3. The Goals of ʿUmrah

ʿUmrah is among the greatest acts of worship, in which you visit the Sacred House of your Lord, seeking His forgiveness and striving for His pleasure. Throughout the journey, keep the following goals of ʿumrah in mind:

1. Renew Tawhid and Ikhlas

At its core, ʿumrah is a journey of tawḥīd (affirming Allah’s Oneness) and ikhlāṣ (sincerity). Allah says:

وَأَتِمُّواْ الْحَجَّ وَالْعُمْرَةَ لِلّٰهِ

“Complete the ḥajj and the ʿumrah for Allah…” (2:196).

Throughout this journey, constantly affirm Allah’s Oneness and strive to attain ikhlāṣ by doing everything to seek the pleasure of Allah Alone. Renew your intentions through every step of the journey. Even ordinary actions — walking, eating, or resting — can become acts of worship when done with sincere intention.

2. Deepen ʿUbudiyyah and Love of Allah

You are performing ʿumrah as an act of submission to your Lord’s command. Throughout your ʿumrah, strive to embody ʿubūdiyyah (true servitude to Allah) by increasing your humility, submission, and unwavering obedience. Infuse every act of worship with deep love and longing for Him.

3. Honour the Sacred Symbols of Allah

One of the purposes of ʿumrah is to train your heart to honour, respect and be in awe of the sacred symbols and boundaries set by Allah.
Allah says:

إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَآئِرِ اللّٰهِ

“Indeed, Ṣafa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah… (2:158)

Allah (subḥānahū wa taʿālā) has chosen certain visible signs: specific places and actions that serve as reminders of Him. These are His shaʿā’ir (symbols), and when you honour them, it shows sincere īmān, deep love, and true taqwā in your heart. In Sūrah al-Ḥajj, Allah (subḥānahū wa taʿālā) says, “…And whoever honours the symbols of Allah — indeed, it is from the piety (taqwā) of hearts” (22:32). On the other hand, ignoring or disrespecting these symbols reflects a weakness in īmān and a lack of fear of Allah.

In essence, when you honour the symbols of Allah, you are honouring and glorifying Allah (subḥānahū wa taʿālā) Himself, and this is the very core of worship. Al-ʿIzz b. ʿAbd al-Salām (raḥimahullāh) writes, “The intended outcome of all acts of worship is to magnify, venerate and be in awe of God.” Honour the ḥaramayn (two sacred sanctuaries in Makkah and Madinah) by obeying Allah and staying away from sins.

4. Develop Taqwa

Develop taqwā through your ʿumrah. Taqwā is to protect yourself from Allah’s wrath and punishment by avoiding His prohibitions and implementing His commands. Just as fasting trains you to attain taqwā by temporarily making lawful things unlawful for yourself, entering iḥrām also makes certain lawful actions unlawful. This serves as a reminder to develop self-discipline.

Throughout your ʿumrah, exercise self-restraint and stay away from sins, especially of the tongue and eyes.

5. Establish Salah With Khushuʿ

Among your foremost goals should be performing the five farḍ prayers to the best of your ability. Be punctual and aim to arrive before the opening takbīr. Alongside the farḍ prayers, give due attention to the sunnah prayers, performing them with calmness and full presence of
heart.

While the outward actions of ṣalāh are important, its essence lies in khushūʿ (humility and full focus). Being in the two sacred sanctuaries should help soften the heart and cultivate humility and attentiveness before Allah. Moreover, ṣalāh in the ḥaramayn carries immense, multiplied reward, so approach every prayer as a rare and precious opportunity to draw closer to Allah and strengthen your bond with Him.

6. Become Attached to the Qur’an

Make the Qurʾān a central companion throughout your ʿumrah, and intend for this companionship to continue beyond the journey. The Qurʾān is not merely to be recited beautifully, but to be understood, reflected upon, and lived by. True recitation increases īmān and deepens awe and love of Allah, and this only occurs through tadabbur (reflection). Use your time in the sacred lands to establish a lasting relationship with the Qurʾān, turning what begins during ʿumrah into a lifelong habit.

7. Practise Mindful Dhikr

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Ṭawāf around the Kaʿbah, walking between Ṣafā and Marwah, and the stoning of the Jamarāt were only prescribed to establish the remembrance of Allah” (Tirmidhī).

Being in sacred places softens the heart and makes it easier to remember Allah with reflection. Use this time to train yourself in mindful dhikr; not just with words, but with full presence of heart. Let it become a habit that stays with you long after your ʿumrah ends. Give particular attention to the morning and evening adhkār, and to remembrance in the last third of the night. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Journey to Allah in the morning, the evening, and a part of the night…” (Bukhārī).

8. Elevate Your Duʿa

Throughout ʿumrah and during your stay in Makkah and Madinah, there are plenty of opportunities to make duʿā’.

Duʿā’ is the essence of recognising who you are and who Allah is. You go to Him with your desperate need, and He responds with endless generosity. Use your ʿumrah trip to develop a habit of munājāh (intimate conversation with Allah) and making heartfelt duʿā’ for long periods of time.

To learn more about the deeper meanings of various adhkār and their virtues, refer to ‘My Dhikr Companion’ and ‘My Duʿa Companion’ or the free Dhikr&Dua app by Life With Allah.

9. Live a Hereafter-Centric Life

ʿUmrah is a reminder of the hereafter. As you enter iḥrām, you strip of worldly comforts, dress in simple garments, resembling the death shroud. As you become indistinguishable from the rest of the crowds, you are reminded of the Day of Judgement.

ʿUmrah reminds us that just as this journey will end, so too will life itself, and we will all return to stand before Allah. Let these constant reminders motivate you to detach yourself from this temporary world and live with a laser focus on Jannah.

10. Serve the Ummah

ʿUmrah is a powerful and inspiring reminder that the Muslim ummah is a vast and powerful force capable of setting a model for global success. Each believer has a role to play in this revival.

Reflect: Look around you and reflect on the state of the pilgrims and the sacred lands. Upon your return, how can you fulfil your duty to the ummah?

ʿUmrah is not merely a trip. It is a powerful chance to renew your covenant with Allah (subḥānahū wa taʿālā). A vow to live and die upon Islam, to devote your life to Him wholeheartedly and serve the ummah of His beloved ﷺ, and to never return to the traps of Shayṭān and his allies.