Umrah is a profound journey that brings peace to the heart and brings you closer to Allah (SWT). While it may be considered a “minor” pilgrimage, its significance in Islam is anything but minor. For Muslims, it is a chance to renew their faith, seek forgiveness, and experience the unparalleled feeling of standing in front of the Kaaba. So, in this article, we’ll walk you through the deep meaning of Umrah and everything you need to know to understand it better.
Umrah means “to visit a populated place” in Arabic. In Islam, Umrah means visiting the Kaaba in Makkah and follow a specific set of rituals. It is a minor pilgrimage. Although Umrah is not obligatory like Hajj, it is a highly recommended Sunnah that brings numerous rewards. While it does not replace Hajj, Umrah still holds great spiritual significance in Islam. Know more about the differences.
Umrah trip is more than just a visit to Makkah. It touches your heart and helps your faith grow stronger. It gives peace of mind, clears sins, and connects you with Allah (SWT). So, let me walk you through why Umrah holds such value for every Muslim.
Umrah helps you reflect on your life. You leave your worries behind and turn to Allah (SWT) with a clean heart. Every step you take reminds you of your faith. As you perform each part of the worship, you feel closer to Allah (SWT).
Umrah also helps you focus on what really matters. Allah (SWT) listens to those who perform Umrah and answers their prayers. It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
“The pilgrims performing Hajj and ‘Umrah are a delegation to Allah. If they call upon Him, He will answer them; and if they ask for His forgiveness, He will forgive them.”
(Sunan Ibn Majah 2892)
Umrah erases sins and brings hope. It gives you a fresh start. Your past mistakes are wiped away, and you return as a better person. As narrated by Abu Huraira:
Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said, "(The performance of) `Umra is an expiation for the sins committed (between it and the previous one). And the reward of Hajj Mabrur (the one accepted by Allah) is nothing except Paradise."
(Sahih al-Bukhari 1773)
All pilgrims wear simple white clothes, also known as Ihram clothing. You stand next to people from all over the world. No one is above another. Everyone prays the same way. That shows the unity of Islam, builds brotherhood, and removes pride.
Umrah brings you rewards, wipes away sins, and helps you through tough times. So, every time you perform Umrah, you get closer to peace and comfort. Abdullah (bin Mas'ud) narrated that:
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Alternate between Hajj and Umrah; for those two remove poverty and sins just as the bellows removes filth from iron, gold, and silver - and there is no reward for Al-Hajj Al-Mabrur except for Paradise."
(Jami at-Tirmidhi 810)
Muslims perform Umrah in Makkah, a city in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia. The rituals are done inside Masjid al-Haram, the mosque that contains the Kaaba. The Kaaba is the heart of Umrah and the most sacred place in Islam. Every pilgrim visits it during their journey.
Anyone who is Muslim can perform Umrah.
You need a valid passport, usually with at least six months before it expires. If you are applying from a country where you are not a citizen, you must submit a valid residency permit with your Umrah visa application. The Umrah visa is valid for 30 days, but this does not mean you can stay in Saudi Arabia for the full 30 days. You must perform Umrah within that time. New Muslims may need to provide proof of their conversion.
You need to be physically, mentally and financially capable. You should be healthy and able to travel safely. You must be mentally sound and able to understand the rituals. You also need to have enough money to cover travel, stay, and expenses, and be able to support those who depend on you while you’re away.
Women traditionally needed a male guardian, called a Mahram, to travel for Umrah. As narrated by Ibn Abbas:
"The Prophet (PBUH) said, "A woman should not travel except with a Dhu-Mahram (her husband or a man with whom that woman cannot marry at all according to the Islamic Jurisprudence), and no man may visit her except in the presence of a Dhu-Mahram." A man got up and said, "O Allah's Messenger (PBUH)! I intend to go to such and such an army and my wife wants to perform Hajj." The Prophet (PBUH) said (to him), "Go along with her (to Hajj)."
(Sahih al-Bukhari 1862)
However, since 2022, the Saudi government has allowed women to perform Umrah or Hajj without a mahram. This is a new practice accepted by some scholars due to changing times and circumstances.
Children who have reached puberty can perform Umrah. Although younger children can go, their Umrah is only accepted after puberty. They must be with a guardian who helps them during the rituals. If the child cannot do certain actions, like making the intention (niyyah), the guardian can make the intention on their behalf. The child should be dressed in ihram clothes (if male) and avoid anything that is not allowed while in ihram.
Elderly people are warmly welcomed, and Saudi Arabia helps them perform Umrah more easily. They offer special equipment like buses with easy access, clear signs, and smooth paths at the holy sites. There are also medical teams and volunteers who help elderly pilgrims with faster entry, priority boarding, and general support.
The best time for Umrah is during Ramadan. The reward during this month is greater than at any other time. As narrated by Ata:
I heard Ibn Abbas saying, "Allah's Messenger (PBUH) asked an Ansari woman (Ibn Abbas named her, but Ata' forgot her name), 'What prevented you from performing Hajj with us?' She replied, 'We have a camel and the father of so-and-so and his son rode it and left one camel for us to use for irrigation.' He said (to her), 'Perform Umra when Ramadan comes, for Umra in Ramadan is equal to Hajj (in reward),' or said something similar."
(Sahih al-Bukhari 1782)
Worship during Ramadan brings extra blessings. So, performing Umrah in this holy month is very important. But remember, the reward from Umrah does not replace Hajj. If you are able, you still need to perform Hajj. Also, during the Hajj season in Dhu al-Hijjah, only people performing Hajj are allowed to do Umrah. This rule is set by the Saudi government to help control the crowds and keep everyone safe.
Umrah doesn’t take very long. The rituals usually take about 3 to 6 hours to complete. But many pilgrims choose to stay longer. They want to enjoy the calm and visit other holy sites. Staying for a week lets you pray more and think deeply. So, try to plan a few extra days for a better experience.
Umrah renews your faith and gives you much rewards. It may be the minor pilgrimage, but it can heal your soul and benefit you immensely nevertheless.
You can complete the main Umrah rituals in about 2 to 3 hours. These include Tawaf and Sa’i only. But the full Umrah may take longer. It can take a few hours. It depends on your travel, rest, and other personal plans.
Yes, you can do more than one Umrah during the same trip. You must leave Masjid al-Haram each time. Then you renew your Ihram from places like Tan’im or Ji’irrana. You can come back and perform Umrah again. Many pilgrims do this during their stay.
No, a woman cannot perform Umrah while she is on her period. She must wait until her menstruation ends and she performs Ghusl (full body purification) before starting the Umrah rituals.
However, she can enter the state of Ihram even if she is menstruating. That means she can make the intention for Umrah and begin the journey. But she must not perform Tawaf or complete the rest of the Umrah rituals until she performs ghusl.
Yes, she can go without a mahram if she joins a group or a trusted agency, according to new rules. But according to Hadith from Bukhari, it is advised not to travel without a mahram.
Yes, you can do both in one trip. Many people visit other cities after Umrah, some to places like Jeddah or Madinah. You can also explore nearby tourist spots. It is allowed and widely done. But you should not do any sightseeing while you are still doing Umrah.
No, non-Muslims cannot go to the area of the Kaaba. Only Muslims can enter Masjid al-Haram. This is a strict rule, and it is also part of Saudi law. There are no permits or exceptions for non-Muslims.
