What is Umrah?
Umrah is the "lesser pilgrimage" to the Kaaba in Mecca, and Muslims can do it at any time of year. It takes a few hours: you enter ihram, walk around the Kaaba seven times (tawaf), walk seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah (sa'i), then shave or trim your hair. It is shorter and simpler than Hajj, and it wipes away sins.
What does Umrah mean?
The Arabic word umrah comes from a root meaning "to visit." In Islam it means visiting the Sacred Mosque (al-Masjid al-Haram) in Mecca to perform a short set of worship acts. Unlike Hajj, it isn't tied to specific days, so people go in every season, often combined with a visit to the Prophet's Mosque in Medina.
Allah mentions Umrah alongside Hajj in the Quran:
The four steps of Umrah
- Ihram: before reaching the boundary point (miqat), you make the intention, put on simple pilgrim clothing (for men, two white sheets) and start saying the talbiyah, "Labbayk Allahumma labbayk."
- Tawaf: seven circuits around the Kaaba, counterclockwise, starting from the corner with the Black Stone, then two short units of prayer.
- Sa'i: seven laps between Safa and Marwah, remembering Hajar's search for water for her baby Ismail.
- Halq or taqsir: men shave their heads or trim their hair; women cut a fingertip's length from the end of their hair. Then ihram ends.
There is no set wording you must recite. You can make dua and dhikr in your own language throughout. See What is dhikr and how do I start?
Is Umrah obligatory?
Scholars differ. The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools say Umrah is obligatory once in a lifetime for anyone able, like Hajj. The Hanafi and Maliki schools say it is a strongly recommended sunnah. Either way, it is never a burden placed on someone who can't afford it or can't travel safely. See Do I have to go to Hajj if I can't afford it?
Why Muslims love Umrah
The Prophet ﷺ said that one Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed between it and the previous one (Sahih al-Bukhari 1773). He also told a woman who had missed Hajj that Umrah in Ramadan is equal to Hajj in reward (Sahih al-Bukhari 1782). That doesn't replace the obligation of Hajj, but it shows how special the month is.
For many converts, the first sight of the Kaaba is an emotional moment: the place they have faced in every prayer is suddenly right in front of them.
Getting there usually means a long flight, so it helps to know how prayer works in the air. See Can I pray on a plane?
- Umrah is the lesser pilgrimage to Mecca, possible any time of year.
- Its steps: ihram, tawaf, sa'i, then shaving or trimming the hair.
- Shafi'is and Hanbalis count it obligatory once; Hanafis and Malikis a strong sunnah.
- It expiates sins, and Umrah in Ramadan equals Hajj in reward.
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Usually not. You may get a pat-down or be asked to touch your scarf. You can request a female officer and a private room.
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