What is Umrah?
Umrah is the name given to a pilgrimage to Mecca, a shorter version of the annual Hajj gathering. The word “Umrah” in Arabic means “visiting a populated place”.
Umrah offers an opportunity for Muslims to refresh their faith, seek forgiveness and pray for their needs. One who performs it is said to be cleansed of their sins.
What are the main differences between Umrah and Hajj?
Umrah is voluntary but Hajj is compulsory for those who are physically well and can afford it. Hajj is one of Islam’s five pillars, and Muslims who are able to must perform it at least once in their lifetime.
Umrah can be performed throughout the year, but Hajj is performed only at a specific time, between the 8th and the 13th of Dhul Hijah, the last month in the Islamic lunar calendar.
Umrah is almost a spiritual “quick-fix” and can be completed in under two hours, depending on how busy it is. Hajj is a more intense experience over several days.
Hajj is one of the largest annual gatherings of people in the world, with more than two million pilgrims attending each year from around 188 countries. Umrah, which is known as the “smaller” pilgrimage, might be performed by several million pilgrims each year, most probably due to it being cheaper and quicker to complete.
The focal point for both pilgrimages is the Kaaba, the black boxed structure located in Mecca’s large mosque complex known as Masjid al-Haraam. It is also in the direction of the Kaaba that Muslims face when offering their five daily prayers, wherever they are in the world.
How can pilgrims travel to Umrah?
Worshippers from outside Saudi Arabia usually travel in by plane and need to apply for a special Umrah visa that is valid for a month. They must also have a meningitis vaccination, along with the right paperwork to prove it.
Travellers from neighbouring countries may cross borders by car, but will also need a visa.
For Saudis and those already living and working within the country, no special documentation is needed.
Muslims of any age can perform Umrah and Hajj, and there are no restrictions on how many times someone can make the journey in their lifetime.
But women under the age of 45 must be accompanied by a mahram, a male family member or relative, above the age of 17. Women over 45 are permitted to travel with tour groups, without the need of a mahram.
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