Essential Umrah Duas: Step-by-Step with English Translation
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Every dua you need for Umrah, organized stage by stage — Ihram, Talbiyah, Tawaf, Sa'i, and beyond — with transliteration, English translation, and exactly when to recite each one.
Umrah has very few duas that are actually fixed word-for-word — the Talbiyah and the dua between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone are the two most well-known. For the rest of your journey, Allah accepts sincere supplication in any language, so there is no need to feel anxious about memorizing Arabic before you travel. What matters more is knowing at which point in the ritual each dua belongs, so you are not fumbling through a booklet at the wrong moment. This guide is organized exactly in the order you will actually perform Umrah, from wearing Ihram to completing Halq or Taqsir, with a short note before each dua explaining when and where to say it.
Before You Begin: Ihram and Niyyah
Once you have showered, worn your Ihram clothing (two unstitched white sheets for men, or any modest, loose clothing for women), and are ready to cross the Miqat boundary, make your intention (niyyah) for Umrah. The niyyah can be made silently in the heart — saying it aloud is a common practice but not a requirement.
Niyyah for Umrah — recite as you enter the state of Ihram, before crossing the Miqat
Allahumma labbayka 'umrah
O Allah, here I am, intending to perform Umrah.
The Talbiyah — recite frequently and out loud (men) or in a low voice (women) from Ihram until you begin Tawaf
Labbayk Allahumma labbayk. Labbayka la sharika laka labbayk. Innal-hamda wan-ni'mata laka wal-mulk, la sharika lak.
Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Verily all praise, blessing, and sovereignty are Yours. You have no partner.
Entering Masjid al-Haram
Enter the mosque with your right foot first. The general dua for entering any mosque applies here too, and many pilgrims add a personal supplication for a mosque as significant as Masjid al-Haram.
Dua for entering the mosque — recite as you step in with your right foot
Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik
O Allah, open the gates of Your mercy for me.
On Seeing the Kaaba
The moment you first see the Kaaba is considered one of the times when dua is especially likely to be accepted. Many scholars encourage pausing here, raising your hands, and making whatever personal duas are on your heart before moving toward the Mataf area to begin Tawaf.
Dua on first sighting the Kaaba
Allahumma zid hadha al-bayta tashrifan wa ta'ziman wa takriman wa mahabah
O Allah, increase this House in honor, esteem, respect, and reverence.
Duas During Tawaf (The 7 Circuits)
Tawaf is 7 anticlockwise circuits of the Kaaba, starting and ending level with the Hajar al-Aswad (Black Stone). At the start of each circuit, as you pass the Black Stone, it is Sunnah to say the takbir — you do not need to touch or kiss it, especially given how crowded the Mataf can get; gesturing toward it with your hand is sufficient.
At the start of each of the 7 circuits, passing the Black Stone
Bismillahi Allahu Akbar
In the name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest.
Between the Yemeni Corner (Rukn Yamani) and the Black Stone — recited during each circuit as you cover this stretch
Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina adhaban-nar
Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire. (Qur'an 2:201)
For the remainder of each circuit, there is no single fixed wording — you are free to recite Qur'an, make dhikr (such as SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar), or simply speak to Allah in your own words and language about whatever is on your heart.
Maqam Ibrahim and Two Rak'ahs
After completing the 7 circuits, pray two short rak'ahs behind or near Maqam Ibrahim if space allows — it is Sunnah to recite Surah Al-Kafirun in the first rak'ah and Surah Al-Ikhlas in the second. If the area is too crowded, you may pray these two rak'ahs anywhere else within the mosque.
Drinking Zamzam Water
It is narrated that Zamzam water is for whatever intention it is drunk with, which is why pilgrims are encouraged to make a specific, sincere dua before drinking. A commonly taught version asks for beneficial knowledge, provision, and healing.
Dua before drinking Zamzam water
Allahumma inni as'aluka 'ilman nafi'an, wa rizqan wasi'an, wa shifa'an min kulli da'
O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, abundant provision, and healing from every illness.
Sa'i: Walking Between Safa and Marwah
From the Mataf, proceed to the Safa hill to begin Sa'i — 7 trips walking between Safa and Marwah, starting at Safa and ending at Marwah. As you ascend Safa for the first time, face the direction of the Kaaba and recite the following.
Upon ascending Safa (recited once, at the very start of Sa'i)
Inna as-Safa wal-Marwata min sha'a'irillah. Abda'u bima bada'Allahu bihi.
Indeed, Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah. (Qur'an 2:158) I begin with what Allah began with.
Atop Safa and Marwah, at the start of each of the 7 trips — recite three times, raising your hands after each repetition to make personal dua
La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamd, yuhyi wa yumit, wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir
There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. His is the dominion and His is all praise. He gives life and causes death, and He has power over all things.
Walk at a normal pace between the two hills. Men jog briefly between the green markers near Marwah (women walk normally throughout, no jogging required). Repeat the full sequence 7 times, ending your final trip at Marwah — this completes Sa'i.
Halq or Taqsir: Completing Umrah
The final step is exiting the state of Ihram by cutting the hair. Men may either shave the head completely (Halq, which is preferred) or trim it evenly (Taqsir). Women cut a fingertip-length of hair from the end of a braid — women should not shave the head. Once this is done, Umrah is complete and all Ihram restrictions are lifted.
General Duas Worth Carrying Through the Whole Journey
Beyond the ritual-specific duas above, two short Qur'anic duas are widely recited throughout the journey — while circling the Kaaba, during Sa'i, at Zamzam, or simply whenever you have a free moment in the Haram.
Seeking Allah's mercy and forgiveness
Rabbighfir warham wa anta khairur rahimin
My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and You are the best of the merciful. (Qur'an 23:118)
Dua for one's parents
Rabbi ighfir li wa liwalidayya
My Lord, forgive me and my parents. (Qur'an 71:28)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to memorize all these duas before I travel? No. Only the niyyah and the Talbiyah are commonly memorized in advance because you will recite them so often. For everything else, it is completely normal — and widely practiced — to read from a printed booklet, a dua app, or even this guide saved on your phone while you perform Tawaf and Sa'i.
Can I make dua in English or my own language instead of Arabic? Yes, outside of the fixed wordings shown above (the Talbiyah and the Qur'anic verses), you can supplicate in any language you are comfortable with. Allah understands every language, and sincerity matters far more than the specific words used.
What if I forget a dua or say it out of order? Umrah remains valid. The core pillars — Ihram with niyyah, Tawaf, Sa'i, and Halq or Taqsir — are what make Umrah complete; the specific duas at each stage are recommended (Sunnah), not conditions for validity. Focus on completing the actions correctly, and let the duas support your worship rather than becoming a source of stress.
What does the Talbiyah mean, and why is it recited so often? The Talbiyah declares that you are present and answering Allah's call, affirming that He alone is worthy of worship, with no partner, and that all praise and sovereignty belong to Him. It is recited repeatedly throughout Ihram because it is the verbal expression of your intention and devotion for the entire journey — not a one-time formality.
Is there a downloadable PDF of these duas? This guide is written to work as your offline reference — save this page to your phone's home screen or bookmark it before you travel, since Wi-Fi and mobile data can be unreliable inside Masjid al-Haram and Masjid an-Nabawi. Every dua on this page is organized in the exact order you'll need it, so scrolling through once during Ihram preparation is usually enough to know what to expect at each stage.
For a full walkthrough of the physical steps alongside these duas, see our companion guide, how to perform Umrah step by step. And if you are still finalizing your travel plans, GoSalam's Umrah packages from India include a guided coordinator through every stage of Tawaf and Sa'i, so first-time pilgrims are never left checking a booklet alone in a crowd.