Umrah is a sacred act of worship that consists of specific obligatory (Fard) and essential rites. To ensure that one’s Umrah is valid and accepted, every pilgrim must correctly perform these duties in the prescribed manner.

Understanding what is obligatory and what is recommended (Sunnah) helps pilgrims avoid mistakes and perform Umrah with confidence and clarity.

What Does “Obligatory” Mean in Umrah?

Obligatory duties in Umrah are acts without which Umrah is incomplete or invalid. Missing any of these duties, without a valid excuse, requires corrective action, and in some cases, the Umrah must be repeated.

Obligations and Important Acts of Umrah

There are four important rites of Umrah, out of which two are Fard (obligatory) and two Wajibat (essential). These compulsory acts in Umrah are as follows:

• To assume Ihram at Meeqat, which is accomplished after a person recites Talbiyah with the intention of Umrah [Fard]
• To perform Tawaf [Fard]
• To perform Sa’ey between the hills of Safa and Marwah [Wajibat]
• Have the head shaved (for men) or hair cut short (for women) [Wajibat]