Umrah & Ziyarat Guide
Everything from packing your bags to completing the rites — plus the history behind Ta'if and Badr.
Get Ready
A few essentials to sort out before you leave home.
Documents
Passport valid 6+ months, Umrah visa and recent passport photos.
Vaccination
Meningitis (ACWY) certificate is required by Saudi authorities for all pilgrims.
Packing
Ihram garments, comfortable sandals (ankle-exposing for men), and any personal medication with doctor prescription.
Umrah, Step by Step
From entering Ihram to completing the rites — in full detail.
Ihram, Nafil & Niyat at the Miqat
Before reaching the Miqat (the boundary point for your travel route), take a bath (Ghusl) if possible and wear your Ihram garments. For men, this is two unstitched white sheets — one wrapped around the waist, the other over the shoulder, with the head left uncovered. Women wear simple, modest, loose clothing — commonly light-colored — without a face-covering niqab or gloves, though the hair is covered.
At the Miqat, first pray 2 Rakat Nafil (with the intention of Ihram). Then, make the intention (Niyyah) for Umrah, saying "Labbaik Allahumma Umrah" — and begin reciting the Talbiyah repeatedly on the way to Makkah.
From this point, certain restrictions apply until Umrah is complete: no cutting hair or nails, no perfume, no hunting, no marital relations, no arguing or quarrelling, and — for men — no stitched clothing or head covering.
Tawaf — Circling the Kaaba (7 Rounds)
Upon reaching Masjid al-Haram, proceed toward the Kaaba. Tawaf begins level with the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad) — face it, say the Takbir, and if you cannot reach it, simply point toward it from where you stand.
Circle the Kaaba seven times counter-clockwise, keeping it to your left. Men are encouraged to walk briskly (Ramal) for the first three rounds if space allows, and to keep the right shoulder uncovered (Idtiba) throughout Tawaf.
There is no single obligatory dua for each round — pilgrims commonly recite personal supplications and remembrance of Allah throughout.
Upon completing Tawaf: Pray 2 Rakat Nafil behind Maqam Ibrahim if possible. After this, drink Zamzam water and make abundant dua (supplication), as this is a highly blessed moment.
Sa'i — Between Safa and Marwa
Proceed to the hill of Safa. Before beginning, it is customary to recite the Qur'anic verse referencing Safa and Marwa (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:158).
Walk from Safa to Marwa and back counts as one trip — complete seven trips in total, ending at Marwa. Men are encouraged to walk briskly between the two green markers along the path.
Sa'i commemorates Hajra (RA), wife of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), running between these two hills in search of water for her infant son Isma'il (AS) — a search that ended with the miraculous appearance of the Zamzam well.
Halq or Taqsir — Completing Umrah
Men either shave the head completely (Halq — the more rewarded option) or trim the hair evenly across the head (Taqsir). Women trim a fingertip's length from the ends of their hair.
This act formally exits the state of Ihram. All restrictions are lifted, and your Umrah is complete — Alhamdulillah.
After Umrah
Take time for personal duas at the Haram, and consider performing additional voluntary Tawaf during your stay. Many pilgrims extend their trip to visit Madinah and Masjid an-Nabawi, and to perform Ziyarat of nearby historical sites.
Ta'if & Badr — History & Significance
Two historical sites many pilgrims choose to visit alongside their Umrah.
Ta'if
Roughly 65 miles southeast of Makkah, in the mountainsBACKGROUND HISTORY
In the Year of Sorrow ('Aam al-Huzn) — after the passing of his wife Khadijah (RA) and his uncle Abu Talib within the same year — Prophet Muhammad ﷺ travelled to Ta'if seeking support and protection for his message from the tribe of Thaqif.
The leaders of Ta'if rejected him harshly and reportedly incited local youths to pelt him with stones. A young man named Addas, a Christian slave working in an orchard there, offered him grapes and later embraced Islam upon learning of his prophethood.
As the Prophet ﷺ left the city, tradition holds that the Angel of the Mountains offered to crush the two mountains surrounding the town upon its people. He declined, praying instead for guidance among their descendants — an episode widely remembered as an example of his patience and mercy even in the face of rejection.
VISITING TODAY
Today, pilgrims often visit the area associated with this journey, along with the resting place of Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) — a companion and cousin of the Prophet ﷺ, known as 'the scholar of the Ummah' — buried in Ta'if. The cooler mountain climate and fruit orchards make it a popular day trip from Makkah.
Badr
About 130 km southwest of MadinahBACKGROUND HISTORY
The Battle of Badr took place on the 17th of Ramadan, 2 AH (624 CE), between a small Muslim force of around 313 companions from Madinah and a much larger Quraysh army of roughly 1,000 men from Makkah.
Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Muslims achieved a decisive victory — an outcome the Qur'an describes at length in Surah Al-Anfal. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ prayed earnestly for support before the battle began.
Badr is regarded as the first major military confrontation in Islamic history and a defining moment that strengthened the young Muslim community in Madinah.
VISITING TODAY
Pilgrims visiting Badr today can pay respects at the site associated with the companions who fell in the battle. It is commonly combined with other historical stops on a day trip from Madinah.
Historical details are presented as commonly taught in Islamic tradition, for general educational purposes.
Want This Journey Planned for You?
We'll handle the flights, hotels, and transport — including a Ziyarat trip to Ta'if or Badr if you'd like.
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