Ḥajj and ʿUmrah are among the greatest acts of worship in Islam. They are journeys of the heart as much as the body — and at every stage, the tongue of the pilgrim should be busy with duʾāʾ, dhikr, and ṣalawāt upon the Prophet ﷺ. Here is a guide to the most essential supplications for each stage of the pilgrimage.
1. Duʾāʾ for Travelling
Before departing for Ḥajj or ʿUmrah, recite:
Bismillāh, waʽs-ṣalātu waʽs-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Allāhumma inni asʾaluka fī safarī hādhā al-birra waʽt-taqwā, wa minaʿl-ʿamali mā tarḍā.
“In the name of Allah. O Allah, I ask You in this journey of mine for righteousness and God-consciousness, and for deeds that please You.” (adapted from Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
2. The Talbīyah — The Call of the Pilgrim
Upon entering Iḥrām, the pilgrim begins reciting the Talbīyah continuously:
Labbayka Allāhumma labbayk. Labbayka lā sharīka laka labbayk. Innaʿl-ḥamda waʽn-niʿmata laka wal-mulk. Lā sharīka lak.
“Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Verily all praise, blessing and sovereignty belong to You. You have no partner.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
3. Duʾāʾ Upon Entering the Masjid al-Ḥarām
Allāhumma antaʽs-salāmu wa minkaʽs-salām, fa-ḥayyinā Rabbanā biʽs-salām.
“O Allah, You are Peace and from You comes peace. Keep us alive, our Lord, in peace.”
4. Duʾāʾ Upon First Seeing the Kaʾbah
The first sight of the Kaʾbah is one of the moments when duʾāʾ is most readily accepted. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Duʾāʾ at the first sight of the Kaʾbah is accepted.” Raise your hands and ask for whatever your heart desires.
Allāhumma zid hādhaʿl-bayta tashrīfan wa taʿzīman wa takrīman wa barān. Allāhumma antaʽs-salāmu wa minkaʽs-salām, ḥayyinā Rabbanā biʽs-salām.
“O Allah, increase this House in honour, reverence, nobility and awe. O Allah, You are peace, from You comes peace, keep us alive, O our Lord, in peace.”
5. Duʾāʾ at al-Ṣafā
Upon ascending al-Ṣafā, face the Kaʾbah and recite:
Lā ilāha ill-Allāh waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahuʿl-mulku wa lahuʿl-ḥamd, wa huwa ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīr.
“There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. To Him belongs all sovereignty and praise, and He is over all things capable.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, no. 1218)
6. The Duʾāʾ of ʿArafah — The Greatest Day
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The best duʾāʾ is the duʾāʾ of the Day of ʿArafah, and the best that I and the Prophets before me have said is: Lā ilāha ill-Allāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahuʿl-mulku wa lahuʿl-ḥamd, wa huwa ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīr.” (al-Tirmidhī, no. 3585)
On ʿArafah, stand facing the Qiblah, raise your hands, and pour your heart out to Allah ﷻ. There is no moment in the pilgrim’s life more precious than this. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Ḥajj is ʿArafah.” (Ṣaḥīḥ by al-Tirmidhī)
7. Duʾāʾ Upon Returning Home
Āyibūna tāʾibuūna ʾfābidūna, li-Rabbinā ḥāmidūn.
“We return, repentant, worshipping, and praising our Lord.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
May Allah ﷻ accept the Ḥajj and ʿUmrah of all those who make this blessed journey, return them safely to their families, and grant those who have not yet gone the means and the opportunity to stand before His Sacred House. Āmīn.
