The Miqat is a designated boundary point that you must not cross without being in the state of Ihram. There are five Miqat points: Dhul Hulayfah (near Madinah), Al-Juhfah (for travelers from Europe, North Africa, North America), Qarn al-Manazil (for those from Riyadh, UAE, Pakistan), Yalamlam (from Yemen, South Africa), and Dhat Irq (from Iraq, Iran). If flying, the pilot typically announces the Miqat approach — you should be in Ihram before that point.

Step A — Personal hygiene (before Ihram): Clip your nails, remove hair under the armpits and below the navel, then perform ghusl (a full ritual bath). If ghusl is not possible, perform wudu at minimum. Men may apply perfume to the head and beard — but not to the Ihram garments themselves.

Step B — Putting on the Ihram garments:

• Men: Wrap the Izar (one white unstitched cloth) around the waist to cover the lower body. Drape the Rida (second cloth) over the upper body, covering both shoulders. Wear sandals that expose the heels and ankles. No underwear, socks, or any stitched clothing.
• Women: Wear regular modest Islamic clothing (any color) — this is their Ihram. Hijab is mandatory. No niqab (face veil) or gloves during Ihram, though the face may be covered when non-mahram men pass by.

Step C — Salah al-Ihram (prayer before entering Ihram): Pray 2 voluntary rak'ahs. In the first rak'ah: Surah al-Fatiha + Surah al-Kafirun. In the second rak'ah: Surah al-Fatiha + Surah al-Ikhlas. If it coincides with an obligatory prayer time, you may make your intention for Ihram after the fard prayer instead.

Step D — Make the Niyyah (intention): As you approach the Miqat, make the intention in your heart and declare it aloud:

Ihram prohibitions — once you declare the niyyah, the following are forbidden:

• For both men and women: Using perfume or scented products, cutting or shaving any body hair, trimming nails, sexual intercourse or intimate talk, hunting or killing animals, arguing or fighting
• Additional for men: Wearing stitched clothing (shirts, trousers, underwear, socks), covering the head with anything attached (hats, caps, turbans), wearing shoes that cover the top of the feet
• Additional for women: Wearing niqab (face veil) or gloves
• If you violate a prohibition: A Fidyah (expiation) may be required — consult a scholar for guidance

Immediately after making your niyyah for Umrah at the Miqat, begin reciting the Talbiyah. This is a pillar of Umrah — you must recite it at least once. It is Sunnah to recite it continuously throughout your journey to Makkah.

• Men: Recite aloud, raising the voice
• Women: Recite softly, just loud enough for yourself to hear
• When to stop: Stop reciting the Talbiyah when you reach the Black Stone (al-Hajar al-Aswad) to begin Tawaf
• Recite it during travel, when ascending or descending terrain, after each prayer, and whenever you can

When you arrive at Masjid al-Haram, approach any entrance. Step in with your right foot first (the Sunnah for entering any mosque), say Bismillah, and send salawat (blessings) upon the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Important: Do not pray Tahiyyat al-Masjid (the greeting prayer of the mosque). For Masjid al-Haram, Tawaf itself serves as the greeting. Proceed directly toward the Ka'bah.

Upon first seeing the Ka'bah, raise your eyes and make your most heartfelt supplications — this is one of the moments when dua is especially accepted. Take your time before beginning Tawaf.

Before starting Tawaf: Ensure you have wudu (ritual ablution) — Tawaf requires a state of purity. If your wudu breaks during Tawaf, go renew it and resume from where you stopped.

Proceed to the Black Stone (al-Hajar al-Aswad) corner to begin Tawaf. There is a green light on the wall of the Masjid marking the line of the Black Stone. You will circle the Ka'bah 7 times counter-clockwise, with the Ka'bah on your left side. Each circuit begins and ends at the Black Stone.

Preparation for Tawaf:

• Idtiba' (for men): Take the upper Ihram cloth (Rida), pass it under your RIGHT armpit, and throw the end over your LEFT shoulder, leaving the right shoulder bare. Maintain this throughout all 7 circuits of Tawaf only.
• Raml (for men, first 3 circuits only): Walk briskly with short steps, chest out, shoulders moving — only if space allows. Walk normally in circuits 4-7.
• Hijr Ismail: You MUST walk outside the semi-circular wall (Hijr Ismail). Walking through it invalidates that circuit because the Hijr is considered part of the Ka'bah.
• There is no specific dua prescribed for each round — this is a common misconception. You may make any personal dua in any language, recite Quran, or make dhikr.

Istilam — Saluting the Black Stone (do this before starting and at each circuit):

• If you can reach it: Touch the Black Stone with your hand, kiss it, and say the dua below
• If you can touch but not kiss: Touch it with your hand, then kiss your hand
• If you cannot reach it (most common): Face the Black Stone, raise your right hand with your palm facing the Stone, and say the dua below. Do not push through the crowd.

Important rules during Tawaf:

• If congregational prayer begins: Stop and join the prayer. After it ends, resume Tawaf from exactly where you stopped — you do not need to repeat that circuit.
• After completing 7 circuits: Cover your right shoulder again (end the Idtiba for men), then proceed to Maqam Ibrahim.

After completing Tawaf, proceed to Maqam Ibrahim — the stone enclosed in a glass and gold casing that contains the footprints of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him). Position yourself so that Maqam Ibrahim is between you and the Ka'bah, then pray 2 rak'ahs.

If the area immediately behind the Maqam is crowded, you may pray these two rak'ahs anywhere in Masjid al-Haram — the prayer is equally valid. After completing the prayer, make abundant personal dua — this is a time when supplications are accepted.

After praying the 2 rak'ahs, go to the Zamzam water stations. Zamzam coolers and dispensers are located throughout Masjid al-Haram. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The water of Zamzam is for whatever purpose it is drunk for." (Ibn Majah)

Sunnah method of drinking Zamzam:

• Face the Qiblah (Ka'bah)
• Say "Bismillah" before drinking
• Drink in 3 sips (not all at once)
• Drink your fill — it is Sunnah to drink abundantly
• Say "Alhamdulillah" after finishing
• Sprinkle some water on your head, face, and chest (Sunnah)
• Make dua before and while drinking — ask Allah for whatever you need

Optional: Before Sa'i, it is Sunnah to return to the Black Stone and perform Istilam one more time. You may skip this if it is too crowded or you are fatigued.

Proceed to Mount Safa to begin Sa'i. You will walk between Safa and Marwa 7 times (Safa to Marwa = trip 1, Marwa to Safa = trip 2, and so on — you start at Safa and end at Marwa).

Note: Wudu is not required for Sa'i (unlike Tawaf), but being in a state of wudu is recommended.

As you approach Safa for the first time, recite the verse below, then say: "Abda'u bima bada'Allahu bih" (I begin with what Allah began with). These are said only once, not at each lap.

What to do at each hill (Safa and Marwa):

• Climb the hill until you can see the Ka'bah (if possible), then face the Ka'bah
• Raise your hands in dua position (not to the earlobes as in prayer)
• Say: "Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillahil-hamd" (Allah is the Greatest ×3, and to Allah belongs all praise)
• Recite the dhikr above 3 times, making heartfelt personal dua between each recitation

Walking between the hills:

• Walk at a normal pace from one hill to the other
• Green fluorescent lights mark a ~50-meter section between the hills
• Men: Jog at a moderate pace between the two green markers (commemorating Hajar's search for water)
• Women: Walk normally throughout — no jogging required
• Outside the green-light zone, everyone walks at a normal pace
• At Marwa, repeat the same dhikr and dua as at Safa
• Continue until you complete 7 trips, ending at Marwa
• No specific dua is prescribed for the walking portion — make any dua, dhikr, or recite Quran

After completing Sa'i at Marwa, the final step to complete your Umrah is to shave or trim your hair. This releases you from the state of Ihram.

• Men — Halq (shaving): Completely shaving the entire head is more virtuous. The Prophet (peace be upon him) supplicated for mercy three times for those who shaved, but only once for those who trimmed. (Bukhari & Muslim)
• Men — Taqseer (trimming): Alternatively, trim the hair evenly from all sides by at least a fingertip's length. Trimming from only one area is not sufficient.
• Women: Trim approximately 1-2 cm (a fingertip's length) from the ends of the hair. Women must not shave their heads — the Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade this. (Nasa'i)

After shaving or trimming, all Ihram restrictions are lifted:

• You may wear normal stitched clothing
• You may use perfume and scented products
• You may cut your nails and cover your head (men)
• All other Ihram prohibitions are removed
• Change into your regular clothes

These are beneficial duas to recite throughout your Umrah journey, from departure to return. When leaving Masjid al-Haram, step out with your left foot first and recite the dua for leaving the mosque.

If you wish to perform another Umrah during your stay in Makkah, travel to Masjid Aisha (Tan'im) — the nearest point outside the Haram boundary — and re-enter the state of Ihram from there. Taxis are readily available for this short trip.