Umrah step by step: ṭawaaf, sa'y and shaving

The four steps Umrah has four steps: iḥraam at the miiqaat (lesson 2), the ṭawaaf (seven circuits around the Ka'ba), the sa'y (seven trips between Ṣafaa and Marwa), then shaving or shortening the hair. For the majority, iḥraam, ṭawaaf and sa'y are pillars; for the Hanafis, the sa'y is an obligation (waajib). Shaving is an obligation or a pillar according to the schools [À VÉRIFIER : statut de chaque étape selon les écoles]. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Take your rites from me" (Muslim 1297). The actions below come mainly from the account of Jaabir (Muslim 1218).

Entering the Sacred Mosque • One enters with the right foot with the supplication for entering the mosque: "Allaahumma ftaḥ lii abwaaba raḥmatik" ("O Allah, open for me the gates of Your mercy", Muslim 713). • On seeing the Ka'ba, many raise their hands and supplicate; there are reports about this whose authenticity is discussed [À VÉRIFIER]. • For someone who comes to perform ṭawaaf, the ṭawaaf takes the place of the prayer of greeting the mosque, according to many scholars [À VÉRIFIER].

The ṭawaaf: the conditions • Purity (wudu): it is a condition for the majority; for the Hanafis, an obligation whose absence is made up for by a sacrifice [À VÉRIFIER]. A woman in her period waits until she is pure to perform ṭawaaf (Bukhari 305, Muslim 1211). If wudu is broken during the ṭawaaf, one renews it; the schools differ on whether one starts again or continues [À VÉRIFIER]. • Covering one's 'awra. • Performing seven complete circuits, with the Ka'ba on one's left, beginning and ending at the Black Stone. If in doubt about the number, one takes the lower one. • Going around the Ka'ba and the Ḥijr Ismaa'iil (the semi-circular low wall), and not inside the Ḥijr. • The intention to perform ṭawaaf.

The ṭawaaf: the actions, circuit by circuit • Before starting, a man uncovers his right shoulder (al-iḍṭibaa') by passing the ridaa' under his right armpit, for the ṭawaaf of Umrah or arrival only (Abu Daawuud 1883) [À VÉRIFIER : numéro]. • Facing the Black Stone, one touches and kisses it if possible without pushing; otherwise one touches it with the hand; otherwise one gestures to it from afar, with the right hand, saying "Allaahu akbar" (Bukhari 1612, Bukhari 1613) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros]. 'Umar said while kissing it: "I know that you are only a stone, which neither harms nor benefits; had I not seen the Prophet ﷺ kiss you, I would not have kissed you" (Bukhari 1597, Muslim 1270). • In the first three circuits, a man walks briskly with short steps (ar-ramal), if he can without bothering anyone, for the ṭawaaf of Umrah or arrival (Bukhari 1603, Muslim 1262) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros]; in the other four, he walks normally. Women perform neither iḍṭibaa' nor ramal. • At the Yemeni corner (ar-Rukn al-Yamaani), one touches it with the hand if possible, without kissing it; otherwise one continues without gesturing [À VÉRIFIER]. • Between the Yemeni corner and the Black Stone, it is recommended to say: "Rabbanaa aatinaa fi d-dunyaa ḥasanatan wa fi l-aakhirati ḥasanatan wa qinaa 'adhaaba n-naar" ("Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire", 2:201) (Abu Daawuud 1892) [À VÉRIFIER : numéro]. • Otherwise, there is no fixed supplication for each circuit: supplicate in your own language, recite the Qur'an, make dhikr. Booklets that give a specific supplication for each circuit do not come from the Sunna. • The ṭawaaf "is like prayer, except that one may speak in it" (At-Tirmidhi 960) [À VÉRIFIER : numéro et degré]: speak little, softly, and only for good.

After the ṭawaaf • A man covers his shoulder again. • One prays two rak'as behind the Maqaam Ibraahiim if possible, otherwise anywhere in the mosque, reciting Al-Kaafiruun and Al-Ikhlaaṣ (Muslim 1218). Allah says: "Take the station of Ibraahiim as a place of prayer" (meaning of 2:125, text below). • One drinks Zamzam water: "Zamzam water is for whatever it is drunk for" (Ibn Maaja 3062) [À VÉRIFIER : numéro et degré]. • One goes back to touch the Black Stone if possible, before going to the sa'y (Muslim 1218).

The sa'y between Ṣafaa and Marwa • "Ṣafaa and Marwa are among the rites of Allah" (meaning of 2:158, text below). The sa'y recalls Haajar, who ran between the two hills looking for water for her son Ismaa'iil, until Allah made Zamzam gush forth (Bukhari 3364). • One climbs Ṣafaa. The Prophet ﷺ recited there the beginning of verse 2:158 [TEXTE ARABE À INSÉRER : sourate 2:158, début du verset] and said: "I begin with what Allah began with" (Muslim 1218). Facing the Ka'ba, one says the takbiir and the tahliil, and supplicates, three times. • One walks towards Marwa. Between the two green markers, men walk briskly; women walk normally. • On Marwa, one does as on Ṣafaa. Ṣafaa → Marwa counts as one trip, Marwa → Ṣafaa as another: one makes seven trips, beginning at Ṣafaa and ending at Marwa. • Purity is not a condition of the sa'y for the majority, but it is preferable [À VÉRIFIER]. • Whoever is tired may stop to rest and drink; wheelchairs exist for those who cannot walk (arrangements on site: to be completed by the centre).

Shaving or shortening • A man shaves his head, or shortens his hair over the whole head (or part of it, according to the schools) [À VÉRIFIER]. Shaving is better: the Prophet ﷺ supplicated three times for those who shave, then for those who shorten (Bukhari 1727, Muslim 1301). • Someone performing tamattu' whose Hajj is near may shorten for the Umrah and keep shaving for the Hajj. • A woman cuts the length of a fingertip from the ends of her hair; she does not shave (Abu Daawuud 1984) [À VÉRIFIER : numéro et mesure]. • The Umrah is complete: everything that iḥraam forbade becomes permitted again.

Understanding the lesson

Explanation Every action of Umrah carries a story. The ṭawaaf turns the body around the House built by Ibraahiim and Ismaa'iil on oneness; it reminds us that the believer's life revolves around Allah. The sa'y repeats the run of Haajar: a mother alone, in a valley without water, doing all she can while trusting Allah, and Allah answers with Zamzam. Shaving is an act of humility and a new beginning. These actions are acts of obedience, not magic formulas. 'Umar said it before the Black Stone: one kisses it because the Prophet ﷺ did so, not because it has any power. The Sunna is simple: no supplication imposed for each circuit, no obligation to kiss the Stone. Hurting or pushing someone for a recommended action is more serious than missing that action. Finally, knowing the conditions (purity, seven circuits, Ka'ba on the left, outside the Ḥijr) avoids mistakes that could leave the ṭawaaf incomplete.

Lessons to draw from it • Learn these steps before the journey, with a plan of the mosque. • Make wudu before the ṭawaaf and keep a small bottle of water. • Never push to touch the Black Stone: a gesture of the hand is enough. • Prepare your own supplications: for yourself, your family, your deceased, the community. • Count your circuits with a counter or on your fingers, and take the lower number when in doubt.

Key points to remember • Umrah: iḥraam, ṭawaaf, sa'y, shaving or shortening. • Ṭawaaf: seven circuits, Ka'ba on the left, from the Black Stone; iḍṭibaa' and ramal for men. • Two rak'as behind the Maqaam Ibraahiim (2:125; Muslim 1218). • Sa'y: seven trips, from Ṣafaa to Marwa (2:158), in the footsteps of Haajar (Bukhari 3364). • Shaving is better for men (Bukhari 1727, Muslim 1301); women cut a fingertip's length.

The main message Umrah is performed in four simple steps, each full of meaning: perform them as the Prophet ﷺ did, with calm, presence of heart and respect for the other pilgrims.

The text: Surah Al-Baqara (2), verse 125 [TEXTE ARABE À INSÉRER : sourate 2:125]

The text: Surah Al-Baqara (2), verse 158 [TEXTE ARABE À INSÉRER : sourate 2:158]

Meaning: 2:125: "And when We made the House a place of return for people and a place of safety. Take the station of Ibraahiim as a place of prayer. And We entrusted Ibraahiim and Ismaa'iil: 'Purify My House for those who circle it, those who stay in retreat, and those who bow and prostrate.'" 2:158: "Ṣafaa and Marwa are among the rites of Allah. Whoever performs Hajj to the House or Umrah commits no sin in going back and forth between them. And whoever does good of his own accord, Allah is Appreciative and Knowing." The verse answered companions who hesitated to perform the sa'y because idols had stood there before Islam (Bukhari 1643, Muslim 1277) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros].

Arabic text: deliberately not typed, to avoid any error; it is to be copied from the centre's mushaf (or a verified source) at the place indicated.