Many first-time pilgrims worry about reading "the right dua" in each circuit of Tawaf. In fact there is no fixed, obligatory dua for any circuit or lap. A few words are reported from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ at particular points; the rest of the time you may supplicate in Urdu, English or any language, from the heart. Below are those words with their sources, and some duas from the Qur'an you may wish to include.

The Talbiyah

Recited after making the niyyah of Ihram and repeated often until you begin Tawaf. Men say it aloud, women in a lower voice.

لَبَّيْكَ اللّٰهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ

Labbayk Allahumma labbayk, labbayka la sharika laka labbayk, innal-hamda wan-ni'mata laka wal-mulk, la sharika lak.

"Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. All praise, blessings and sovereignty belong to You. You have no partner." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

Starting Tawaf at the Black Stone

Face the Black Stone, or the line that marks it, make the intention for Tawaf and, as you kiss it, touch it or raise your hand towards it, say:

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ وَاللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ

Bismillahi wallahu akbar: "In the name of Allah, and Allah is the Greatest."

Sahih al-Bukhari reports that the Prophet ﷺ said "Allahu akbar" each time he pointed to the Black Stone; adding "Bismillah" is reported from Ibn 'Umar. Say it at the start of every circuit.

During the circuits

There is no set dua between the corners. Praise Allah, send salawat on the Prophet ﷺ, recite the Qur'an and ask for whatever you need in your own words. Two duas that suit this place well:

رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

Rabbana taqabbal minna innaka antas-Sami'ul-'Alim: "Our Lord, accept from us; You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing." This was the dua of Prophets Ibrahim and Isma'il (peace be upon them) as they raised the foundations of the Kaaba (Qur'an 2:127).

اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa fa'fu 'anni: "O Allah, You are Most Forgiving and You love to forgive, so forgive me." (Sunan al-Tirmidhi)

Between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina 'adhaban-nar: "Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire." (Qur'an 2:201; its recitation here is reported in Sunan Abi Dawud)

After Tawaf: Maqam Ibrahim and two rak'ahs

As you approach Maqam Ibrahim, recite, as the Prophet ﷺ did according to the hadith of Jabir in Sahih Muslim:

وَاتَّخِذُوا مِنْ مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى

Wattakhidhu min maqami Ibrahima musalla: "And take the standing place of Ibrahim as a place of prayer." (Qur'an 2:125)

Then pray two rak'ahs behind it if there is space, or anywhere in the mosque. It is Sunnah to recite Surah al-Kafirun in the first rak'ah and Surah al-Ikhlas in the second. Afterwards drink Zamzam and make dua; the Prophet ﷺ said that Zamzam water is for whatever it is drunk for (Sunan Ibn Majah).

At Safa, beginning Sa'i

As you approach Safa at the start of the first lap only, recite:

إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللّٰهِ

Innas-Safa wal-Marwata min sha'a'irillah: "Indeed, Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah." (Qur'an 2:158)

أَبْدَأُ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللّٰهُ بِهِ

Abda'u bima bada'Allahu bih: "I begin with what Allah began with."

Then climb a little, face the Kaaba, raise your hands in dua and say, as reported in the hadith of Jabir in Sahih Muslim:

اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ

لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ، أَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ، وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ، وَهَزَمَ الْأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ

Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar. La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir. La ilaha illallahu wahdah, anjaza wa'dah, wa nasara 'abdah, wa hazamal-ahzaba wahdah.

"Allah is the Greatest (three times). There is no god but Allah alone, without partner; His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He has power over all things. There is no god but Allah alone; He fulfilled His promise, helped His servant and alone defeated the confederates."

Say this three times, making your own dua in between. Do the same each time you reach Marwah, and Safa again, during the seven laps.

Between the green lights

Men walk briskly between the green lights; women walk normally. The following dua for this stretch is reported from the Companions Ibn Mas'ud and Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them):

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْأَعَزُّ الْأَكْرَمُ

Rabbighfir warham, innaka antal-a'azzul-akram: "My Lord, forgive and have mercy; You are the Most Mighty, the Most Generous."

For the rest of each lap, make dua freely, remember Allah or recite the Qur'an.

Remembering your family back home

Before you travel, write down the names and requests of everyone who asked you to pray for them, and go through the list during Tawaf and Sa'i. The Prophet ﷺ said that when a Muslim prays for his brother in his absence, an angel says, "And for you the same" (Sahih Muslim). Two Qur'anic duas for parents and family:

رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا

Rabbir-hamhuma kama rabbayani saghira: "My Lord, have mercy on them, as they raised me when I was small." (Qur'an 17:24)

رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا

Rabbana hab lana min azwajina wa dhurriyyatina qurrata a'yunin waj'alna lil-muttaqina imama: "Our Lord, grant us joy in our spouses and children, and make us leaders of the God-conscious." (Qur'an 25:74)

Etiquette in Tawaf and Sa'i

• Understand what you say. A short dua from the heart is better than a long text you cannot follow.
• Keep your voice low. In a group, avoid loud recitation in chorus that disturbs the people around you.
• Do not stop in the flow of Tawaf for long duas; keep walking or move to the side.
• Raise your hands for dua at Safa and Marwah. In Tawaf, the hands are raised towards the Black Stone at the start of each circuit, not for dua while walking.
• Be patient and gentle with the crowd, the elderly and those in wheelchairs, and avoid arguments.
• Put your phone away. Photos and video calls take your attention from some of the most precious hours of your life.

Take the duas with you

Our free Masnoon duas, together with an Umrah guide in English and Urdu and a packing checklist, are on the resources page; it helps to read them before you travel. If you are planning your Umrah, you are welcome to look at our Umrah packages or speak to us. And please remember us in your duas.