What is Hajj and Umrah?

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What is Hajj and Umrah?

Contents

1 What is Hajj and Umrah?

Hajj – The Major Pilgrimage

Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah (Mecca) in Saudi Arabia. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, making it a religious obligation for every Muslim to perform at least once in their lifetime, if they are physically and financially able.

Key Facts About Hajj:

Time of Year: Performed only during Dhul Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar.
Duration: Usually lasts 5 to 6 days.
Purpose: To show devotion, obedience, and equality before Allah.
Activities include:
- Wearing Ihram (simple white clothing)
- Tawaf (circling the Kaaba)
- Sa’i (walking between Safa and Marwah)
- Standing at Arafat (the most important day of Hajj)
- Stoning the devil in Mina
- Qurbani (animal sacrifice)

Hajj is a deeply spiritual experience and brings together millions of Muslims from around the world.

Umrah – The Minor Pilgrimage

Umrah is a non-obligatory pilgrimage that Muslims can perform at any time of the year, also in Makkah.

Key Facts About Umrah:

Timing: Can be performed any time, not just in Dhul Hijjah.
Duration: Takes only a few hours to one day to complete.
Activities include:
- Wearing Ihram
- Tawaf around the Kaaba
- Sa’i between Safa and Marwah
- Shaving or trimming hair (for men) / trimming a small portion of hair (for women)

Unlike Hajj, Umrah is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended (Sunnah) and brings many spiritual rewards.

Difference Between Hajj and Umrah:

Feature	Hajj	Umrah
Obligation	Mandatory (if capable)	Recommended (not obligatory)
Timing	Only during Dhul Hijjah	Any time of the year
Duration	5–6 days	A few hours to one day
Rituals Included	Includes Arafat, Mina, and Qurbani	Does not include these rituals
Reward	Forgiveness and spiritual rebirth	Great reward, but not equal to Hajj

In Summary

Hajj is the main pilgrimage, required once in a lifetime.
Umrah is the shorter pilgrimage, voluntary but spiritually rewarding.
Both are acts of worship done solely for Allah and involve visiting His sacred house, the Kaaba, in Makkah.