From Ghusl in Pakistan to Halq in Makkah — every step of the Umrah ritual explained in detail: what to do, what to say, the Arabic duas, the rules for men and women, common mistakes, and practical guidance for first-time Pakistani pilgrims.
Umrah consists of 4 obligatory pillars: (1) Ihram — entering the sacred state with intention at the Miqat; (2) Tawaf — 7 counter-clockwise circuits of the Kaaba; (3) Sa'i — 7 laps between Safa and Marwah; (4) Halq or Taqsir — shaving or trimming hair to exit Ihram. The total time for a focused, unhurried Umrah (excluding travel) is approximately 2.5–5 hours depending on crowd levels. All rituals must be performed in order — you cannot perform Sa'i before Tawaf. Your Moallim (guide) will lead your group through all steps.
Perform Ghusl (full ritual bath) before putting on your Ihram clothing. This is a Sunnah — not obligatory, but highly recommended. If Ghusl is not possible, Wudu (ablution) is sufficient to enter Ihram. Women who are menstruating may still put on Ihram and make Niyyah — they will perform Tawaf after their period ends.
Before entering Ihram: trim nails (both hands and feet), remove unwanted body hair (underarm and below the navel), trim the moustache (Sunnah), and apply fragrance/perfume to the body (not the Ihram cloth itself). Fragrance is prohibited once Ihram is worn but applying to body beforehand is permitted and Sunnah.
Two pieces of unstitched white cloth: the Izar (lower wrap, worn around the waist and legs) and the Rida (upper wrap, draped over both shoulders). No stitched garments. No underwear. Sandals that expose the toes and do not cover the ankle. No head covering. An Ihram belt is permitted to secure valuables. Use thick, absorbent fabric for durability during Tawaf.
Women wear regular modest clothing — a loose Abaya, hijab, and comfortable shoes. Women may choose any colour (not restricted to white). However, during Ihram: no face veil (Niqab) and no gloves are permitted. Women may wear a loose-fit hat brim to shade the face without it touching the face. Comfortable walking footwear is essential for the Safa-Marwah Sa'i.
Miqat (مِيقَات) is the designated boundary station beyond which no pilgrim may enter without being in Ihram. For Pakistani pilgrims, the relevant Miqat is Yalamlam (to the south, for those arriving from the direction of Yemen/Pakistan). On the Lahore–Jeddah flight, the captain announces when the plane is crossing the Miqat boundary — be in Ihram before this announcement. Pilgrims flying into Madinah first may enter Ihram at Dhul Hulaifah (Masjid Shajarah) near Madinah before driving to Makkah. If you miss the Miqat, you must return — or pay a Dam (sacrifice in Makkah).
| Arrival Route | Miqat | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fly LHE→JED | Yalamlam (aerial) | Be in Ihram before pilot's Miqat announcement |
| Fly LHE→MED first | Dhul Hulaifah (Masjid Shajarah) | Enter Ihram here before road journey to Makkah |
| Second Umrah from Makkah | Masjid-e-Aisha (Tan'eem) | Taxi from Makkah (~7km) to this Miqat |
At the Miqat, make your intention (Niyyah) verbally:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ الْعُمْرَةَ فَيَسِّرْهَا لِي وَتَقَبَّلْهَا مِنِّي
"O Allah, I intend to perform Umrah, so make it easy for me and accept it from me."
Then immediately begin reciting the Talbiyah — men loudly, women quietly.
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ
لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ
إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ
لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
"Labbayka Allahumma Labbayk, Labbayka la sharika laka Labbayk, Innal hamda wan-ni'mata laka wal-mulk, la sharika lak."
"Here I am O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Verily all praise and blessings are Yours, and all sovereignty — You have no partner."
Men should recite the Talbiyah in a raised voice — not a shout, but clearly audible. Recite continuously during travel, while walking, and between prayers. Stop Talbiyah when you reach the Kaaba and begin Tawaf (specifically when you face the Hajar al-Aswad to start).
Women recite the Talbiyah quietly — audible only to themselves. Same continuous recitation guidance as men. The Talbiyah is one of the most beloved acts during Umrah — the Prophet ﷺ said: "There is no Muslim who says the Talbiyah but that the stones, trees, and clods of dirt to his right and left also say it." (Tirmidhi)
After completing 7 circuits, offer 2 Rakahs of Salah near Maqam Ibrahim (the station of Ibrahim — a golden glass enclosure near the Kaaba containing the stone with Ibrahim's ﷺ footprint). If you cannot reach near Maqam Ibrahim due to crowds (common during peak times), pray anywhere in the Haram — this is acceptable. Recite Surah al-Kafirun in the first rakah and Surah al-Ikhlas in the second (Sunnah).
After the 2 Rakahs, proceed to the Zamzam water coolers (located throughout the Haram, also available at the lower levels). Drink Zamzam water facing the Qibla, with the right hand, while standing. Make dua before drinking — the Prophet ﷺ said: "Zamzam water is for whatever it is drunk for" (Ibn Majah). Make any sincere dua of your heart while drinking. Pour some on your head and body if you wish.
Sa'i commemorates Hajar's (RA) — wife of Ibrahim ﷺ — search for water for her infant son Ismail ﷺ. She ran between the hills of Safa and Marwah 7 times in desperate prayer. Allah revealed Zamzam water in response. The Quran states: إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ — "Indeed Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah." (2:158)
There are no fixed mandatory duas for Sa'i. You may recite Quran, make dhikr, or pray personally in your own language. The modern Sa'i walkway (Mas'a) is air-conditioned and well-lit with clearly marked lap counters at each end. Zamzam water stations are available throughout the walkway.
Shaving the entire head clean is the most virtuous option for men. The Prophet ﷺ made dua three times for those who shave and once for those who trim — indicating the greater reward of Halq. Professional barbers operate outside and near Masjid al-Haram specifically for pilgrims. Cost is typically SAR 20–50. After shaving, Ihram restrictions are lifted — you may put on regular clothes, wear perfume, and resume normal life.
Taqsir means trimming at least 2.5cm (about a finger's width) from all parts of the hair. This is obligatory for women (Halq is not permitted for women — the Prophet ﷺ prohibited women from shaving their heads). Men may choose Taqsir if they plan to perform another Umrah during the same trip (as they need hair to shave at the second Umrah's end). Taqsir from a few strands only — without covering all hair — is insufficient.
After Halq or Taqsir, your Umrah is complete. All Ihram restrictions are immediately lifted — you may wear your regular clothing, apply perfume, and resume normal married life. You are now a free pilgrim in Makkah. Many pilgrims immediately return to the Haram to perform additional voluntary Tawaf (Nafl Tawaf). Remember: additional Tawaf after Umrah does not require Ihram — you may enter in regular clothing.
| Prohibition | Applies To | Penalty if Violated |
|---|---|---|
| Cutting or removing hair (head, beard, body) | Men & Women | Dam (sacrifice) — Fidyah required |
| Cutting nails | Men & Women | Dam — minor expiation |
| Using scented products (perfume, scented soap, deodorant) | Men & Women | Dam — if deliberately used |
| Wearing stitched garments (shirts, trousers, underwear) | Men only | Dam if worn for full day; Sadaqah if brief |
| Covering the head with a cap, hat, turban, or head covering | Men only | Dam if covered for extended period |
| Wearing Niqab (face veil) or gloves | Women only | Expiation required if maintained |
| Sexual relations with spouse | Men & Women | Umrah invalidated if before Tawaf — must restart |
| Romantic intimacy, kissing, or touching spouse with desire | Men & Women | Dam required |
| Hunting animals or helping someone hunt | Men & Women | Dam — equivalent animal value in Sadaqah |
| Arguing, fighting, using obscene language (Rafath, Fusooq) | Men & Women | Reduces reward — sincere repentance required |
(1) Ihram — entering the sacred state with Niyyah at the Miqat; (2) Tawaf — 7 counter-clockwise circuits of the Kaaba; (3) Sa'i — 7 laps between Safa and Marwah; (4) Halq or Taqsir — shaving or trimming hair to exit Ihram. Missing any one invalidates the Umrah.
The Miqat for Pakistani pilgrims is Yalamlam (the aerial point over Yemen/Pakistan direction). The pilot announces when crossing the Miqat — be in Ihram before this announcement. If flying to Madinah first, use Dhul Hulaifah (Masjid Shajarah) near Madinah before driving to Makkah.
No — Tawaf (and the 2 Rakahs after it) require ritual purity (Wudu). Women who are menstruating must wait until their period ends, perform Ghusl, and then perform Tawaf. They may perform all other Umrah steps — wearing Ihram, reciting Talbiyah, and performing Sa'i — during their period according to the Hanbali opinion (which Saudi authorities follow). Confirm with your Moallim based on your madhab.
A full Umrah (Tawaf + Maqam Ibrahim prayer + Zamzam + Sa'i + Halq) takes approximately 2.5–5 hours depending on crowd levels. During Ramadan and peak seasons, crowds can extend this significantly. Your first Umrah with a Moallim (guide) typically takes longer as guidance and two-as are explained. Budget 4–5 hours for your first experience.
Yes — you can perform Umrah multiple times during one trip. For each additional Umrah, you must exit Makkah's Haram boundary, enter Ihram at a Miqat, and return. The nearest Miqat for Makkah residents and pilgrims staying in Makkah is Masjid-e-Aisha (Tan'eem), approximately 7km from the Haram — a 15-minute taxi ride. This is how pilgrims on 14–21 day packages perform 3–5 Umrahs during their stay.
Every Quba Travels Umrah package includes a licensed Moallim (guide) who leads your group through all rituals step by step — especially important for first-time pilgrims and elderly pilgrims. Book your July 2026 package today.
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