Did you know that Hajj and Umrah are not similar? These are the act of worship in the Islamic culture but there’s a difference between Hajj and Umrah. To understand the concept of Umrah and Hajj, we must first find out what they are and their impact on Islam. Before reading further, you must know that Umrah and Hajj are 2 different concepts in Islam. Where Hajj is considered an essential pillar of Islamic religion, Umrah is a minor pilgrimage where devotees visit to worship.
Islamic followers opt for hajj or Umrah while following the path of their religious beliefs and spiritual journey. To seek blessings from Allah, Muslims prefer to go on these journeys. It is highly believed that Hajj and Umrah travel give a sense of peace to their souls. Simultaneously, these journeys help them cleanse their souls and purify their past sins.
The purpose of Hajj or Umrah might be the same, seeking blessings from Allah and finding forgiveness. As a matter of fact, Umrah and Hajj are among the religious pilgrimages of Islam. However, the method of performing them is the main difference between Hajj and Umrah. In this blog, we will discuss the major differences If you wish to learn the difference between Hajj and Umrah, read further to learn more.
What is Hajj ?
Hajj is one of the 5 pillars of Islam that are the fundamentals of Muslim’s faith over their religion. This is the major difference between Hajj and Umrah. Hajj is one of the pillars that are the core values ensuring that Muslims live their lives under the principles of Allah and following his will.
5 Pillars of Islam
- Shahada, which is the declaration of faith in Islam
- Salat is the prayer to Allah to seek his blessings.
- Zakat is promoting and implementing the concept of charity
- Sawm means fasting during the holy month of Ramadan
- Hajj, which is the pilgrimage to Mecca
Hajj is an Islamic pilgrimage situated in the holy city of Mecca and is the 5th pillar of Islam. This pilgrimage holds a special place in the beliefs of the Muslim community. Every year, millions of Muslims travel to Hajj to show devotion to Islam. The pilgrims cannot go for Hajj throughout the year, they can only go during a specific month. The 12th month of the Islamic calendar, known as Dhu al Hijjah is when the pilgrimage is dedicated to Hajj Journey.
Hajj is more than just a journey to the pilgrimage, it is a religious responsibility that every Muslim must perform during their lifespan at least once. However, a person has to be financially and physically capable of opting for this journey.
What is Umrah ?
The major difference between Hajj and Umrah is that Hajj holds a huge meaning in Islam, whereas Umrah is a minor or lesser pilgrimage. It is situated in the holy city of Mecca and is open for devotees throughout the year. There is no specific month in the Islamic calendar dedicated to this journey. One can opt for Umrah at any time except during the season of Hajj. But if someone decides to perform Hajj and Umrah together, they can do that.
However, in Islam, going for Umrah is not a compulsion. It is upon the will of devotees whether they want to perform Umrah or not. As a matter of fact, Umrah is a sacred place that holds significant meaning in Islam. Every year, millions of Muslims perform holy rituals to seek the blessings of Allah and ask for forgiveness for their past sins. People believe that Hajj or Umrah cleanses their souls and helps them form a stronger bond with Allah. Moving on, there are some rituals to perform when doing Umrah.
Rituals of performing Umrah
- Ihram - Ihram is the preparation process in which men and women prepare themselves to wear proper clothing, clipping their nails, bathing, and cleansing them properly.
- Niyyah - Niyyah is an act of determination where the pilgrims show their obligation upon performing Umrah.
- Istilam - In Istilam, the devotees are supposed to kiss or touch the Black Stone, if the crowd allows them. If not, then they can just pray in front of it.
- Tawaf - Tawaf is the ritual where the devotees perform 7 circulations around the Kaaba in the counterclockwise direction.
- Sa'i - In Hajj and Umrah, Sa’i requires the pilgrims to run or walk back and forth between Safaa and Marwa.
- Taqsir - Taqsir is the ritual where men shave their heads, beard, and moustache and women are required to cut a lock of their hair.
Difference between Hajj and Umah
There is quite a difference between Hajj and Umrah and people who are obligated to perform these religious acts. Both Umrah and Hajj are performed in Kaaba which is the building situated in the Masjid al-Haram. It is the mosque in Mecca that holds a deep meaning in Islamic culture. The Muslim pilgrims from all over the world decided to do Hajj and Umrah travel to seek Allah’s blessings, self-discipline, peace, and forgiveness for past sins. Here’s the difference between Hajj and Umrah:
1- Meaning and importance
Both Hajj and Umrah are important to perform in Islam to seek forgiveness from Allah and earn extra merits while living and for the afterlife. However, the meaning and importance create a fine difference between Hajj and Umrah. Hajj is an essential part of Islam and every Muslim must perform this act at least once in their lifetimes with their proper health and financial capabilities. Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam and has a huge significance in the religion. On the other hand, Umrah is not a mandatory performance but in Islam, this act of worship is considered very sacred.
2- The ideal time to perform
The Hajj and Umrah travel is quite different from one another. Hajj is the act of worship that can only be performed during the month of ‘Dhu al Hijjah’. It is the 12th and last month in the Islamic calendar, ideal for performing Hajj. Pilgrims can perform it from the 8th day to the 12th and 12th day of the month. Whereas in Umrah, there is no specific time or month dedicated to performing this act. The pilgrimage expects devotees throughout the year except for the month of Dhu al Hijjah, which is the time for Hajj. One can go for Umrah during this time only if they are performing Hajj.
3- Obligation of the act
Hajj is one of the 5 pillars of Islam and it is necessary to perform. Every Muslim who is physically and financially fit is obligated to perform Hajj at least once in their lifetimes. Umrah, on the other hand, is not an obligation in Islam. It is up to one’s will whether they want to perform it or not. But if someone voluntarily declares an intention to perform Umrah, they are obligated to do so.
4- Duration of the act of worship
There is a difference between Hajj and Umrah when it comes to the duration of the act of worship. Hajj is quite a time-consuming procedure that requires 5 to 6 days to complete the pilgrimage. While Umrah does not require longer than a few hours. 3 to 4 hours will be enough to perform Umrah.
5- Pillars of Hajj or Umrah
Hajj is comprised of many pillars, namely, Ihram, Tawaf al-Ifaadah, Sa’i, Wuquf at Arafah, Rami al-Jamarat, Tahallul, and Tartib. All of them must be followed in the correct order. On the other hand, the main pillars of Umrah are Ihram, Tawaf, Sa’i, and Tahallul.
Hajj and Umrah Packages
