Umrah

What Does Umrah Mean in Detail?

Umrah is often called the 'lesser pilgrimage' or 'minor pilgrimage' to distinguish it from Hajj, the 'greater pilgrimage.' Unlike Hajj, which can only be performed during the specific days of Dhul Hijjah, Umrah may be performed at any time of the year, making it far more accessible. Millions of Muslims perform Umrah annually, especially during the blessed month of Ramadan — the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, 'Umrah in Ramadan is equivalent to Hajj' (Bukhari and Muslim), meaning in reward, though it does not fulfill the Hajj obligation. The rites of Umrah are simpler and shorter than Hajj. The pilgrim enters ihram at the designated miqat, makes the intention for Umrah, and begins reciting the Talbiyah. Upon reaching Masjid al-Haram, they perform tawaf — seven counterclockwise circuits of the Kaaba. After tawaf, they pray two rak'ah behind Maqam Ibrahim and drink Zamzam water. They then proceed to the Mas'a to perform sa'i — seven traversals between Safa and Marwa. Finally, men shave their heads completely (halq) or trim their hair short (taqsir), and women cut a fingertip's length from their hair. With this, the pilgrim exits the state of ihram and the Umrah 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 Umrah obligatory (wajib) once in a lifetime, while the Hanafi and Maliki schools classify it as a highly emphasized Sunnah (Sunnah mu'akkadah). All schools agree on its immense spiritual merit. The Prophet said, 'From one Umrah 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 Umrah, and many residents of Saudi Arabia perform it frequently.