the official visa routes and how the permit works, see our Umrah visa guide.

Going to Umrah from the UK, USA or Canada

Before you book anything, check which visa route applies to you, as requirements depend on your nationality and where you live. Then plan your dates, where you will stay and how you will get around. If you would rather have this arranged for you, see our Umrah packages from the UK, Umrah packages from the USA or Umrah packages from Canada. You can also read more about Makkah and Madinah hotels and our ziyarat tours.

Umrah Tips

  • Learn the rites before you travel, so you can perform them calmly and with focus.
  • Wear comfortable footwear and expect to walk a lot, especially during Tawaf and Sa’i.
  • Drink water regularly, particularly in warmer months.
  • Plan Tawaf and Sa’i for quieter times if you can, such as late at night or mid-morning.
  • Keep your documents safe, including your passport, visa and Umrah permit.
  • Agree on a meeting point with your group in case you are separated in the crowds.
  • Allow time to rest, especially if you are travelling with children or elderly relatives.

Umrah Guide FAQs

Can Umrah be performed at any time of the year?

Yes. Unlike Hajj, Umrah is not tied to fixed dates and can be performed throughout the year. In the Hanafi school, the one exception is that entering ihram for Umrah between the 9th and 13th of Dhul Hijjah is not permitted. Some periods, such as Ramadan, are much busier than others.

What is the difference between Umrah and Hajj?

Hajj takes place on specific days each year and includes more rites over several days, while Umrah can be performed at any time and takes a few hours. For a full comparison, see our guide to the difference between Hajj and Umrah.

Can I perform Umrah more than once on the same trip?

Yes. Performing more than one Umrah on the same trip is permissible and rewarding. For each further Umrah, go outside the Haram boundary, for example to Tan’eem or Ji’ranah, and enter ihram there with the intention of the new Umrah. Entering ihram at Tan’eem (Masjid Aisha) is better.

Do I need a permit to perform Umrah?

Pilgrims need an Umrah permit, which is booked through the Nusuk app. See our Umrah visa guide for more on visas and permits.

Sources

The rulings (masa’il) in this article are taken from the following fatwas of Dar-ul-Ifta Ahlesunnat (Dawat-e-Islami), published on FatwaQA. English fatwas are listed first; the others are in Urdu.

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