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983 What is the difference between 'Umrah' & 'Hajj'? How do you perform 'Umrah', and how do you perform 'Hajj'? Is it easy or hard? Can it be done in one day? Also are there any further books I can read on these two topics?
In Arabic Umrah means privilege to visit (to Sacred place), However in Shariah this term means to:

1. To put on Ihram from Meeqaat (Fard),

Ihram consists of: two large sheets of, Cloth, Towel, Wool, or blanket of any colour preferably white and new. One is used for covering the lower part of the body i.e. minimum requirement of covering belly button up to and including knee caps. The second sheet is used to cover upper part of the body. Making sure the head remain uncovered.

2. Perform Tawaf around the Holy Kaaba (Fard)
3. Walk to and from between Safa and Marwah (Saii) (Wajib) and
4. To Shave off the head or cutting short the hair before removing Ihram (To get one quarter hair cut is Wajib, whereas to shave off hair fully is Sunnah).

Umrah is also called Lesser Pilgrimage (Hajj e Asghar). It and can be performed anytime during the year (except 8th to 13th of Zil Hajj) and as many times as one may wish.

Hajj on the other hand can only be performed once in a year and is one of the five pillars of Islam.

It is Fard (compulsory) for every Muslim, Male as well as Female, who is Major, Sane and able to undertake the journey to Makkah Shareef and bear its expenses, once in life.

The basic rites of Hajj are three: Putting on Ihram (Niyat and Talbiah), presence in Arafat and Tawaful Ziyarat. These are Fard, while other rights are Wajib (Obligatory) or Sunnah.

The rites of Hajj start from the morning of 8th Zil Hajj and end on the 13th of Zil Hajj.

In the morning of 8th Zill Hajj the pilgrims wear the Ihram and leave Makkah for Mina where they stay for one day and night. On the morning of 9th Zil Hajj they leave Mina for Arafat where they stay till sunset.

By the sunset they leave Arafat for Muzdalifah to stay for the night. On the morning of 10th Zil Hajj they leave Muzdalifah and return to Mina where they first stone the big Jamrah (Symbol of Satan), then sacrifice the animal, then shave off their heads or cut short their hair in order to take off their Ihram.

Then they go to Makkah Shareef and perform the Tawaful Ziyarat (i.e. circuit round the Holy Kaabah) and perform the Saii and return back to Mina.

They stay in Mina and stone all the three Jamrah on the 11th and 12th of Zil Hajj. They can leave Mina before sunset of 12th Zil Hajj, but if they do not for some reason then they have to stay there for the 13th Zil Hajj. It is important to remember that if there is an over stay, they are then required to stone all three Jamarahs.

By performing the above, the rites of Hajj are complete.

The above is a very brief description of how to performing Umrah and Hajj.

As this is a very big topic to discuss on this section of the website we would suggest the following books to be read, as they cover the above topics in great length, and with easy understandable explanations:

1. Easy Know How on Hajj and Umrah, by Zia ul Quran Publications. Available in both Urdu and English.

2. Sunnah, The Way of Quranic Life, Vol 3, by Syed Anwer Ali, Zia ul Quran Publications. Available in both Urdu and English.

(Answered by: Hafiz Mohammed Akhtar)
Category (Hajj)
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