What is Umrah?

Umrah is known as a sacred pilgrimage to the Holy City of Makah. Pilgrims can perform Umrah at any time of the year, unlike Hajj. Although it is not obligatory, it is highly recommended, and every Muslim must perform it at least once in a lifetime.

What is Hajj?

Hajj is the fard ibadah of Islam and an obligatory act for Muslims. Every Muslim performs it once in a lifetime if they are physically and financially stable. It is performed on 9 and 10 Dul Hijjah.

Obligatory or not obligatory?

Umrah

Umrah is not a compulsory act. It is a beloved Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (May peace be upon him). Those who can afford it must perform it once in a lifetime.

Hajj

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. It is a compulsory act for Muslims who can afford the expenses of Hajj.

Types of Umrah:

• Umrah al-Mufradah: It is performed independently of Hajj and can be performed at any time of the year except during the Hajj season.
• Umrah al-Tamattu: It is performed with the Hajj before the beginning of the Hajj.

Types of Hajj:

• Hajj Tamattu: It is recommended for non-residents of Makah who first perform Umrah before Hajj.
• Hajj Ifrad: It is recommended for those who are residents of Makkah, in which pilgrims perform only hajj.
• Hajj Qiran: Where pilgrims enter the state of ihram with the intention for both Umrah and Hajj.

How much time is required for Hajj and Umrah?

For Hajj

Hajj can be performed during a specific time of the month of Dul Hijjah (8 to 12 Dul Hijjah).

For Umrah

Umrah can be performed at any time of the year. You can also perform it in the Hajj season.

How much duration does Umrah and Hajj take?

For Hajj

Hajj takes 4 to 5 days to complete. Some pilgrims stay longer for the ziyarah purpose.

For Umrah

Umrah takes 3 to 5 hours; it may take a longer duration due to crowd conditions.

Rituals of Hajj

• Wear Ihram: A state of purity in which men wear two pieces of white unstitched cloth. Women can wear any simple clothes that do not cover their face and hands.
• Perform tawaf: it includes circumambulating around the Holy Kaaba (seven times).
• Perform Sai: it includes seven rounds between the mountains of Safa and Marwah.
• Stay at Arafat: people gather at Arafat and stay at Arafat till the morning.
• Stay at Muzdalifah: people stay at Muzdalifah under the open sky, not in tents or in any accommodation.
• Stoning at devil (Rami): pilgrims throw stones at the devil (jamarat), indicating the refusal of devil.
• Sacrifice to an animal: Pilgrims sacrifice an animal at the end of the pilgrimage.
• Halq and Taqsir: after sacrificing the animals, the pilgrim cut or shaves their hair.
• Tawaf al-ifadah: A compulsory tawaf performed around the holy Kaaba after completing the main rituals of Hajj. Tawaf al-wida pilgrims perform the last tawaf before leaving Kaba.

Rituals of Umrah

• Ihram: Pilgrims enter the state of physical and spiritual purity by wearing special garments for the intention of Umrah.
• Perform tawaf: pilgrims complete seven circles around the Holy Kaaba.
• Perform Sai: walking between the mountains of Safa and Marwah seven times.
• Halq and Taqsir: In the last step of Umrah, men shave or trim their hair, or women cut only one inch of hair.

FAQs

Can Umrah be performed during Hajj?

Yes, pilgrims can perform Umrah in the hajj season.

What are the types of Umrah?

Umrah al-Mufradah and Umrah al-Tammatu are the types of Umrah.