Umrah is the lesser, or minor, pilgrimage to the Kaaba in Makkah. A Muslim enters ihram, walks around the Kaaba seven times (Tawaf), walks between Safa and Marwah seven times (Sa’i), then shaves or shortens the hair. Unlike Hajj, it has no fixed dates and can be made at any time of year.
This guide is for UK Muslims thinking about a first Umrah, and for anyone who wants to understand it. It explains what the word means, its place in Islam, its rewards and what a trip from the UK involves.
Every verse is linked to quran.com and every hadith to sunnah.com, with its grade where sunnah.com gives one. Where scholars differ, we say so and give no ruling.
Key takeaways
- The word: ʿumrah means “a visit”. In Islam it names the minor pilgrimage to the House of Allah in Makkah.
- Four rites, in order: ihram, Tawaf, Sa’i, then shaving or shortening the hair.
- Obligatory or not: scholars differ. Hajj, not Umrah, is one of the five pillars of Islam.
- From the UK: a passport that expires at least six months after arrival, an e-visa or ETA outside the Hajj season and an ACWY certificate. Permits are booked free in Nusuk. Every Babul Haram Travels package includes a group guide or scholar: see our Umrah packages.
Umrah meaning: what does the word mean?
The Arabic word ʿumrah means “a visit”. In Islam it names a visit to the Kaaba, the House of Allah in Makkah, made in ihram for Tawaf and Sa’i. IslamWeb defines it, in Islamic terms, as a visit to the House of Allah at any time of the year.
The fiqh work Fiqh-us-Sunnah traces the word to al-i’timar, “a visit”. A Hanafi answer on IslamQA.org adds that some scholars take it to mean “intent”, and others say it carries both meanings.
English translations call it the minor or lesser pilgrimage. “Minor pilgrimage” is how The Clear Quran, the translation shown on quran.com, renders it in Quran 2:196. Unlike Hajj, it has no standing at Arafah and no days at Mina.
Dictionary.com defines umrah as a pilgrimage a Muslim makes on entering Makkah, often as part of Hajj. It gives the English pronunciation as uhm-ruh and lists another spelling, ʿumra.
The Quran names Umrah beside Hajj in one command:
وَأَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلْحَجَّ وَٱلْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ
Transliteration: wa-atimmū l-ḥaja wal-ʿum’rata lillahi
Meaning: “Complete the pilgrimage and minor pilgrimage for Allah.”
Reference: Quran 2:196 (Arabic and word-by-word transliteration: quran.com; meaning: Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran).
What is Umrah in Islam?
Umrah is an act of worship that the Quran names beside Hajj and that the Prophet ﷺ performed four times. As IslamQA notes, the scholars agree that it is prescribed in Islam and is an act of virtue. They differ on whether it is obligatory.
The House of Allah stands at the centre of it. The Quran tells how Ibrahim (Abraham) and Isma’il (Ishmael) raised the foundation of the House (Quran 2:127). It calls the hills of Safa and Marwah “among the symbols of Allah” (Quran 2:158).
Sa’i, the walk between those two hills, recalls Isma’il’s mother. When their water ran out, she ran between Safa and Marwah seven times, looking for anyone in the valley. The Prophet ﷺ said, “This is the source of the tradition of the walking of people between them” (Sahih al-Bukhari 3364).
Our guide to the story of Zamzam tells what happened next.
The Prophet ﷺ made four Umrahs: at Hudaybiyyah, in the following year, from al-Ji’ranah, and with his Hajj. Three of them were in Dhul Qa’dah (Sahih al-Bukhari 1780). He performed Hajj only once (Sahih al-Bukhari 1778; Sahih Muslim 1253a).
Umrah can be made on its own or together with Hajj. In the year of the Prophet’s last Hajj, people travelling with him did both. Some entered ihram for it alone, some for both and others for Hajj only (Sahih al-Bukhari 1562).
Is Umrah obligatory? Where the scholars differ
Scholars differ. Imam Abu Hanifah and Imam Malik held it to be Sunnah and recommended, not obligatory; Imam al-Shafi’i and Imam Ahmad held it obligatory. The IslamQA answer linked above sets out both views and their evidence.
| Imam | View | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Hanifah | Sunnah and recommended (mustahabb), not obligatory | IslamQA, answer 39524 |
| Malik | Sunnah and recommended (mustahabb), not obligatory | IslamQA, answer 39524 |
| al-Shafi’i | Obligatory | IslamQA, answer 39524 |
| Ahmad | Obligatory | IslamQA, answer 39524 |
The same answer says Imam al-Bukhari favoured the view that it is obligatory. It also quotes Shaykh Ibn Baz, who held it “obligatory once in a lifetime, like Hajj”.
A practical note for UK pilgrims. This is a recognised difference among qualified scholars: follow the school you normally follow, or ask your local imam.
For the obligation of Hajj and the other contrasts, read how Umrah and Hajj differ.
Why Muslims perform Umrah: purpose and virtues
Muslims perform Umrah to worship Allah at His House and to seek the forgiveness and reward the Prophet ﷺ described. The official Nusuk platform speaks of “rituals that symbolize devotion, purification, and spiritual renewal”.
These are the virtues reported in the hadith, each linked to sunnah.com with its grade where one is given:
- Forgiveness. The Prophet ﷺ said that one Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed between it and the next (Sahih Muslim 1349a).
- Freedom from poverty and sin. “Alternate between Hajj and Umrah; for those two remove poverty and sins just as the bellows removes filth…” (Jami at-Tirmidhi 810, graded Hasan by Darussalam).
- A delegation to Allah. He described the pilgrim performing Hajj and Umrah, like the one who fights in the cause of Allah, as part of “a delegation to Allah. He invited them, so they responded to Him, and they ask Him and He gives to them” (Sunan Ibn Majah 2893, graded Hasan by Darussalam).
- In Ramadan. He told an Ansari woman who had missed Hajj with him that Umrah in Ramadan “is equal to Hajj (in reward)” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1782). Sahih Muslim 1256 has a similar report.
Umrah in Ramadan does not replace Hajj. IslamQA explains that the two are equal in the amount of reward, not in type: it “does not take the place of the obligatory Hajj”.
As the hadith on the delegation says, pilgrims ask and Allah gives. For the words to say at each rite, read the duas pilgrims say during Umrah.
What happens during Umrah: the four rites
Umrah has four rites, in order: ihram, Tawaf around the Kaaba, Sa’i between Safa and Marwah, then shaving or shortening the hair. Ihram begins with the intention and the Talbiyah, and Tawaf and Sa’i are seven rounds each. That is the sequence in the official Nusuk guide.
| Rite | What you do | Where | Read more |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Ihram | Make the intention, recite the Talbiyah, put on the ihram garments | At the miqat on your route to Makkah | Ihram rules |
| 2. Tawaf | Walk seven rounds anticlockwise, starting in line with the Black Stone | Around the Kaaba | Nusuk’s guide |
| 3. Sa’i | Walk seven lengths, starting at Safa and ending at Marwah | Between Safa and Marwah | Quran 2:158 |
| 4. Shaving or shortening | Shave the head or cut the hair shorter: the last rite | After Sa’i | Nusuk’s guide |
Ihram comes first: you enter it at the miqat you pass on the way to Makkah. IslamWeb quotes the words of the Prophet ﷺ on the miqats: they are “for whoever passes through them … intending Hajj and ‘Umrah”. Ask your group guide when to enter ihram on your journey.
Nusuk also lists Sunnah acts alongside the rites, such as two rak’ahs after Tawaf, prayed behind the shrine of Ibrahim.
For every step, the duas and the rules for women, read how to perform Umrah step by step.
Umrah and Hajj: the main differences
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and an obligation on whoever is able. It has fixed days and rites at Arafah and Mina. Umrah has no fixed date and only its four rites.
| Aspect | Umrah | Hajj |
|---|---|---|
| Standing in Islam | Prescribed; scholars differ on whether it is obligatory | One of the five pillars; an obligation on whoever is able |
| Timing | Any time of year, in the majority view | A set time, in the months of Shawwal, Dhul Qa’dah and Dhul Hijjah |
| Rites | Ihram, Tawaf, Sa’i, then shaving or shortening | Include ihram, the standing at Arafah and Sa’i, plus staying at Mina and throwing the pebbles |
| Combining | Can be combined with Hajj, followed by an offering | Can include it, as in the Prophet’s own Hajj |
The obligation comes from a verse about Hajj: “Pilgrimage to this House is an obligation by Allah upon whoever is able among the people” (Quran 3:97). Quran 2:196 allows the two to be combined, followed by “the sacrificial offering you can afford”.
The Prophet ﷺ named Hajj, not Umrah, among the five things Islam is based on (Sahih al-Bukhari 8).
Dates, trip lengths and costs are compared side by side in our full comparison of Hajj and Umrah.
When can you perform Umrah?
The majority of scholars hold that you can perform Umrah at any time of year, as it has no fixed dates. Imam Abu Hanifah, however, held it disliked on five days of the Hajj season. That is how Fiqh-us-Sunnah records the views.
Those five days are the Day of Arafah, the Day of Nahr (10 Dhul Hijjah) and the three days of Tashriq (11 to 13 Dhul Hijjah). All the scholars cited there agree that it is allowed in the months of Hajj.
Three of the Prophet’s four Umrahs were in Dhul Qa’dah, and Ramadan carries the reward described above.
In practice, the official Nusuk platform rules out only the Hajj period. GOV.UK lists the e-visa and the ETA for Umrah outside the Hajj season. Check that season’s dates with your travel agent before you book.
Travel months vary. Our December Umrah packages, for example, run for 7, 10 or 14 nights.
Who can perform Umrah?
Umrah is made by Muslims: any Muslim who can make the journey may perform it. A hadith tells a son to perform it for his elderly father, who could not travel.
If this is your first time, learn the four rites and their order before you travel. Then you can give your attention to worship when you arrive. On all our packages, a group guide or scholar helps you with the rites.
This guide gives no rules for women, children or health conditions. For those questions, ask a qualified scholar, and ask your GP or a travel health clinic about your health.
Umrah on behalf of someone else (Umrah Badal)
Umrah badal means performing it on behalf of someone else. In a hadith, a man told the Prophet ﷺ that his father was elderly and “not able to perform Hajj nor Umrah nor undertake a journey”. He replied, “Perform Hajj on behalf of your father and perform Umrah” (Jami at-Tirmidhi 930, graded Sahih by Darussalam).
The hadith is about a living father who was too old to travel. The conditions that apply to your own case are a matter for your imam.
Umrah from the UK: what a trip involves
To travel from the UK, you need a passport valid for six months after arrival, an ACWY certificate and the right visa or ETA. GOV.UK lists an e-visa or an ETA for Umrah outside the Hajj season. Permits are booked free through Nusuk, with a date and time slot.
| Item | What the official source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Its expiry date must be at least 6 months after the date you arrive | GOV.UK entry requirements |
| Visa or ETA | An e-visa or an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) outside the Hajj season; an ETA is valid for 730 days, for up to 180 days in total | GOV.UK pilgrimage advice and entry requirements |
| Umrah permit | Free; booked in the Nusuk app or website for a date and time slot; open to visitors | Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (checked 16 October 2026) |
| ACWY certificate | A valid ACWY meningitis vaccination certificate 10 days before you arrive; a conjugate vaccine counts for five years | GOV.UK pilgrimage advice; TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC) |
| Scams | Research the travel company before you book and get everything confirmed in writing | GOV.UK pilgrimage advice |
Rules change, so open each official page again before you book and before you fly. Visa options are explained in our guide to the Umrah visa from the UK; no one can promise that a visa will be approved.
Our Umrah packages from the UK include return flights, hotels in Makkah and Madinah, your visa, airport and city transfers and guided ziyarat. Choose from 3-star, 4-star or 5-star Umrah packages, each with a group guide or scholar who helps with the rites. Check what your written quote includes, for example travel insurance.
GOV.UK warns that “UK-based organised crime groups target people planning Hajj or Umrah trips”. Read its scam advice in full before you pay anyone.
Planning your trip? Ask Babul Haram Travels on WhatsApp for a written quote. Nothing is booked until you have seen it and told us to go ahead.
Frequently asked questions about Umrah
Can you perform Umrah more than once?
Yes: the Prophet ﷺ made four Umrahs (Sahih al-Bukhari 1780). He said that one Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed between it and the next (Sahih Muslim 1349a). He also said, “Alternate between Hajj and Umrah” (Jami at-Tirmidhi 810, graded Hasan by Darussalam).
Is visiting Madinah part of Umrah?
No: an IslamWeb fatwa says visiting Madinah is not among the rites of Umrah, and skipping it does not reduce your reward. Visiting the Prophet’s Mosque is a recommended Sunnah in its own right; it is one of three mosques named in Sahih al-Bukhari 1189. Pilgrims starting in Madinah enter ihram at Dhul Hulayfah; our guide covers visiting the Rawdah.
What does “Umrah Mubarak” mean?
Mubarak is Arabic for “blessed”, as in Eid Mubarak, so the phrase wishes a blessed pilgrimage. You may also hear “Umrah mabroor”: in a hadith about Hajj, sunnah.com’s translation glosses mabrur as “the one accepted by Allah” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1773). No fixed wording is required: IslamQA says, about a pilgrim returning from Hajj, that any permissible words are fine.
What do you say to someone going for Umrah?
You can ask them to pray for you: a published fatwa calls this permissible for someone travelling for Umrah. A general hadith says the angels answer a prayer for someone in their absence with “The same be for you too” (Sahih Muslim 2732a). For their return, IslamQA’s Hajj example is “May Allah accept your worship”.
Do I need a guide for my first Umrah?
That is your choice; what matters is knowing the four rites and their order before you go. Our guide to how to perform Umrah step by step walks through each one. Every one of our packages also includes a group guide or scholar who helps you with the rites.
Umrah in short: your next step
Umrah is a visit to the House of Allah in Makkah: four rites, in order, at any time of year in the majority view. Scholars differ on whether it is obligatory, but they agree it is prescribed and virtuous. The Prophet ﷺ called it an expiation for the sins between one Umrah and the next.
Your next step is to learn the four rites in order with our step-by-step guide.
Ready to plan your pilgrimage? Message Babul Haram Travels on WhatsApp for a written quote with every cost itemised, or browse our Umrah packages from the UK first. Nothing is booked until you tell us to go ahead.
Reviewed by Babul Haram Travels team · last reviewed 21 October 2026. Travel rules change, so check the linked official pages for your dates. For a ruling on your own situation, ask a qualified scholar.
Hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim are cited without a separate grade; other hadith show the grade given on sunnah.com.
Photo sources: Location photographs are credited under each image and are not representations of our customers, a particular hotel booking or current access routes. Featured photo: Richard Mortel, CC BY 2.0. Resized and cropped for this guide.
