Umrah And Hajj In Islam
The Importance and Distinction Between Them
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Umrah is a short visit to the Kaaba that one can perform at any time of the year, and it is not obligatory. A person can perform Umrah multiple times in their lifetime.
Pilgrims travel to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, where they participate in rituals like Tawaf, Sai (walking between the hills of Safa and Marwah), and prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque.
Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. Every Muslim must perform it once in their lifetime if they are financially and physically able. Unlike Umrah, Hajj is performed annually in the month of Dhu al-Hijjah.
During this time, millions of Muslims worldwide gather in Mecca to perform Hajj. It involves several rituals, including Tawaf, Sai, standing in Arafat from noon to sunset on the 9th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, and throwing stones at the devil at the three pillars in Mina.
Other rituals include cutting hair, sacrificing an animal, and performing Tawaf al-Ifadah. These actions were first performed by the Prophet Ibrahim and his family in obedience to God (Allah).
During Hajj and Umrah, pilgrims repeat the phrase “Labaik Allah huma labaik,” which means “Here I am, O Allah, here I am.” They start saying this when they enter the state of ihram and continue until the end of their journey in Mecca, as a way to show their devotion and obedience to God (Allah).
It’s a spiritual journey of faith, devotion, and seeking closeness to God(Allah) and divine energies. It provides a chance for Muslims to experience the unity of the Muslim ummah, meet in one place, understand each other, and resolve issues between Muslims.
