العمرة

What Does العمرة Mean in Detail?

العمرة is often called the 'lesser الحج' or 'minor الحج' to distinguish it from الحج, the 'greater الحج.' Unlike الحج, which can only be performed during the specific days of ذو الحجة, العمرة may be performed at any time of the year, making it far more accessible. Millions of Muslims perform العمرة annually, especially during the blessed month of رمضان — النبي Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, 'العمرة in رمضان is equivalent to الحج' (Bukhari and Muslim), meaning in reward, though it does not fulfill the الحج obligation. The rites of العمرة are simpler and shorter than الحج. The الحاج enters الإحرام at the designated الميقات, makes the intention for العمرة, and begins reciting the التلبية. Upon reaching المسجد الحرام, they perform الطواف — seven counterclockwise circuits of the الكعبة. After الطواف, they pray two ركعة behind مقام إبراهيم and drink زمزم water. They then proceed to the Mas'a to perform السعي — seven traversals between الصفا and المروة. Finally, men shave their heads completely (الحلق) or trim their hair short (التقصير), and women cut a fingertip's length from their hair. With this, the الحاج exits the state of الإحرام and the العمرة is complete. The entire process can be completed in two to four hours depending on crowd conditions. Regarding its legal status, the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools consider العمرة واجب (واجب) once in a lifetime, while the Hanafi and Maliki schools classify it as a highly emphasized السنة (السنة mu'akkadah). All schools agree on its immense spiritual merit. النبي said, 'From one العمرة to the next is an expiation for whatever sins come in between' (Bukhari and Muslim). There is no limit to how many times a person may perform العمرة, and many residents of المملكة العربية السعودية perform it frequently.