Umrah is sometimes called the lesser pilgrimage: a set of rites performed at the Ka'bah in Makkah. Unlike Hajj, it can be performed at any time of year, and is not tied to fixed days. It is not obligatory in the same way as Hajj, but it is a highly encouraged act of worship, and many pilgrims perform it alongside Hajj, or as a journey of its own.

Before you go, it helps to learn the sequence in advance, so you are not learning it for the first time in a crowd; to settle any debts and obligations; to seek forgiveness from anyone you may have wronged; and to make a sincere intention that the journey is for Allah. Visa, health and travel requirements change, so check current official sources.

Here is the widely followed sequence. Scholars differ on some details.

The first step is ihram. It is both a physical state and an inward one. Men wear two unstitched white cloths; women wear modest ordinary dress covering the body. And there is the intention to begin Umrah. Ihram is usually entered after a ritual bath, or wudu, at or before reaching the miqat, the boundary points set for pilgrims. Travellers by air usually enter it before or during the flight. Once in ihram, certain things become temporarily prohibited, among them cutting hair or nails, using perfume, hunting, and marital relations. Men also may not wear stitched clothing or cover the head, and women may not cover the face with a veil that touches it, though a loose cloth is permitted.

After entering ihram, it is recommended to repeat the pilgrim's traditional response, the talbiyah, often, on the way to Makkah. Its wording, meaning and source are on the Duas for the Journey page. Learn the Arabic from a teacher or a verified recording.

On arrival, pilgrims go to the Sacred Mosque and begin tawaf: circling the Ka'bah seven times, anticlockwise, starting and ending at the corner of the Black Stone. Men walk the first three circuits briskly where the crowd allows; women walk at a normal pace throughout. Touching or kissing the Black Stone is recommended where possible, but not required. A gesture towards it from a distance is enough when it is too crowded. After the seven circuits, it is recommended to pray two units of prayer, near the Station of Ibrahim where space allows, or anywhere else in the mosque.

Next is sa'i: walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah, now enclosed within the mosque. Safa to Marwah counts as one; the return counts as two, and so on, ending at Marwah on the seventh.

Umrah is completed by shaving or trimming the hair. Shaving is considered more complete for men, though trimming is also valid; women trim a small amount. Then the restrictions of ihram are lifted, and Umrah is complete.

Common mistakes include losing count during the circuits, so some pilgrims use a counter; assuming the restrictions end after tawaf, when they actually last until the hair is cut; pushing forward to touch the Black Stone, which is not worth injuring yourself or others; and not knowing the miqat for your route.

Umrah can be performed more than once. It can be done independently, but for a first pilgrimage, an experienced group or guide makes it much easier. And if you are unsure whether a mistake affects your Umrah, ask a qualified scholar or your group's guide at the time.