Umrah Intention, Miqat Dua and Talbiyah

The short answer: the Umrah intention is in the heart, and at the miqat, after putting on ihram, it is Sunnah to say "Labbayka umrah" (Here I am for Umrah). If you fear something may stop you, such as illness, menstruation or delays, add: "If something holds me back, my place of release is wherever You hold me back." Then begin the talbiyah and keep it up until you start tawaf.

This is the first step of Umrah for Women, Step by Step, followed by the dua for tawaf and then the duas of sa'i.

Entering ihram at the miqat

The wording of the Umrah intention

• Intention is an act of the heart: "Actions are only by intentions" (al-Bukhari 1).
• Saying "Labbayka umrah" aloud is an established Sunnah. Long formulas such as "O Allah, I intend Umrah, so make it easy for me" are not reported with that wording.
• If you perform Umrah on behalf of someone, say: "Labbayka umrah on behalf of (name)".

The miqat dua: the condition

The Prophet ﷺ told Duba'ah bint al-Zubayr, who was unwell: "Perform Hajj and make a condition, and say: O Allah, my place of release is wherever You hold me back" (Muslim 1207).

Why it matters: if something prevents you after entering ihram, you leave ihram with nothing owed. It suits anyone who fears an obstacle, such as an ill person or a woman expecting her period on a short trip.

The talbiyah

"Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. All praise, grace and dominion are Yours. You have no partner" (al-Bukhari 1549, Muslim). It answers the call Ibrahim was commanded to make:

• Men raise their voices: "Jibril came to me and told me to command my companions to raise their voices in talbiyah" (Abu Dawud 1814).
• Women say it so that they and the women near them can hear.
• When does it stop? In Umrah, when you begin tawaf at the Black Stone (at-Tirmidhi 919).

The five miqats

The Prophet ﷺ set the first four (al-Bukhari 1524), and Umar set Dhat Irq for the people of Iraq (al-Bukhari 1531). Anyone living inside the miqats enters ihram from home, and residents of Makkah go to the nearest point outside the sanctuary, such as at-Tan'im, for Umrah.

Entering ihram on a plane

• Put on ihram clothes at the airport, before boarding, or on the plane well before the miqat.
• When the crew announce the miqat, or about fifteen minutes before to be safe, make the intention and say "Labbayka umrah".
• Do not wait until Jeddah airport if your flight passes over a miqat; for those coming from the north, Jeddah is inside the miqats.

Common mistakes at the miqat

What comes after ihram?

When you reach the Sacred Mosque you begin with tawaf, so read the dua for tawaf, round by round. And remember the travel dua when you board the plane or car.