What is Umrah and its Types?

3 min readSep 24, 2019

Umrah word comes from the Arabic language in which this word meaning is “to visit a populated place.” According to religion Islam, it is an Islamic pilgrimage to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, which can be performed at any time of year except for the specific five days of Hajj.

These particular days of Hajj come in last month (Dhul Hijjah) of the Islamic lunar calendar. Umrah is also called as minor pilgrimage while Hajj is called a major pilgrimage.

Umrah is a Sunnah while Hajj is Fard (compulsory). The rituals of Umrah is little in numbers than the rituals of Hajj. Therefore it can be performed in a few hours than the Hajj.

Rituals of Umrah:

There are only 4 Umrah rituals which are described respectively.

Ihram

Tawaf

Sa’i

Halq or Taqsir

Ihram:

Ihram is a dress which is different for the man and woman during the performing of pilgrimage. All pilgrims must wear it before entering the Masjid al Haram (the sacred boundary of Makkah). There are selected points to wear the Ihram, and these points are called Miqats or Meqats.

What is the meaning of Miqat?

The word of Miqat means “a stated place,” and these places are mentioned there.

Dhat Irq Miqat; for the upcoming pilgrims from Iran and Iraq
Yalamlam Miqat; for the upcoming pilgrims from Yemen
Miqat Masjid Dhul Hulifa; for the upcoming the pilgrims from Madinah
Juhfah Miqat; for the upcoming the pilgrims from Syria, Egypt, North Africa, Lebanon, and Jordan
Miqat Taif — Qarn al Manazil; for the upcoming pilgrims from Najd

What is the Miqat in Makkah for Umrah?

There are three selected Miqats for those pilgrims who live and stay in Makkah city.

Masjid e Ayesha
Masjid Jaranah
Masjid Huaybiyah

If anyone arrived at Jeddah for Umrah, then he/she can wear Ihram at Al-Hill place because this is best Miqat for the upcoming pilgrims from Jeddah, al-Janun, Khulais, and Taneem.

Tawaf:

In this ritual, pilgrims seven times walk around the Kaaba. Each circle is started by touching and kissing the Hajre Aswad. Sometimes, it may be impossible for pilgrims then at that time, they can complete it at pointing with hands in the direction of Hajre Aswad (Black Stone).

Sa’i:

Pilgrims can complete this ritual by walking seven times between two mounts of Safah and Marwah. Both hills are situated in the Masjid al-Haram. It is started from the Safah hill, and it is ended at the Marwah hill.

Halq or Taqsir:

Now, the pilgrim can leave the state of Ihram after performing the last ritual (Halq/Taqsir). The word Halq means shaving the head and while the word Taqsir means clipping or shorting of the hair. A man can select both methods, but most preferable is Halq. Taqsir is the best way for women to complete Umrah because shaving the head is forbidden for women.

Let us know How to Perform Umrah step by step?

What are the Types of Umrah?

There are only two types; Umrah al Mufradah and Umrah al Tamattu.

The performing procedure of both types of Umrah is the same.

Umrah al Tamattu:

This type of Umrah is performed along the Hajj. Pilgrims are performed Umrah al Tamattu at 8th Dhul Hijjah.

Umrah al Mufradah:

This type of Umrah can be performed at any time of year except for selected days of Hajj.

How many Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him) performed Umrah in life?

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) performed a total of four Umrah and one Hajj in life.

As It was narrated from Qutaadah that Anas (RA) told him that the Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) performed ‘Umrah four times, all of them in Dhul Qidah apart from the ‘Umrah which he performed with his Hajj: (he did) ‘Umrah from al-Hudaybiyah or at the time of al-Hudaybiyah in Dhul-Qidah; (he did) ‘Umrah the following year in Dhul-Qidah; and (he did) ‘Umrah from Jaraanah when he shared out the booty of Hunayn in Dhul-Qidah.

(al-Bukhaari, al-Hajj, 1654; Muslim, al-Hajj, 1253)

Courtesy by: Labbaik Hajj Umrah