1. If you plan to go to Makkah first for Umrah
   

   Enter into Ihram at your residence or at the airport before boarding the airplane and it will sure fly over whatever miqat (station of Ihram) falls on the way. It is allowed to do so before miqat but not after that point. This is advisable because the crew members don’t announce when miqat comes. You may enter into Ihram inside the plane when it is flying high up in the sky but it is not convenient to change your clothes and put on Ihram sheets and there is noproper place to offer prayers. By the way, these instructions are for independent pilgrims. If you travel with a group, follow the instructions given by the group leader. The main thing is that you should be in the state of Ihram at or before meqat.

    

    

2. If you want to visit Madinah before Umrah
   

   Some people will like to visit Madinah first before going to Makkah for Umrah. This is more convenient than the first choice because you are not involved with Ihram or the restrictions that go with it. Ihram is not required for the visitation of the Prophet (PBUH)’s mosque or his sacred tomb. Then, when you are ready for Umrah, you go to Masjid Meeqat in Madinah, enter into Ihram and proceed to Makkah.

    

3. Umrah alone or along with Hajj?
   Umrah is performed alone or as part of Hajj al-Qiran or Hajj al-Tamatt’u. For those people who do not take sacrificial animals with them, Hajj al-Tamatt’u is preferable which is performed by almost all people who travel to Makkah from outside. In Hajj al-Tamatt’u, first you perform Umrah, then come out of Ihram and when the Hajj time comes, you enter into Ihram again in Makkah.

    

4. Procedure to Enter into Ihram
   So, the Ihram you are entering into now is for Umrah only.

   Preparation: You should have your hair cut (if needed), unnecessary body hair removed, mustache trimmed and nails pared. Then take a bath with the intention of Ihram or do vudu (ablutions) if bath is not possible.

   Ihram: After this, put on two seamless garments of Ihram preferably of white color.

   Two Nafls: If it is not zawaal, offer two rak’ahs of nafil prayers by covering your head.

   Intention (Niyyah): Now remove the head cover and make the intention to perform Umrah by saying:

    

   • Labbayka Umrah, or

   • O Allah, I intend to perform Umrah to please you, so accept it from me and make it easy for me.

   You may make intention of Umrah in your own language.

Talbiyah: After the intention, recite Talbiyah three times. Pronouncing Talbiyah once is imperative (Fard) and pronouncing it more than once is Sunnah.

The following are the words of Talbiyah which you should memorize before leaving for this sacred journey because you have to pronounce them frequently:

 

"Labbayk, Allahumma Labbayk. Labbayk. La shareeka laka. Labbayk. Innal-hamda wan-n’imata laka wal-mulk. La shareeka lak."

(Here we come, O Allah, here we come! Here we come. No partner have You. Here we come! Praise indeed, and blessings, are Yours---the Kingdom too! No partner have You!)

As soon as Talbiyah is pronounced, you are entered into the state of Ihram and all the obligations of Ihram start which are the same in Umrah or Hajj.

One should continue reciting Talbiyah in a loud voice and it should be pronounced thrice each time. Women have to recite Talbiyah in subdued voice if men other than her immediate relatives are around.

Prohibitions of Ihram

All pilgrims, in the state of Ihram, are forbidden to cover their heads (for men), hunt, argue, cut their hair or nails, kill flies, mosquitoes and lice, use perfume, or engage in sexual relations. A woman may wear any dress for Ihram as long as it does not show her adornments, or cause temptation to men. She is forbidden to wear gloves, apply mehndi or to cover her face, but if male strangers are around her, she should conceal her face with her head-covering or something similar making sure it does not touch her face.

At the Jeddah Airport

When you arrive at Jeddah airport, you go through custom’s formalities and then move to a waiting area until you are boarded in the buses headed for Mecca. Here you can expect a long delay because the authorities have to make arrangement for a large number of people.

On the way to Mecca

While moving to Mecca, which is about 72 kilometers away, you should be in the prescribed state of Ihram and should continue proclaiming Talbiyah as often as you can. When Mecca is about 23 kilometers far, there is a big overhead sign reading "Makkah------Muslims Only". Here the boundaries of Mecca start and non-Muslims are not allowed to go beyond this point.

Arrival in Mecca

When you enter Mecca, you should be reciting Talbiyah with great enthusiasm and fondness. Here you may rent a suitable room in a building for yourself and your companions, if any, and shift there along with your luggage.

Accommodation and Shopping

The room you rent is usually shared by three or four people unless all the members of your family occupy a room. You also share a bathroom and a kitchen with a stove and a refrigerator. But it is convenient to buy take out food, which is available at reasonable prices, and use most of your time for prayers in the House of Allah. If you buy a dish of meat or vegetables, three breads are given free and all this is usually enough for two persons. All the necessities of life and Hajj and Umrah items, such as Haji mats, money belts, thermos, slippers, etc., are available.

Masjid al-Haram and the Holy Ka’bah

Now go to Masjid al-Haram, which encloses the Holy Ka’bah in the middle, to offer prayers (if it is a prayer time) and to perform Umrah which is described later. Here, there is a separate arrangement for men and women to make necessary ablutions (vudu).