Online Islamic Question & Answer — Ask the Mufti for Hajj & Umrah Pilgrims
Get authentic Islamic guidance from Mufti Zaheer Mangerah, a qualified scholar from South Africa. Ask in your own language — answers within 3 working days, completely free.
Online Islamic Q&A for Hajj & Umrah Pilgrims
Ask the Mufti is a free online Islamic question and answer service by FlyMoreMe Tourism LLC, dedicated to answering your Hajj and Umrah questions. Whether you are preparing for your first Umrah, planning the Hajj pilgrimage, or seeking clarity on Ihram rules, Tawaf, Sa'i, the Meeqat, Ziyarat in Makkah and Madinah, or Umrah visa requirements — our qualified scholar provides authentic guidance based on the Qur'an and Sunnah.
You can ask a scholar online in the language you are most comfortable with. The Mufti reads English, Arabic and Urdu, and questions in Bengali, Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Melayu, Russian, French, Turkish, Hindi, Persian and other languages are translated for review. This is a general question and answer service for Hajj and Umrah — it is our way of serving the global Muslim community preparing for the sacred journey to the Haram in Makkah and Masjid Nabawi in Madinah.
Qur'anic & Hadith References on Hajj & Umrah
Qur'an — Surah Al-Baqarah 2:196
"And complete the Hajj and Umrah for Allah."
This verse establishes that both Hajj and Umrah are obligatory acts of worship that must be completed fully and sincerely for the sake of Allah alone.
Qur'an — Surah Al-Baqarah 2:197
"Hajj is [during] well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of ihram], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj."
This verse defines the sacred months of Hajj and the disciplines required of the pilgrim: restraint from intimate relations, immoral speech, and quarrelling.
Hadith — Bukhari & Muslim
"Islam is built on five [pillars]: the testimony that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the prayer, giving Zakat, fasting in Ramadan, and performing Hajj to the House." (Sahih Bukhari 8; Sahih Muslim 16)
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, obligatory once in a lifetime for every Muslim who is physically and financially able.
Hadith — Bukhari & Muslim (Virtues of Umrah)
"From one Umrah to the next is an expiation for whatever [sins] come between them, and an accepted Hajj has no reward except Paradise." (Sahih Bukhari 1773; Sahih Muslim 1349)
This hadith highlights the immense spiritual reward of performing Umrah repeatedly and the unmatched reward of a Mabrur (accepted) Hajj.
Hadith — Virtues of Madinah (Bukhari 1190; Muslim 1394)
"One prayer in this mosque of mine (Madinah) is better than 1,000 prayers offered anywhere else except Masjid Al-Haram, and one prayer in Masjid Al-Haram is better than 100,000 prayers in any other mosque."
Visiting Madinah and praying in Masjid Al-Nabawi is highly recommended for all pilgrims, though it is not a required rite of Hajj or Umrah.
Step-by-Step Umrah Guide
1. Ihram — Before Reaching Meeqat
Before Ihram: remove unwanted hair, trim nails, and make ghusl (bath) and wudhu. Men put on two white un-sewn pieces of cloth; women wear regular modest clothes. Women must not cover their faces during Ihram; men must not cover their heads. Recite the Niyyah (intention) for Umrah: "Labbayk Allahumma bi-Umrah" — Here I am O Allah, making Umrah. Recite the Talbiyah: "Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk, Labbayk laa sharika laka Labbayk, Innal hamda wanni'mata laka walmulk, laa sharika lak" — men loudly, women quietly.
2. Tawaf — Circling the Ka'bah 7 Times
Enter Masjid Al-Haram with the right foot reciting: "Allahumma aftah lee abwaaba rahmatika" (O Allah, open the doors of Your Mercy for me). Men uncover the right shoulder (Idhtiba) before beginning. Start at Al-Hajarul-Aswad (The Black Stone), make a sign with the right hand and say Allahu Akbar. Men walk briskly (Raml) for the first 3 circuits; all 7 circuits are completed anti-clockwise. Between Ar-Ruknul-Yamani and the Black Stone recite: "Rabbana aatina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-aakhirati hasanatan wa qina adhaaban naar." After Tawaf, offer 2 rakaats behind Maqam Ibrahim (Surah Al-Kafirun in the 1st, Surah Al-Ikhlas in the 2nd), then drink Zamzam water.
3. Sa'i — 7 Rounds Between Safa and Marwah
Begin at As-Safa. Recite the Qur'anic verse (Al-Baqarah 2:158): "Innas-safa wal-marwata min sha'aa'irillaah..." At each round's end recite the full dhikr beginning with "Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la ilaha illallahu wahdahu..." Men run between the green markers; women walk at a normal pace. Complete 7 rounds, finishing at Al-Marwah (Safa→Marwah = 1 round).
4. Shaving / Trimming Hair (Tahallul)
After completing Sa'i: men shave the entire head (preferable) or trim equally from all over; women cut approximately one-third of a finger-length of hair. All restrictions of Ihram are now lifted. Umrah is complete.
Types of Hajj
Tamattu'
Perform Umrah first, exit Ihram, then re-enter Ihram for Hajj in the prescribed months. Considered the best of the three forms; Prophet Muhammad ﷺ urged his companions to choose this. Udhiya (sacrifice/Qurbani) is required.
Qiraan
Perform Umrah and Hajj together in a single Ihram without exiting between them. Udhiya is also required for this type.
Ifraad
Perform Hajj only, without Umrah. No Udhiya is required. If you also choose to perform Umrah, it is done separately before or after Hajj.
Hajj Day-by-Day Overview
| Day / Date | Key Acts |
|---|---|
| 8th Dhul-Hijjah (Yawmut-Tarwiyah) | Enter Ihram, make intention for Hajj, travel to Mina, pray Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha and Fajr in Mina, engage in worship. |
| 9th Dhul-Hijjah (Yawmu 'Arafah) | Go to Arafat after sunrise. Stand at Jabalur-Rahmah or anywhere in Arafat facing Qiblah. Pray Dhuhr & Asr. Make du'a, seek forgiveness, recite La ilaha ill Allah wahdahu... After sunset go to Muzdalifah. |
| Night of Muzdalifah | Pray Maghrib & Isha combined. Collect 70 pebbles (chickpea-sized). Sleep. Pray Fajr. |
| 10th Dhul-Hijjah (Yawmun-Nahr) | Stone Jamaratul-'Aqabah al-Kubra (7 pebbles, Allahu Akbar each throw). Perform Udhiya (sacrifice). Shave/trim hair. Remove Ihram. Perform Tawaaful-Ifaadhah in Makkah. Perform Sa'i. |
| 11th–12th Dhul-Hijjah | Return to Mina. Stone all 3 Jamarat after Zawaal (7 pebbles each, 21/day). Can leave Mina before sunset on 12th. |
| 13th Dhul-Hijjah (optional) | Stone all 3 Jamarat if still in Mina. Leave for Makkah. |
| Before final departure | Perform Tawaaful-Wada' (Farewell Tawaf) as the last act before leaving Makkah. |
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Answered Hajj & Umrah Questions
Browse authentic Q&A already answered by the Mufti — or ask your own below.
Can I perform Umrah without a mahram if I am travelling with a group?
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Apakah Umrah boleh dilakukan dengan bajet terhad, dan apakah ada pakej ekonomi yang diiktiraf?
Ya, Umrah boleh dilakukan dengan bajet terhad. Umrah itu sendiri tidak memerlukan perbelanjaan besar — yang utama ialah niat, ihram, tawaf, sa'i dan t...
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احرام میں عورت کے لیے مندرجہ ذیل چیزیں ممنوع ہیں: 1. چہرہ اور ہاتھوں کا کھلا رکھنا (نقاب اور دستانے پہننا ممنوع ہے)۔ 2. خوشبو کا استعمال۔ 3. بال کاٹنا...
Can a woman perform Umrah without a mahram?
According to the predominant view of the majority of scholars (the four madhahib), a woman is required to travel for Umrah with a mahram. This is base...
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About the Mufti
Mufti Zaheer Mangerah is a qualified Haafidh, Aalim, and Mufti based in South Africa. He completed his Iftaa (Fatwa qualification) at the prestigious Taleemuddeen Institute and serves as a teacher, principal, and Imaam. He reads English, Arabic and Urdu and answers questions on Hajj, Umrah and Islamic jurisprudence.
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The answers provided are for general Islamic guidance on Hajj and Umrah and reflect the opinion of the answering scholar. They should not replace personal consultation for complex religious, legal, or medical matters.