Umre

What Does Umre Mean in Detail?

Umre is often called the 'lesser hac ibadeti' or 'minor hac ibadeti' to distinguish it from Hac, the 'greater hac ibadeti.' Unlike Hac, which can only be performed during the specific days of Dhul Hijjah, Umre may be performed at any time of the year, making it far more accessible. Millions of Muslims perform Umre annually, especially during the blessed month of Ramadan — Hz. Peygamber Muhammad (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem) said, 'Umre in Ramadan is equivalent to Hac' (Bukhari and Muslim), meaning in reward, though it does not fulfill the Hac obligation. The rites of Umre are simpler and shorter than Hac. The haci enters ihram at the designated miqat, makes the intention for Umre, and begins reciting the Telbiye. Upon reaching Mescid-i Haram, they perform tavaf — seven counterclockwise circuits of the Kabe. After tavaf, 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 haci exits the state of ihram and the Umre 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 Umre farz (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. Hz. Peygamber said, 'From one Umre 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 Umre, and many residents of Saudi Arabia perform it frequently.