Hajj & Umrah

Hajj

Hajj is an imperative duty (Fardh) for all Muslims who have the resources. It is to be performed during the days of Hajj, preferably once in a lifetime. The word Hajj means, literally, repairing to a place for the sake of visit; in the terminology of the Islamic Shariah it means repairing to Bait-Allah (the House of Allah, one of the names of Al-Ka'aba) to observe the necessary devotions.

Hajj is not a new institution introduced by Islam. This institution is as old as Al-Ka'aba itself, which is called in the Holy Quran "the first House of Divine Worship appointed for mankind" (3:95). This verse corroborates the Ahadith (Prophetic Sayings) which tell us that Al-Ka'aba was first built by the Holy Prophet Adam, the first man on Earth.

Umrah

The Umrah is a pilgrimage to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, performed by Muslims that can be undertaken at any time of the year. In Arabic, Umrah means "to visit a populated place". As a technical term in the Shari'ah, Umrah means to perform Tawaf of Kaabah and Sa'i between Al-Safa and Al-Marwah, after assuming Ihram, either from a Miqat or a place in Hill.

It is sometimes called the 'minor pilgrimage' or 'lesser pilgrimage', the Hajj being the 'major' pilgrimage, which is compulsory for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it. The Umrah is not compulsory but highly recommended.