Tawaf: Circumambulating the Kaaba
Tawaf means walking around the Kaaba seven times. You walk counter-clockwise, and you start at the Black Stone.
You don’t have to say Surahs while doing Tawaf. You can say any part of the Quran or make your own personal dua. Here are some verses and Surahs for Umrah that you can recite.
- Surah Al-Fatiha
- Ayat-ul-Kursi (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:255)
- Surah Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Nas
Between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone, it’s a Sunnah to say:
“Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah, wa fil-akhirati hasanah, wa qina ‘adhaban-nar.”
(Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.) – Surah Al-Baqarah (2:201)
Two Rak’ahs at Maqam Ibrahim
After you finish Tawaf, you’ll pray two rak’ahs of prayer behind Maqam Ibrahim if you can. For these prayers, people usually say these chapters (Surahs):
- First Rak’ah: Surah Al-Kafirun (109)
- Second Rak’ah: Surah Al-Ikhlas (112)
This is what Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did, as mentioned in different hadiths (like in Sahih Muslim, Book of Hajj).
Sa’i, Walking Between Safa and Marwah
Sa’i is when you walk between the hills of Safa and Marwah seven times. This reminds us of the story of Hajar, Prophet Ismail’s mother, who ran between these hills looking for water for his son.
At the start of Sa’i, when you go up Safa, it’s a Sunnah to say:
“Indeed, Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah…”
– Surah Al-Baqarah (2:158)
You must recite this verse once at the start of Sa’i
During the walk, pilgrims can say:
- Any short Surahs
- Personal duas
- General dhikr such as:
- SubhanAllah
- Alhamdulillah
- La ilaha illallah
- Allahu Akbar
It is also common to recite salawat (PBUH).
Hair Cutting/Shaving, Tahallul
The last step of Umrah is when men shave their heads, or women cut a small piece of their hair.
Allah says in Surah Al-Fath (48:27):
“Certainly has Allah shown to His Messenger the vision in truth. You will surely enter al-Masjid al-Haram, if Allah wills, in safety, with your heads shaved and [hair] shortened…”
This action simply shows you are humble and obedient to Allah.
General Dhikr and Quran Recitation Throughout Umrah
Apart from these steps, pilgrims should always think of Allah. They can do this by remembering Him often (dhikr), reading the Quran, and sending prayers to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
You can use these adhkar:
- Morning and evening adhkar
- Surah Al-Mulk (67) at night
- Surah Al-Kahf (18) on Fridays
Final Words
You don’t have to say specific Surahs during Umrah. But the verses and prayers listed in this blog post are what the Prophet taught and what many scholars and pilgrims commonly do. The most important thing is to do Umrah with a sincere heart, being humble, and giving it your full attention. When you read the Quran during Umrah, it will help you feel more connected spiritually and make your time in the holy land even more special. If you are planning to perform Umrah in 2026 and are looking for Umrah Packages 2026, keeping these suggested verses in mind can make your journey more special and help you feel closer to the Quran’s teachings.
