Umrah travel blog

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and it is mandatory for everyone who is physically and financially able to perform at least once in their lifetime

Where Umrah is not a pillar of Islam and it is only recommended and not obligatory.

Muslims from all over the world travel to Makkah and Madina for their religious journeys. Hajj and Umrah are sacred pilgrimages.

Although both are sacred and have similar benefits, some differences set Hajj and Umrah apart. Keep reading to know more about the difference between Hajj and Umrah.

As it is the most significant duty, Hajj and Umrah have similar rituals and blessings. It is said in the Quran:

“You shall observe the complete rites of Hajj and Umrah for God”

The Prophet ﷺ reported: “Alternate between Hajj and Umrah to rid oneself of poverty and sin, just as the blacksmith's bellows cleanse metals of impurities. The reward for Hajj is nothing short of Paradise”.

What is the Hajj? 

A yearly pilgrimage known as the Hajj is one of Islam's five pillars. The Prophet Muhammed ﷺ prepared the ceremonies for this journey. According to the Quran, these traditions date back to the Prophet Ibrahim, who left his wife and son in the desert of Makkah. 

In Islam, These procedures symbolize surrendering to Allah and bringing reward to those who perform them.

How to perform Hajj

The month of ZulHijjah is the only month in which you can perform hajj. To perform hajj, you have to:

• You have to wear ihram clothes. If you are going to the airport, it would be preferable to wear it
• Declare your hajj intention before arriving at meeqat.
• Perform tawaf around Kabah in Makkah from the black stone
• Then Saee is walking between Safa and Marwah.
• Then you need to go to Mina and spend the day there.
• On the second day, you must go to Arafat and pray asr and maghrib.
• After stoning the devil in three points, you must spend the night in the open field in the Muzdalifah.
• The next day you have to sacrifice an animal as it is the day of Eid ul Adha
• Shave off your hair
• Your hajj is completed.

What is Umrah? 

The annual Muslim pilgrimage known as Umrah takes place in the holy city of Mecca. According to Muslims, it is supposed to purify and absolve the traveller from previous transgressions and crimes. As a form of worship and respect for the Most Gracious Allah, Umrah is typically recommended in the Islamic religion.

How to perform Umrah

Umrah can be performed in any month. To do umrah, you have to:

• Collect ihram clothes and wear them. It will be better if you can wear it from the airport.
• If you decide to do umrah then declare it before arriving at the meeqat. It is the specific border where you must wear the ihram clothing.
• Then do tawaf which is walking around the Kabah seven times. You have to start from the point where the black stone is.
• After finishing tawaf, the next task is to do Saee which is walking between Safa and Marwah mountains 7 times.
• Complete your umrah by cutting your hair.

 Types of Hajj and Umrah

There are different types of Hajj and Umrah, the three types of Haff and Umrah are 

• Hajj ul Qiran
• Hajj ul Ifrad
• Hajj ul Tamattu

 Hajj ul Qiran is a combination of Hajj and Umrah, where the pilgrim wears the Ihram with the intention of performing both Hajj and Umrah. The person who completes this type of Hajj is known as Qarin. Animal sacrifice is not mandatory 

 Hajj ul Ifrad is the uncomplicated type of Hajj. where the pilgrim wears the Ihram with the intention of performing only Hajj, not Umrah. The person who completes this type of Hajj is known as Mufrid. Animal sacrifice is mandatory to complete it.

 Hajj ul Tamattu is a type of Hajj where the pilgrim wears the Ihram with the intention of only performing Umrah but during the month of Hajj. The pilgrim will perform Tawaf,saaee, and Thahallul for Umrah and on the eighth day of Dhul-hijjah, a person who completes this type of Hajj is known as Mutamatti.

 There is the option for a believer to change their niyyah to Hajj ul-Qiran or Ifraad to Tamattu since that is the most recommended Hajj type.

 Umrah can be divided into two types

• Umrah ul Mufradah
• Umrah ul Tamattu

 Umrah ul Mufradah is performed throughout the year during the days of Hajj.

Umrah ul Tamattu is performed in conjunction with the rituals of Hajj but ends before the rituals of Hajj begin.

Connection Between Hajj and Umrah?

The similarities between Umrah and Hajj are worthwhile to mention now that we have discussed the differences between the two.

• The primary purpose of Hajj and Umrah is to worship Allah and strengthen pilgrims' faith.
• Both require pilgrims to travel to Saudi Arabia and begin the rituals at the Holy Kaaba. 
• Muslims from around the globe gather for both Hajj and Umrah, which serve to bring unity among them.
• You can earn great rewards and blessings through both of them, and they both eliminate sins and protect you from poverty.
• There are several rituals that are similar between the two, such as the Tawaf at the Kabah, Sa'ey between Safa and Marwah, and cutting hair at the end of the pilgrimage.
• The sacred state of Ihram must be worn during both pilgrimages.
• There are similar restrictions on keeping away from sins and evil deeds in both religions.

Let's find the Difference between Hajj and Umrah

According to the reward:

 The reward of Hajj is greater than Umrah. But, Umrah is affordable so many Muslims prefer to perform Umrah because Hajj is quite expensive.

 The reward of Hajj is greater but performing Umrah with the true intention for the sake of Allah will give you inner satisfaction and enough reward.

 It is equal to performing Hajj if you perform Umrah during Ramadan.

According to Rituals:

 Umrah and Hajj have almost the same rites and rituals. In Umrah, rituals comprise Ihram, Tawaf, Saee, drinking Zamzam water shaving the head for men cutting a fingertip length of hair for women these rituals are also part of Hajj.

 There are some additional requirements that pilgrims performing Hajj must fulfil, such as spending time in Mina, Muzdalifa and Arafat, stoning the Devil, and slaughtering an animal in Allah's name.

According to Sovereignty:

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Islam is based on five pillars, which state that Allah alone is worthy of worship, that Muhammad ﷺ is the Messenger of ALLAH, that salah (prayer) should be established, that Zakat (obligatory charity) should be paid, that the Hajj (pilgrimage) to one's home must be performed, and that Ramadan should be fasted”.

The Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam without which the believer's faith is incomplete. In Holy Quran, ALLAH said:

“And pilgrimage to the house is a duty unto ALLAH for mankind, for him who can find a way thither”. 

In contrast, Umrah is the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and what could be better than implementing his Sunnah

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