What is the difference between umrah and hajj

How did Hajj start? What are the rites of Hajj? What is the difference between Hajj and Umrah? The Hajj, sometimes spelt Haj, is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca that Muslims are expected to make at least once in their lifetime. Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam — the others are shahadah declaration of faith ; salat daily prayer ; zakat giving of alms ; sawm fasting in Ramadan.

It is mandatory for Muslim adults to go on Hajj at least once in their lifetime. They must be of sound mind and physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey. Those who complete the pilgrimage can add the title Hajji to their names. The pilgrimage must take place during the month of Dhu al Hijja, the last month of the Islamic calendar. The rites of Hajj are performed from the 8th to the 12th of Dhu al Hijjah.

As the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar year, the date changes in the Gregorian calendar each year, and is 10 to 11 days earlier than the preceding year. In , Hajj is expected to be on or around August 9th. Every year about 2 to 3 million people from across the world gather in Mecca for the Hajj.

It is the largest single gathering of people on the planet. Muslims believe that Ibrahim alaihis salaam was ordered by Allah to leave his wife Hajar and his son Ismail alone in the desert of ancient Mecca. In search of water, Hajar desperately ran seven times between the two hills of Safa and Marwah but found none. Returning in despair to Ismail, she saw the baby scratching the ground with his leg and a water fountain sprang forth at the site.

Pilgrims visit the well while performing Hajj or the Umrah pilgrimage to drink its water. Ihram : When they arrive in Mecca, pilgrims enter the state of ihram purity for the Hajj pilgrimage. All rights reserved. Registered Charity No. Select a Fund. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website.

They then carry out all the duties and rituals of Hajj. A person who performs Hajj al-Tamattu is known as a Mutamatti. A believer has the option of change their niyyah for Hajj ul-Qiran or Ifraad to Tamattu, since this is the most recommended type of Hajj. When it comes to Umrah , there are only two types. Umrah ul Mufradah and Umrah ul Tamattu. Umrah ul Mufradah is performed throughout the year except during the days of Hajj, hence it is independent of Hajj.

Umrah al-Tamattu is performed in conjunction with Hajj, but ends before the commencement of Hajj rituals, i. The procedure in both types of Umrah is the same. Now that we have discussed how Hajj and Umrah differ, it is worthwhile to mention how the two are similar.

Although Hajj and Umrah are both spiritual journeys that enhance your faith and bring you closer to Allah, they are not equal. Hajj is a pillar of Islam, which makes it an obligation for all Muslims.

It is a requirement or qualification for completing their religion. Whereas, Umrah is a choice and a Sunnah. Umrah enhances your faith and brings unlimited blessings, but it is not a requirement of Islam. In terms of spiritual weightage, Hajj holds more value since is renews the Muslim as if they were born again. Hajj and Umrah packages are also different, with Umrah giving Muslims the option of performing it at any time during the year. So, these are some of the major differences between Umrah and Hajj that set them apart from each other.

Many people who are keen to undertake the holy pilgrimages of Umrah and Hajj wonder if they should do hajj or Umrah first.

Since in Islam, Hajj is an obligatory pilgrimage, many people choose to go on the major pilgrimage first. Umrah is the Islamic pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah that can be performed at any time of the year.

My words find inspiration in the most mundane of the things — beads of a rosary, a rehal by the window, rings of incense smoke, and fallen tree leaves. Know more. June 18, Hajj and Umrah are spiritual journeys undertaken by the people following Islam to seek the blessings of Allah.

What is Hajj? What is Umrah? The most important ones are mentioned below: 1. Significance In Islam, both Umrah and Hajj are supposed to offer pilgrims forgiveness and extra merits. Timing Another difference between Hajj and Umrah is the time when one should go on these pilgrimages. Obligatory Acts For Umrah, the obligatory acts include assuming the state of Ihram after declaring the intention of Umrah, performing Tawaf, carrying out Sayi between the hills of Safa and Marwa , and lastly, shaving of the head or clipping a portion of hair.

Time Required for Rituals The pilgrimages of Umrah and Hajj are also different based on the time required to complete the journey. Pillars of Hajj and Umrah Another difference between Hajj and Umrah can be observed on the grounds of the pillars of these individual pilgrimages. In Hajj, there are four pillars: The first is Ihram, about which the Prophet said that deeds are rewarded based on intentions.

Iharm has a specific timing that pilgrims have to abide by.