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The ʿUmrah (Arabic: عُمرَة‎, lit. ‘”to visit a populated place”‘) is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims, that can be undertaken at any time of the year, in contrast to the Ḥajj (/hædʒ/;^[1] Arabic: حَجّ‎ Ḥaǧǧ “pilgrimage“), which has specific dates according to the Islamic lunar calendar.

In accordance to Sharia law, as for both pilgrimages, a Muslim must first assume Ihram, a state of purification achieved by completing cleansing rituals, wearing the prescribed attire, and abstaining from certain actions. This must be attained when reaching a Miqat, a principal boundary point in Mecca, like Zu ‘l-Hulafa, Juhfa, Qarnu ‘l-Manāzil, Yalamlam, Zāt-i-‘Irq, Ibrahīm Mursīa, or a place in al-Hill. Different conditions exist for air travelers, who must observe Ihram once entering a specific perimeter in the city.

Umrah requires Muslims to perform two key rituals, Tawaf and Sa’i. Tawaf is a circling round the Ka‘bah (Arabic: كَـعْـبَـة‎, “House of God”). For men, it is recommended to do the first three circuits in a hurried pace, followed by four rounds of a more leisurely pace. This is followed by Sa’i between Safa and Marwah in the Great Mosque of Mecca, a walk to commemorate Hagar‘s search for water for her son and God’s mercy in answering prayers. Pilgrims conclude the pilgrimage with Halq, a partial or complete shortening of the hair.