Umrah in Ramadan is an Umrah made during the month of Ramadan. The Prophet ﷺ said that it is equal to Hajj in reward (Sahih al-Bukhari 1782), but it does not replace the obligatory Hajj. It is also a crowded time: the Grand Mosque counted more than 15.6 million Umrah performers in the first 20 days of Ramadan 2026 (Saudi Press Agency).
This guide is for UK Muslims planning Umrah during Ramadan. It covers the hadith and what scholars say, the last ten nights, fasting, crowds, the 2027 dates and planning from the UK. Verses and hadith link to quran.com or sunnah.com; where scholars differ, we give no ruling.
Key takeaways
- The reward: a Ramadan Umrah equals Hajj in reward, not in type. It does not discharge the obligatory Hajj.
- The last ten nights: they hold Laylat al-Qadr, “better than a thousand months”. Seek it in the odd nights.
- Fasting: a traveller may fast or not, and scholars differ on when a pilgrim counts as resident.
- Dates: Ramadan 1448 is expected to begin around 8 February 2027, subject to moon sighting, inside the 1448 Umrah season. See our Ramadan Umrah packages.
Can you do Umrah in Ramadan?
Yes. The Prophet ﷺ told a woman who had missed Hajj to perform Umrah when Ramadan came (Sahih al-Bukhari 1782), and Saudi Arabia’s 1448 Umrah season runs through Ramadan 2027.
To perform Umrah during Ramadan, you book an Umrah permit in the Nusuk app. For the 1448 season, permits are available from 1 June 2026 (Saudi Press Agency).
In Ramadan 1444 (2023), Nusuk showed the available dates according to capacity. Pilgrims from abroad needed a valid visa when booking (Ministry of Hajj and Umrah).
GOV.UK lists an ETA or an electronic visa waiver for Umrah outside the Hajj season (checked on 19 October 2026). Our guide to the Umrah visa from the UK has the detail.
Is Umrah in Ramadan equal to Hajj?
In reward, yes. The Prophet ﷺ said that it is equal to Hajj, and scholars explain this as equal in the amount of reward. It does not count as the obligatory Hajj.
He said it to a woman of the Ansar who had missed his Hajj because the family’s camels were in use.
“Perform ‘Umra when Ramadan comes, for ‘Umra in Ramadan is equal to Hajj (in reward),” or said something similar.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 1782 (English: sunnah.com).
In another narration the woman is named Umm Sinan, and the words are “equivalent to Hajj or Hajj with me (in reward)” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1863). Sahih Muslim 1256 records the same teaching. Umm Ma’qil also narrated, “Umrah during Ramadan is equal to Hajj” (Jami at-Tirmidhi 939, graded Sahih by Darussalam).
What the reward means, and what it does not
As IslamQA puts it, the reward of Umrah in Ramadan matches Hajj “in terms of amount, not in terms of type”. It “does not take the place of the obligatory Hajj”.
Ishaq ibn Rahawayh compared it to the report that reciting Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad equals a third of the Quran. In his words, the pilgrim gets “a reward like that of Hajj, but he will never be like the one who performed Hajj at all”.
So if Hajj is obligatory on you and you have not made it yet, you still owe it. Hajj also has rites that Umrah lacks, such as the du’a at Arafah: see our full comparison of Hajj and Umrah.
Does the reward apply to everyone?
Scholars have held three views, and IslamQA reports all three. It calls the third, held by the four schools’ scholars, “the most correct”. On that view, the reward is for everyone who performs Umrah during the month.
| View | Held by | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Only the woman the Prophet ﷺ spoke to | Sa’id ibn Jubayr, as Ibn Hajar reports | IslamQA 104926 |
| Someone who meant to make Hajj but could not, and makes up for it with a Ramadan Umrah | Ibn Rajab | IslamQA 104926 |
| Everyone who performs Umrah in the month | The scholars of the four schools and others | IslamQA 104926 |
IslamQA adds that several Companions narrated the hadith and that “most of the reports make no mention of the woman”.
A recognised difference. Follow the school you normally follow, or ask your local imam.
Why is Ramadan a special time for Umrah?
Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed, and its fasting and night prayer each carry a promise of forgiveness. Your Umrah then sits inside a whole month of worship.
The Quran calls Ramadan “the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity” (Quran 2:185). The Prophet ﷺ promised forgiveness of previous sins to whoever fasts Ramadan “out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1901).
He gave the same promise for praying at night through the whole month (Sahih al-Bukhari 2009). Al-Bukhari files it under night prayer in Ramadan (Tarawih).
Giving iftar has its own reward too. Whoever gives a fasting person food to break the fast gets “the same reward as his”, the Prophet ﷺ said (Jami at-Tirmidhi 807, graded Sahih by Darussalam). It is about fasting in general, and it covers the iftar you share in the Haram.
The last ten nights: Laylat al-Qadr and I’tikaf
The last ten nights of Ramadan hold Laylat al-Qadr, which the Quran calls better than a thousand months. The Prophet ﷺ told Muslims to seek it in the odd nights of the last ten (Sahih al-Bukhari 2017), and he spent those days in I’tikaf.
The Quran was sent down on this night, which The Clear Quran calls “the Night of Glory” (Quran 97:1).
لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ
Transliteration: laylatu l-qadri khayrun min alfi shahrin
Meaning: “The Night of Glory is better than a thousand months.”
Reference: Quran 97:3 (meaning: Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran).
When the last ten nights began, the Prophet ﷺ worked hard, prayed all night and kept his family awake for prayer (Sahih al-Bukhari 2024). He practised I’tikaf, retiring to the mosque to worship, in the last ten days until he died. His wives continued it after him (Sahih al-Bukhari 2026).
Prayer on Laylat al-Qadr “out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah” brings forgiveness of all previous sins (Sahih al-Bukhari 1901). An Umrah in the last 10 days of Ramadan lets you seek the night in the Haram.
Aishah asked what to say if she came upon Laylat al-Qadr, and the Prophet ﷺ taught her this dua:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Transliteration: Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul-‘afwa, fa’fu ‘anni
Meaning: “O Allah, You are Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me.”
Reference and status: Sunan Ibn Majah 3850, Sahih (Darussalam) on sunnah.com.
For the rites, see the duas pilgrims say during Umrah.
For Ramadan 1447, I’tikaf in the Two Holy Mosques needed registration, announced to open on 3 Ramadan, for I’tikaf from 20 Ramadan (Saudi Press Agency). Check the 1448 arrangements.
Do you have to fast during Umrah in Ramadan?
Not necessarily. A traveller on Umrah during Ramadan may choose whether to fast, though scholars differ on when a pilgrim stops counting as a traveller.
The Quran says, “whoever is ill or on a journey, then ˹let them fast˺ an equal number of days ˹after Ramaḍân˺. Allah intends ease for you, not hardship” (Quran 2:185).
Hamza al-Aslami asked the Prophet ﷺ about fasting while travelling. He replied, “You may fast if you wish, and you may not fast if you wish” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1943).
| View | What it means for the fast | Source |
|---|---|---|
| On the journey | You may fast or not, with no blame either way; make up missed days after Ramadan | Quran 2:185; Bukhari 1943, Bukhari 1947 |
| Staying more than four days (the majority view, as IslamQA reports it) | With a firm intention to stay longer, the pilgrim should fast after reaching Makkah “to be on the safe side”; for four days or fewer, he may fast or not | IslamQA, answer 128673 |
| Staying 15 days or more (Hanafi answers) | Stated for shortening prayers; ask a Hanafi scholar how it applies to your fast | SeekersGuidance and Darul Iftaa Birmingham on islamqa.org |
Too hard to keep the fast during the rites? IslamQA answered the case of two young pilgrims who drank water during Sa’i in severe exhaustion. There is no sin, travelling or not, but the day is made up, and the Umrah stands if its essential parts were done (IslamQA, answer 105706).
Not sure which view applies to you? Ask a scholar of the school you follow before you travel.
For the rites themselves, read how to perform Umrah step by step.
How busy is Makkah in Ramadan?
Very busy. In the first 20 days of Ramadan 2026, the Grand Mosque counted 15,605,086 Umrah performers and 57,595,401 worshippers at the daily and night prayers (Saudi Press Agency, 11 March 2026).
The figures count entries to the prayer areas and Umrah zones. On 29 Ramadan 1446, the night the Quran recitation was completed, it counted 4,117,669 visitors in one day. They included 646,464 Umrah performers, and 702,488 iftar meals were served (Saudi Press Agency, 29 March 2025).
GOV.UK warns that “Contagious diseases spread quickly, particularly during Hajj and Ramadan” (FCDO travel advice). Visiting Madinah too? Read about Rawdah permits in Madinah.
Which part of Ramadan should you choose?
The hadith names no part of the month, so the choice rests on your aims and stamina. The last ten nights add Laylat al-Qadr and I’tikaf, and very large crowds.
| Part of the month | What the sources say | What to plan for |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 20 | Fasting and night prayer carry the promise of forgiveness all month | Crowds from the start: 15,605,086 Umrah performers in days 1 to 20 of Ramadan 2026 |
| The last ten nights | Seek Laylat al-Qadr in the odd nights; the Prophet ﷺ practised I’tikaf | I’tikaf registration; 4,117,669 visitors on 29 Ramadan 1446 alone |
| Just before or after Ramadan | The hadith’s reward is for an Umrah made in Ramadan | The 1448 Umrah visa calendar: last entry on 23 March 2027 |
Our Ramadan Umrah packages run for 7, 10 or 14 nights. Not sure which part of the month suits you? Message us on WhatsApp for a written quote with every cost itemised.
When is Ramadan 2027?
Ramadan 1448 is expected to begin on Monday 8 February 2027, subject to moon sighting. The International Astronomical Center (IAC) and Moon Sighting UK both give that date; your mosque or country may follow a different criterion.
Moon Sighting UK expects the crescent to be seen from the UK to Morocco on 7 February.
| Date | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1 June 2026 | 1448 Umrah permits available in Nusuk | Hajj Ministry |
| 6 February 2027 | New moon, 15:56 UT | IAC; Moon Sighting UK |
| 8 February 2027 | Ramadan expected to begin, subject to moon sighting | IAC; Moon Sighting UK |
| 9 March 2027 | Last day for issuing Umrah visas | Hajj Ministry |
| 23 March 2027 | Last entry for Umrah pilgrims | Hajj Ministry |
| 7 April 2027 | Last departure for Umrah pilgrims | Hajj Ministry |
The Hajj Ministry dates are its 1448 calendar for Umrah visas (Saudi Press Agency).
Planning a Ramadan Umrah from the UK
Plan early: in Ramadan 1444, Nusuk showed the available dates according to capacity. The Ministry urged pilgrims to obtain their permits early (Ministry of Hajj and Umrah). Before you travel, check four things:
- Your Nusuk permit for your Umrah date.
- Your visa or ETA: GOV.UK lists an e-visa or an electronic visa waiver for Umrah outside the Hajj season. Our Umrah visa guide explains the options.
- An ACWY meningitis certificate: GOV.UK says you must have a valid one “10 days before arriving for Hajj and Umrah”; TravelHealthPro has the detail.
- Who you book with: UK-based criminals target people planning Umrah. GOV.UK advises you to research the travel company before you book and get everything confirmed in writing (FCDO pilgrimage advice).
Every Babul Haram Travels package includes a group guide or scholar who helps with the rites. Arrange your own travel insurance, and check what your written quote includes.
Compare our Ramadan Umrah packages from the UK or all our Umrah packages, or ask on WhatsApp for a written quote with every cost itemised.
Practical tips for Umrah while fasting
Plan the rites around your fast and the heat. NaTHNaC notes that daytime temperatures in Saudi Arabia can pass 30°C even in winter.
- Drink plenty of clean water between iftar and the pre-dawn meal, as NaTHNaC advises.
- Keep out of the sun where you can: Saudi Arabia advises pilgrims, especially older people, to avoid direct sun during the rites. GOV.UK says, “Prepare for extreme heat.”
- Rest between rites: if the fast becomes too hard, a traveller may use the concession and make up the day later.
- Watch those at higher risk: NaTHNaC’s travellers’ diarrhoea advice says babies, older people and those with chronic conditions face a greater risk of dehydration.
If you feel unwell after you return, contact your GP, NHS 111 or your local hospital.
Frequently asked questions about Umrah in Ramadan
Can you do Umrah after Ramadan?
Yes, within the season dates: the Hajj Ministry’s 1448 calendar issues Umrah visas until 9 March 2027. Umrah pilgrims can enter Saudi Arabia until 23 March 2027 and must leave by 7 April 2027 (Saudi Press Agency). Book your Umrah permit in the Nusuk app.
Can you do more than one Umrah in Ramadan?
In Ramadan 1444 (2023), the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said each person “can perform Umrah rituals once during the blessed month of Ramadan”. The aim was to spread capacity and reduce crowding (Ministry of Hajj and Umrah). That was the 1444 rule: check Nusuk for 1448.
Is Ramadan divided into mercy, forgiveness and freedom from the Fire?
Not by an authentic hadith. The report that splits Ramadan into mercy, forgiveness and ransom from the Fire was judged weak (munkar) by Abu Hatim al-Razi, al-‘Ayni and al-Albani. As IslamQA puts it, “all of Ramadan is mercy and forgiveness”.
How much does Umrah in Ramadan cost?
It depends on the package. Babul Haram Travels’ Ramadan packages run for 7, 10 or 14 nights at 3, 4 or 5 stars, per person based on 4 sharing: see the current Ramadan package prices. Then ask for a written, itemised quote.
Can families do Umrah together in Ramadan?
Yes: the Prophet ﷺ told a woman who had missed Hajj to perform Umrah in Ramadan. In the last ten nights, he kept his family awake for prayer. Plan for heat and crowds: NaTHNaC’s travellers’ diarrhoea advice says babies and older people have a greater risk of dehydration.
Umrah in Ramadan: your next step
Umrah in Ramadan equals Hajj in reward but does not replace the obligatory Hajj. The last ten nights hold Laylat al-Qadr, sought in the odd nights. A traveller may choose whether to fast, and Ramadan 1448 is expected to begin on 8 February 2027, subject to moon sighting.
Ready to plan your pilgrimage? Message Babul Haram Travels on WhatsApp for a written quote, or see our Ramadan Umrah packages from the UK. Nothing is booked until you tell us to go ahead.
Reviewed by Babul Haram Travels team · last reviewed 19 October 2026. Rules and dates change: check the linked official pages for yours. For a personal ruling, ask a qualified scholar.
Hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim carry no separate grade; others show sunnah.com’s grade.
Photo sources: Location photographs are credited under each image and do not show our customers or a particular booking. Featured photo: Swerveut, CC BY-SA 3.0 (photographed during Ramadan 2010). Resized and cropped for this guide.
