Umrah is a visit to the Sacred House with ihram, tawaf, sa‘i, and shaving or shortening the hair. It is obligatory once in a lifetime according to the Shafi‘is and Hanbalis, and a confirmed sunnah according to the Hanafis and Malikis.
The steps
- The pillars according to the majority: ihram, tawaf and sa‘i.
- The obligations: entering ihram from the miqat, and shaving or shortening the hair.
- Everything else is sunnah and recommended, such as the ritual bath, the talbiyah, ramal and idtiba‘.
The evidence
“And complete the Hajj and the Umrah for Allah” (al-Baqarah 2:196). And the Prophet ﷺ said: “One Umrah to the next is an expiation for what is between them” (al-Bukhari 1773, Muslim 1349).
Scholars differ on how to classify sa‘i: a pillar according to the majority, and an obligation according to the Hanafis. Some details differ between the schools, so refer to your own school or scholar when needed.