Short answer
In the Hanafi school umrah has ihram as its condition and tawaf (at least four rounds) as its pillar. Sa'i between Safa and Marwah and shaving or trimming the hair are wajib, so missing one requires a dam. Umrah has no farewell tawaf in the Hanafi school.
Ihram is a condition; the majority of the seven rounds of tawaf is the pillar; completing the seven rounds, sa'i, and shaving or trimming are wajib. The wajibs inside tawaf, such as wudu and starting at the Black Stone, also apply.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- The pillars are ihram, tawaf, sa'i, shaving or trimming, and their order.
- Maliki and Hanbali
- The pillars are ihram, tawaf and sa'i; shaving or trimming is wajib.
Explanation
Umrah is short: ihram, tawaf, sa'i and the cut. Its full steps and duas are in our umrah guide. This entry explains what is essential and what a mistake costs.
- Condition: ihram from the miqat, with the intention and talbiyah (see niyyah for umrah).
- Pillar: tawaf, at least four rounds. Without it there is no umrah, and no sacrifice replaces it.
- Wajib: the last three rounds of tawaf. Leaving even one of them requires a dam unless you go back and complete them.
- Wajib: sa'i, seven laps starting at Safa, after the tawaf. Leaving it requires a dam (see sa'i).
- Wajib: shaving or trimming inside the Haram (see shaving and forgot to cut).
- Wajibs of tawaf: wudu, covering the awrah, keeping the Kaaba on your left, going round the Hijr, walking if able. The two rakats after tawaf are also wajib, but no dam is due for them.
- Sunnahs: ghusl before ihram, the two rakats of ihram, idtiba and raml (see idtiba and raml), touching the Black Stone and drinking zamzam.
A farewell tawaf is not wajib for umrah in the Hanafi school, though doing one before leaving Makkah is good. For penalties, see dam.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:158
۞ إِنَّ ٱلصَّفَا وَٱلْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَآئِرِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَمَنْ حَجَّ ٱلْبَيْتَ أَوِ ٱعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا ۚ وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًۭا فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿١٥٨﴾
Indeed, as-Safa and al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever makes Hajj to the House or performs 'umrah - there is no blame upon him for walking between them. And whoever volunteers good - then indeed, Allah is appreciative and Knowing.
Sa'i is a rite of umrah.
Quran, Surah Al-Fath 48:27
لَّقَدْ صَدَقَ ٱللَّهُ رَسُولَهُ ٱلرُّءْيَا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۖ لَتَدْخُلُنَّ ٱلْمَسْجِدَ ٱلْحَرَامَ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ءَامِنِينَ مُحَلِّقِينَ رُءُوسَكُمْ وَمُقَصِّرِينَ لَا تَخَافُونَ ۖ فَعَلِمَ مَا لَمْ تَعْلَمُوا۟ فَجَعَلَ مِن دُونِ ذَٰلِكَ فَتْحًۭا قَرِيبًا ﴿٢٧﴾
Certainly has Allah showed 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, not fearing [anyone]. He knew what you did not know and has arranged before that a conquest near [at hand].
Shaving or trimming completes umrah.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1545
Sahih... فطاف بالبيت وسعى بين الصفا والمروة ...
"He performed tawaf of the House and sa'i between Safa and Marwah."
Tawaf then sa'i are the core of umrah.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Hajj, chapter on umrah. Umrah is ihram, tawaf, sa'i and shaving or trimming.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Hajj, on the pillar and wajibs of umrah. Most of the tawaf is the pillar; sa'i and shaving are wajib.
- al-Mughni (Ibn Qudama), Kitab al-Hajj, on the pillars of umrah. The Hanbali view that sa'i is a pillar.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.