WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT UMRAH?
. DETAILS ABOUT ISLAMIC LESSER HAJJ
By Babatunde Jose
Millions of Muslims travel to Mecca from across the globe to perform Umrah, an act of worship and devotion. Umrah has however become very fashionable during Ramadan and especially the last 10 days. The Kaaba becomes so congested that the uninitiated mistake the milling crowd for Hajj performance. Though Umrah is a form of Hajj, yet, Umrah cannot be equated to Hajj. At the onset, it must be realized that Umrah is not a pillar of Islam like the Hajj, which is enjoined for all Muslims with the caveat of affordability.
Umrah is the name given to a shorter version of the annual Hajj gathering. Umrah can be undertaken at any time of the year, in contrast to the Hajj “pilgrimage”, which has specific dates according to the Islamic lunar calendar.
Umrah offers an opportunity for Muslims to refresh their faith, seek forgiveness and pray for their needs. One who performs it is said to be cleansed of their sins.
What are the main differences between Umrah and Hajj? Umrah is voluntary but Hajj is compulsory for those who are physically well and can afford it.
Hajj is one of Islam’s five pillars, and Muslims who are able must perform it at least once in their lifetime.
Umrah is almost a spiritual “quick-fix” and can be completed in under two hours. Umrah requires Muslims to perform two key rituals, Tawaf and Sa’i.
Tawaf is a circling round the Kaaba seven times. This is followed by Sa’i, a walk between the hillocks of Safa and Marwah in the Great Mosque of Mecca to commemorate Hagar (Hājar)’s search for water for her son, Ishmael (Ismāʿīl), and God’s mercy in answering her prayers. Pilgrims conclude the pilgrimage with Halq, a partial or complete shortening of the hair. Hajj is a more intense experience over several days.
A pilgrim has to be in a state of Ihraam, which derives from the Arabic word harama, which means forbidden.
Umrah is not compulsory but is still highly recommended. It is mandatory according to the Hanbalis and also according to the Shafi’is. It is also not meant to be interpreted as a substitute for Hajj. However, both are demonstrations of their submission to Allah.
It is recorded that in 628 CE (6 AH), inspired by a dream that Muhammad (SAW) had while in Medina, in which he was performing the ceremonies of Umrah, he and his followers approached Mecca from Medina. They were stopped at Hudaybiyyah, Quraysh refused entry to the Muslims who wished to perform the pilgrimage. Muhammad (SAW) is said to have explained that they only wished to perform a pilgrimage, and subsequently leave the city, however the Qurayshites disagreed.
Diplomatic negotiations were pursued once the prophet refused to use force to enter Mecca, out of respect to the Holy Ka’aba. In March, 628 CE (Dhu’l-Qi’dah, 6 AH), the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah was drawn up and signed, with terms stipulating a ten-year period free of hostilities, during which the Muslims would be allowed a three-day-long access per year to the holy site of the Ka’aba starting the following year. In the year it was signed, the followers of Mohammed were forced to return home without having performed Umrah.
The next year, Muhammad (SAW) took part in the conquest of Mecca in December 629. Following the agreed-upon terms of the Hudaybiyyah Treaty, the Prophet (SAW) and some 2000 followers proceeded to perform what became the first Umrah, which lasted three days.
After the transfer of power, Muhammad forgave all of his former enemies.
There is the belief that pilgrims, during Umrah (and Hajj) need to enter a spiritual state of almost human perfection (the Ihraam). There can be no quarrelling, cursing or bad language. No animal can be harmed – even the killing of an insect will break the state of Ihraam and nullify Umrah.
Pilgrims cannot cut, shave or pluck any hair, cut their nails, wear make-up or perfume or use any additional products. To do any of these would invalidate Ihraam according to Islamic jurisprudence.
The next step is to recite their intention to go on Umrah aloud. This is usually done when an individual reaches the Meeqat (entry points to Mecca marking the start of observing the Ihraam). The pilgrims then offer a prayer and must stick to the rules above until they complete their pilgrimage.
Ihraam also dictates what pilgrims wear. It symbolizes the equality of all of mankind before God. It signifies that no gender, nationality, or status can make one person superior to another.
For men it is the Ihram, two sheets of unstitched white cloth, one covering the lower half of the body tied around the waist, and the other is draped around the upper half of the body and shoulders. No undergarments or additional clothing are worn with the Ihraam.
For footwear, men wear sandals and must keep their head uncovered. Women can wear any long, loose-fitting garment that is simply designed. Many opt for a plain black abaya – a long-sleeved loose dress that covers the entire body – and a simple hijab, or head covering. The face cannot be covered.
Upon entering Masjid al-Haraam, the mosque-complex housing the Kaaba, pilgrims enter with their right foot and make a supplication, asking God for his mercy and forgiveness.
The pilgrims circle the Kaaba seven times (Tawaf) in an anticlockwise direction in deep prayer. It starts at the Kaaba’s eastern point where the Black Stone is located, which is said to date back to the time of Adam and Eve, and is highly revered by Muslims.
The purpose is to show devotion to God and demonstrate the unity between worshippers.
Just a few minutes’ walk away from the Kaaba are the hillocks of Safa and Marwa, where Muslims recite prayers walking back and forth between the two points, seven times. The total distance covered is two miles and the time it takes to complete depends on the pilgrim’s ability and fitness. This is called the Sa’i.
The act of Sa’i honor’s the Quranic story of Haajar, the wife of Prophet Ibrahim (or Abraham from the Bible), who is said to have wandered tirelessly between Safa and Marwa in search of water for her infant son Ismail (Ishmael), in a barren desert.
As Hajjar ran between mountain tops, Muslims believe, the Angel Gabriel struck the ground and water came gushing out, saving the baby’s life. Pilgrims still drink from this same water well today. According to Islamic narratives, the well is a miraculously generated source of water, which opened up thousands of years ago when the son of Ibrahim (Abraham), Ismaʿil (Ishmael), was left with his mother Hajar (Hagar) in the desert. The Zamzam well is still preserved in Mecca till date.
Following the completion of sa’i, pilgrims then offer a final prayer.
Shaving the head is regarded as symbolizing rebirth and the completion of their pilgrimage. Female pilgrims cut a small amount of their hair, equal to the length of a fingertip.
This point marks the end of the Umrah, and pilgrims are no longer required to adhere to the regulations of Ihraam.
Umrah is a Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and is an important journey for Muslims in their path to Allah.
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) went to great lengths and struggled to establish it as a practice for Muslims. He then made the holy journey four times, demonstrating its significance.
Umrah is a means for Muslims to attain purification, cleanse their hearts and become closer to Allah Almighty.
It’s a chance to have our dua’s answered and to gain Allah’s forgiveness from past sins.
When we perform Umrah, we are considered to be a guest of Allah and will never return back to our lives empty-handed without having gained blessings, rewards and tranquility. This is not the case for our numerous leaders who throng the Kaaba during Ramadan for Umrah. The rebirth is not reflected in their behavior. As far as they are concerned, their Umrah is for ‘show’.
Yet, Umrah is a great opportunity to renew our faith, reflect on our purpose in life, and a chance to detach from the distractions of everyday life.
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) considered it as one of the most effective ways of worship, and we also earn great rewards by following his Sunnah of performing Umrah.
The reward for performing Umrah is equivalent to jihad – which means to struggle in the path of Allah.
(The performance of) Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed (between it and the previous one). Hadith | Sahih Bukhari
This demonstrates that Umrah is a chance for complete purification, and the opportunity to do so is a gift from Allah.
The most rewarding time of the year to perform Umrah is during Ramadan, which equals the reward of performing Hajj: Umrah performed in the month of Ramadan will equal (in rewards) to that of Hajj or Hajj performed with me. Hadith Sahih Bukhari, Muslim
There are two types of Umrah: Umrah al-Mufradah – this type is performed independently to Hajj and can be carried out at any point during the year, except during the days of Hajj.
Umrah al-Tamattu – this type is performed in conjunction with Hajj and is normally carried out in the month of Dhul Hijjah, before the commencement of Hajj.
For those who can afford to perform the Umrah, may Allah accept it from them as an act of Ibadah. May it engender a transformation in their faith.
*Barka Juma’at and Ramadan Mubarak*
*Babatunde Jose*
*Friday 7th March 2025*
