Performing a Second Umrah in One Trip
Many pilgrims who stay in Makkah for several days want to perform Umrah again, for themselves or on behalf of a parent who has died or cannot travel. The usual way is to leave the Haram boundary, enter ihram again at Tan'im, where Masjid Aisha stands, and return to perform the rites.
Before the how, there is a whether. Scholars hold different views on repeating Umrah within one trip. This guide sets out those views fairly, then covers the practical steps, the permit question, and how to avoid wearing yourself out. It is planning information, not a ruling. Follow your own scholar.
What scholars say about repeating Umrah
Scholars agree that Umrah may be performed more than once in a lifetime and that it is a great act of worship. They differ on performing several Umrahs during a single stay in Makkah.
- One view holds that repeating Umrah is good and recommended whenever a person is able. Those who hold it point to the general virtue of Umrah and to Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, performing Umrah from Tan'im with the Prophet's permission, peace be upon him.
- Another view holds that going out of Makkah again and again for new Umrahs within one visit was not the regular practice of the Prophet, peace be upon him, or his companions. Scholars of this view advise spending the time in Tawaf, prayer and dua in the Haram instead. Some of them suggest leaving a gap between Umrahs, and some describe the gap as the time it takes for the hair to grow back.
Both views are held by respected scholars. Ask the scholar you follow before your trip, so that you are not deciding in a taxi queue in Makkah.
Where to enter ihram: Tan'im and other points
A person already in Makkah enters ihram for Umrah from outside the Haram boundary. The nearest point, and the one almost everyone uses, is Tan'im, where Masjid Aisha stands. It is a short drive north of the Haram.
Other points outside the boundary are also valid, such as Ji'ranah, which is further away. Some ziyarat tours include a stop at one of them so that pilgrims who wish can enter ihram there. You do not need to go back to one of the five main miqat points for this. They apply to people arriving from outside. See our miqat guide for the difference.
Masjid Aisha has washing and changing facilities and is busy at most hours. Taxis, ride-hailing cars and public buses run between the Haram area and the mosque. Routes, stops and fares change, so ask your hotel reception for the current easiest way.
Step by step
The rites of a second Umrah are the same as the first. Only the starting point differs.
- Prepare at your hotel. Bathe if you can. Men put on the ihram garments at the hotel, which is easier than changing at the mosque. Women wear their normal modest clothing.
- Travel to Tan'im. Agree the fare before you set off if you take a taxi. Many drivers offer a return trip with waiting time.
- Pray if the time allows, then make the intention for Umrah. If it is on behalf of someone else, name that person in your intention. Begin the Talbiyah.
- Return to the Haram and perform Tawaf, seven circuits.
- Pray two units after Tawaf where there is space, and drink Zamzam.
- Perform Sai, seven lengths between Safa and Marwah.
- Cut or shave the hair to leave ihram.
All the restrictions of ihram apply again from the moment of intention until the hair is cut. Review ihram rules explained, and use how to perform Umrah step by step or the guided Umrah in the offline companion for the rites and duas.
Permits and Nusuk
Check the Nusuk app before you plan a second Umrah. Saudi authorities manage crowding in the Haram through permits booked on Nusuk, and the rules on when a permit is needed, and how soon a person can book another, have changed several times in recent years. They may also differ by season, with tighter controls in Ramadan.
We will not guess at the current rule. Open the app, look at what it offers for your dates, and follow it. If the app will not let you book a further permit yet, that is your answer for now. Our Nusuk Umrah permit guide explains how permit booking works, and Nusuk app troubleshooting covers permits that do not show up.
Carry your phone with the live permit when you go, and take a screenshot as a backup in case the signal is poor.
Cutting the hair the second time
This is the most common practical question from men. If you shaved your head after the first Umrah, there is little or nothing left to cut a few days later.
- Many scholars say a man with a shaved head passes the razor over his head again, and that is enough.
- Some pilgrims who plan two Umrahs choose to trim after the first and shave after the second. Trimming is valid, though shaving carries more reward for men according to the well known hadith. Ask your scholar how to balance this if you plan to repeat.
- Women trim a small amount from the ends of the hair, about a fingertip's length, each time.
Use a licensed barber shop. There are many near the Haram. Avoid people offering to cut hair with shared scissors or blades at the end of Sai. It is a hygiene risk, and men are generally not meant to cut the hair of women who are not their close relatives.
Umrah on behalf of someone else
Performing Umrah for a person who has died, or who is permanently unable to travel, is widely accepted among scholars. The conditions commonly mentioned are these:
- You have already performed your own Umrah first.
- Each Umrah is for one person. You cannot make one Umrah for two parents together.
- You make the intention on that person's behalf when you enter ihram.
- Scholars differ on doing it for a living person who is able to travel. Most do not allow it.
Details vary between schools, so check your own case. The same ideas appear in our Umrah dos and don'ts.
Pacing yourself
A second Umrah adds a trip across town and several kilometres of walking. Do not plan it for the day after your first, and do not plan one every day.
- Leave at least a day or two of rest after your first Umrah, and more if you arrived on a long flight.
- Choose a quieter hour. Late night and mid-morning are often calmer than the periods just after prayers. See best times for Tawaf.
- In hot months, avoid the middle of the day and carry water. See heat safety for pilgrims.
- Look after your feet. Blisters from the first Umrah get worse on the second.
- Do not push elderly relatives into a second Umrah. A wheelchair is an option for them. See wheelchairs and assistance for Umrah.
Think of other pilgrims too. In peak periods the mataf is crowded with people performing their first and only Umrah. This is one of the reasons some scholars advise against repeating in busy seasons.
If you decide not to repeat
If your scholar advises against repeating, or the permit system does not allow it, you lose nothing. Your time in Makkah can be filled with worship that needs no ihram:
- Voluntary Tawaf, as often as you are able.
- The five daily prayers in the Haram, and the night prayer.
- Reading the Quran and making dua. Our Umrah dua guide has a collection to draw from.
- Charity in Makkah, given through trustworthy channels.
See what to do in Makkah for more ideas.
If a second Umrah matters to you, plan for it when you book. You need enough nights in Makkah to rest between the two, and a hotel close enough that the extra walking is manageable. Request quotes from independent operators and tell them you want time for a second Umrah, so they can suggest the right split of nights.