How to Perform Umrah for Women
A calm, chronological guide explaining what to prepare, what to do at each stage, how to count correctly and which practices are specific to women.
The complete Umrah sequence at a glance
Enter ihram at the miqat, perform seven rounds of tawaf, complete seven laps of sa’i from Safa to Marwah, then shorten the ends of the hair. Once the final hair step is completed, the Umrah is complete and the restrictions of ihram end.
Fiqh note: This practical guide follows the broad sequence published by official Saudi pilgrim resources. Schools of Islamic law differ on some details. For uncertainty, illness, menstruation, missed actions or penalties, consult a qualified scholar you trust.
Visual route
Six stages from preparation to completion
Before the miqat
Prepare body, clothing and luggage; learn the restrictions before the journey begins.
Ihram and intention
Enter the sacred state at the miqat and begin reciting the talbiyah.
Tawaf: 7 rounds
Keep the Kaaba to your left and complete seven counterclockwise circuits.
Two rak’ahs and Zamzam
Pray where safely possible without blocking movement, then drink Zamzam if available.
Sa’i: 7 laps
Begin at Safa, finish at Marwah, and count each one-way journey as one lap.
Shorten the hair
Trim the ends privately to exit ihram.
Before travel and miqat
Prepare before entering ihram
Do practical preparation before the restrictions begin: bathe, attend to nails and unwanted hair, pack accessible footwear, learn your miqat and keep the ihram items in hand luggage.
Women’s clothing
Wear normal loose, modest and non-transparent clothing. No special color is required. A woman does not wear niqab or gloves while in ihram; ask a scholar how to manage covering around non-mahram men.
Miqat planning
Know which miqat applies to your route. If flying toward Jeddah for Umrah, be ready before the aircraft reaches the miqat; do not wait until landing. Follow the airline announcement while allowing enough preparation time.
Pack within reach
- Ihram clothing and suitable footwear
- Unscented essentials
- Medication and identification
- Phone, power bank and hotel details
- Small secure bag for valuables
Do not overcomplicate it
Ihram is first a sacred state entered through intention, not merely clothing. Prepare the clothing earlier, but make the intention and begin talbiyah at the correct boundary.
Stage 1
Enter ihram and begin the talbiyah
1. Be ready before crossing the miqat
Complete washing and clothing preparation beforehand. If traveling by air, keep listening for the miqat announcement.
2. Make the intention for Umrah
Intend in your heart to enter Umrah and say “Labbayka ‘Umrah” (Here I am for Umrah). Intention belongs to the act of entering ihram; it is not necessary to announce a long personal formula.
3. Recite the talbiyah
“Labbayk Allahumma labbayk. Labbayka la sharika laka labbayk. Innal-hamda wan-ni‘mata laka wal-mulk, la sharika lak.”
Meaning: Here I am, O Allah, here I am. You have no partner. Praise, blessing and sovereignty belong to You; You have no partner.
Women recite in a voice audible to themselves without raising it around unrelated men. Continue until beginning tawaf.
While in ihram
Remember the main restrictions
Avoid fragrance
Do not intentionally apply perfume or scented personal products after entering ihram.
Hair and nails
Do not deliberately remove hair or clip nails until the rite is completed, except where a valid ruling applies.
Marriage and intimacy
Marriage contracting and marital intimacy are prohibited while in ihram.
Harm and arguments
Avoid hunting, needless harm, abusive speech and disputes; protect the calm purpose of worship.
If a restriction is broken through need, accident or forgetfulness, do not guess the consequence from social media. Ask a qualified scholar with the exact facts.
Stage 2
Perform seven rounds of tawaf
Enter calmly, follow official directions and do not force your way toward the Black Stone. Wudu requirements and what to do if it breaks have scholarly detail, so follow the guidance you trust.
How to begin
Align with the Black Stone, keep the Kaaba on your left, gesture toward it and say “Allahu Akbar”. Begin moving counterclockwise. Physical contact is not required, and harming people to reach it contradicts safe worship.
Count every full circuit
Each return to the Black Stone line completes one round. Continue until seven are complete.
What to recite
Make dhikr, recite Qur’an and ask Allah sincerely in any language. There is no requirement for a separate fixed dua for every round. Avoid reading from a phone while colliding with others.
Practice specific to women
Women keep their normal modest covering and walk at a regular pace throughout all seven rounds. They do not expose the shoulder or perform ramal.
After tawaf
Prayer, Zamzam and moving to Safa
Pray two rak’ahs
Pray two rak’ahs after tawaf where safely possible. Do not block circulation or insist on standing directly behind Maqam Ibrahim when crowded.
Drink Zamzam
Drink Zamzam if accessible, make dua, then follow signs toward Safa. Keep moving with the crowd and never walk against the directed flow.
Stage 3
Complete seven laps of sa’i
Begin at Safa
Face toward the Kaaba as practical, praise Allah and make dua. Then walk from Safa toward Marwah.
Count one direction as one lap
The seventh lap finishes at Marwah. Tawaf rounds and sa’i laps are counted differently only in their physical shape; in both cases the required count is seven.
At the green markers
Women continue at their normal walking pace and do not perform the faster movement practiced by men between the green markers.
Final stage
Shorten the ends of the hair
After sa’i, privately gather the hair and trim approximately 1–2 cm from the ends of all the hair, not merely one isolated lock. A woman does not shave her head. Once trimming is complete, the Umrah is complete and she exits ihram.
Do not change out of ihram early: the restrictions remain until the required hair step has been completed.
Women’s planning
Menstruation, privacy and safety
If menstruation begins
A woman can enter ihram and recite talbiyah while menstruating, but waits until she is pure and has performed ghusl before tawaf. Seek scholarly guidance for time-sensitive or exceptional circumstances.
Plan for privacy
Carry suitable hygiene supplies, choose a private place for hair trimming, keep hotel details available and agree on a meeting point with companions.
Avoid confusion
Common mistakes to prevent
Passing the miqat without entering ihram when intending Umrah
Thinking special words are required for every tawaf round
Pushing others to touch the Black Stone
Losing count because no simple counting method was chosen
Counting Safa to Marwah and back as one sa’i lap
Following men-specific practices on the women’s guide, or vice versa
Cutting hair before all seven sa’i laps are complete
Treating safety, wheelchair use or rest as a lack of devotion
Plan the practical journey
Need transport to your hotel or miqat?
Tell us your pickup point, group size, luggage and required route. We can help arrange private transport while you focus on preparing for worship.
Clear answers
Umrah FAQs for women
What should a woman wear for Umrah?
A woman may enter ihram in normal loose, modest, non-transparent clothing; there is no required color or special two-piece garment. While in ihram she does not wear niqab or gloves, and should seek trusted scholarly advice on covering around non-mahram men.
Do women expose a shoulder or run in tawaf?
No. Women keep their normal modest covering and walk at a normal, safe pace. Ramal and exposing the right shoulder are practices specific to men.
Do women jog between the green markers during sa’i?
Women continue walking normally between Safa and Marwah and do not perform the men’s faster movement between the green markers.
How much hair does a woman cut after Umrah?
After completing sa’i, a woman shortens approximately 1–2 cm from the ends of all her hair, privately. She does not shave her head.
Can a menstruating woman enter ihram?
She may enter ihram and recite the talbiyah, but she waits until she is pure and has performed ghusl before tawaf. This can affect flight and hotel planning, so seek qualified scholarly advice for personal timing or exceptional circumstances.
Does a woman need a mahram for Umrah?
Travel, visa and fiqh questions can depend on current regulations, school of law and personal circumstances. Check current Saudi requirements and ask a trusted scholar rather than relying on a general web page.
Sources and review note
The sequence and practical distinctions were checked against the official Nusuk Umrah Journey and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s Umrah and Visit Guide. Operational rules can change; personal religious questions should be referred to a qualified scholar.