Umrah and Hajj are the most significant religious duty. Muslims, from all over the world, gather at the sacred city Makkah to perform Umrah and Hajj.
Hajj is mandatory and applicable on every Muslim who is mentally, physically and financially capable to perform it, once in his life. Whereas, Umrah is a lesser Hajj and not obligatory, but, it is full of reward due to which so many Muslims perform it every year. As, the rituals are quite similar but there are few differences as well.
Let’s Find out Difference Between Umrah and Hajj
According to the Reward:
Umrah is considered as the minor, while, Hajj is considered as the major pilgrimage. So comparatively, the reward of Hajj is greater and higher than Umrah. But, Umrah is affordable so many Muslims prefer to perform Umrah because performing Hajj is quite expensive for them in this era of inflation. Though, the reward of Hajj is greater but performing Umrah with pure intention will give you inner satisfaction and enough reward. Performing Umrah in the holy month of Ramazan is equal to Hajj.
According to Rituals:
Umrah and Hajj have almost same rites and rituals. Umrah rituals comprises of Ihram, Tawaf, Sa’ai, drinking Zamzam water and shaving/cutting hair of head. These ritual are also part of Hajj, but, pilgrims performing Hajj have to do some additional rites like spending time in Mina, Muzdalifa and Arafat, Stoning the Devil and slaughtering an animal for ALLAH.
With regard to performance:
Hajj can only be perform in the month of Zil Hajj. Whereas, Umrah can be perform at any time and in any month of the Islamic year except Hajj days (i.e. 8th to 13th Zil Hajj).
According to Types:
Hajj has three types including Qiran, Ifraad and Tamattu. Qiran is performing Hajj and Umrah combined or alternatively in the same Ihraam. Ifraad is related to Hajj itself and Tamattu is a type of Hajj in which Umrah and Hajj are separately taken on during month of Zil Hajj.
Umrah has two types, that is, Umrah tul Tamattu and Umrah tul Mufradah. Umrah tul Tamattu is perform collectively with hajj, whereas, Umrah tul Mufradah is perform independently.
According to Sovereignty:
The major difference between Umrah and Hajj is the fact that Hajj is the pillar of Islam. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“Islam has built on five pillars, testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except ALLAH and that Muhammad ﷺ is the Messenger of ALLAH, establishing the salah (prayer), paying the Zakat (obligatory charity) , making the Hajj (pilgrimage) to the house and fasting in Ramadan”. https://sunnah.com/nawawi40/3
ALLAH made Hajj one of the Islamic pillars, without its completion, the faith of believer is incomplete. In Holy Quran, ALLAH said:
“And pilgrimage to the house is a duty unto ALLAH for mankind, for him who can find a way thither”. http://corpus.quran.com/translation.jsp?chapter=3&verse=97
Whereas, Umrah is the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and what would be better than implementing the Sunnah.
In spite of the differences, there are so many similarities between Umrah and Hajj. They are the sign of sanctity and affection toward ALLAH, they unite Muslims, they purify the mind and soul and they strengthen the faith in ALLAH.
“May ALLAH show us the straight path and guide us all through the way”
