UMRAH 2010

The Umrah is a pilgrimage to Mecca, performed by Muslims, that can be undertaken at any time during the year except between the 9th and the 13th of Dul-Hajj (these days are only reserved for the full pilgrimage or Hajj).

It is sometimes called the 'minor pilgrimage' or 'lesser pilgrimage', the Hajj being the 'major' pilgrimage and which is compulsory for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it. The Umrah is not compulsory but highly recommended. The peak times of pilgrimage are the days before, during and after the Hajj and during the last ten days of Ramadan.

During the Umrah the pilgrim performs a series of ritual acts symbolic of the experiences of the prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) and his handmaiden Hagar (Hajar), and of solidarity with Muslims worldwide.

The focus of the pilgrimage is the Ka'aba which was rebuilt by Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) some 4000 years ago. Today, the Ka'aba stands in the middle of a large courtyard of Masjid-el-Haram, the sacred Mosque. The courtyard of Masjid-el-Haram contains, besides Ka'aba, the Muqam-e-Ibrahim (place of Ibrahim) and the well of Zamzam.

Pilgrims perform a tawaf, which consists of circling the Ka'aba seven times in a counter-clockwise direction. Men are encouraged to do this three times at a hurried pace, followed by four times, more closely, at a leisurely pace.

Then pilgrims Perform a sa'i, which means rapidly walking seven times back pand forth between the hills of Safa and Marwah. This is a re-enactment of Hagar's frantic search for water. The baby (Ismael) cried and hit the ground with his foot (some versions of the story say that an angel scraped his foot or the tip of his wing along the ground), and water miraculously sprang forth. This source of water is today called the Well of Zamzam. According to the Holy Quran:

“Surely, Al-Safa and Al-Marwah are among the Signs of Allah. It is, therefore, no sin for him who is on pilgrimage to the House, or performs Umra, to go round the two. And whoso does good beyond what is obligatory, surely then, Allah is Appreciating, All-Knowing.” (2:159)

Pilgrims than perform a halq or taqsir, meaning a cutting of the hair. A taqsir is a partial shortening of the hair, whereas a halq is a complete shave of the head, except for women, as they cut a little amount of hair instead.

These rituals complete the Umrah, and the pilgrim can choose to go out of ihram. Although not a part of the ritual, most pilgrims drink water from the Well of Zamzam. Various sects of Islam perform these rituals with slightly different methods.

There are two types of Umrah, depending on whether one wishes to combine the Umrah with Hajj: al-Umrat al-mufradah al-mustaqillah 'an al-Hajj (al-Umrat al mufradah) and al-Umrat al-mundammah ila al-Hajj (Umrat al-tammatu). al-Umrat al mufradah refers to Umrah that is performed independently of Hajj. Umrat al-tammatu refers to Umrah that is performed in conjunction with Hajj. The rituals of the Umrah are performed first and then the Hajj rituals are performed.

The peak times of pilgrimage are the days before, during and after the Hajj and during the last ten days of Ramadan.