Hajj and Umrah are Islamic events/acts that Muslims perform yearly. Both are the most important religious pilgrimages in Islam. But they are different in terms of their timing, rituals, significance, and dates. Muslims book their Packages from a Travel Agency and then perform their Hajj and Umrah.
Muslims from all around the world perform these pilgrimages with pure heart and honesty. Do you know what the critical differences between Hajj and Umrah are? So, in this article, we will discuss some fundamental differences and key points between Hajj and Umrah. Remember to read this article from the start till the end.
The following rituals are performed in both Hajj and Umrah. And specifically, Umrah is the completion of these rituals. However, in the case of Hajj, we will discuss some additional practices in the last middle section of this article.
- Ihram: Ihram is the first and foremost ritual of Hajj. It refers to the attire a pilgrim must wear to perform a pilgrimage. Two pieces of clothing (upper and lower) are typically white. For women, it’s any traditional dress that is allowed in Islam. Usually, women prefer to wear Abaya.
- Tawaf: Tawaf is the central act of pilgrimage, whether major or minor. It refers to walking seven times around the Holy Kaaba in an anticlockwise direction.
- Sa’i: It’s the walking/running ritual between the hills of Safa and Marwah. It again refers to seven times completion. This ritual refers to the honor of Hajira (A.S), the wife of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S), for the search for water for her son Prophet Ismail (A.S).
- Shaving/cutting hair: This ritual will mark your pilgrimage for completion. Typically, pilgrims perform it after performing all the ways. Sometimes, it is also known as Halq/Taqsir.
These above four will mark your Umrah to the ending, but not Hajj. For the Hajj, you have to perform the below-mentioned acts.
Hajj – the annual pilgrimage and fifth pillar of Islam
Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam, and it’s a meaningful pilgrimage for Muslims worldwide. It occurs yearly with fixed dates in Dhul Hijjah (the last month of the Islamic calendar). Hajj can be performed within five to six days and includes Umrah’s rituals. It’s also known to be the most significant religious pilgrimage.
Let’s see how many rituals are involved in the Hajj. Some are mentioned below:
Mount Arafat Day:
This is the most essential part of Hajj. The plain of Arafat contains the mount where pilgrims stand on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah. Pilgrims used to stand there from noon to sunset and listen to the sermon. This day is also known as the day of prayers and supplications as pilgrims ask for forgiveness from Allah (SWT) and make a lot of prayers.
Read Also: Can I wear a money belt in Ihram?
Stoning the pillars of Jamarat:
Stoning is also a ritual of annual pilgrimage. This act is performed on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah at the Jamarat. This is also called stoning the devil. It would be best if you tried to do this act in a manner and don’t hurt the other people. Throw the stones with low pressure as it may harm other pilgrims. This act symbolizes the rejection of the devil.
Sacrificing the animal:
Sacrificing the animal is based on the Sunnah of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S). And this is also part of your pilgrimage that you must have to do. Pilgrims can sacrifice the allowed animals, such as sheep, goats, cows, or camels. However, sacrificing contains its benefits and significance.
Farewell Tawaf:
This mymedic.es is a type of Tawaf that most Muslims perform before departing Mecca. This symbolizes your pilgrimage to the end. But this Tawaf is optional for the residents of Mecca but for other countries and cities (even for Saudi Arabia).
Conclusion
In conclusion, Hajj and Umrah are different, but both renew the faith and spirituality of Muslims. They allow Muslims to clear their past sins and give them fresh feelings. Those who support these must perform by booking the Umrah package. This article helps you a lot. If you will serve, may you have a fulfilling pilgrimage experience!