Umrah and Hajj

The Umrah or (Arabic: عمرة ) is a pilgrimage to Mecca performed by Muslims that can be undertaken at any time of the year. In Arabic Umrah means “to visit a populated place”. As a technical term used in the Shari’ah, Umrah means to perform Tawaf of Ka’bah and Sa’ey between Safa and Marwa, after assuming Ihram, either from a Miqat or a place in Hill.

The Hajj (Arabic: حج‎, transliteration: Ḥaǧǧ), that is pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah), is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world.[1] It is the fifth pillar of Islam, an obligation that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so. It is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people, and their submission to God.[2]

The pilgrimage occurs from the 6th to the 12th day of Dhul Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar. Because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, the event cannot be pegged to the Gregorian calendar, whose (solar) year is eleven days longer. In 2007, Hajj took place from December 17 to December 21.

The Hajj is associated with the life of Muhammad, but the ritual of pilgrimage to Mecca predates Islam, and was considered ancient even during his lifetime in the 7th century. Many Muslims believe that it goes back to the time of Abraham in 2000 ad. Pilgrims would join processions of ten people, who would simultaneously converge on Mecca for the week of the Hajj, and perform a series of rituals. Each person would walk counter-clockwise seven times about the Kaaba, the cubical building towards which all Muslims pray, kiss the sacred Black Stone on its corner, run back and forth between the hills of Al-Safa and Al-Marwah, drink from the Zamzam Well, go to the plains of Mount Arafat to stand in vigil, then proceed to Muzdalifah to gather stones , which they would throw at three pillars in Mina to perform the ritual of the Stoning of the Devil. The pilgrims would then shave their heads, perform an animal sacrifice, and celebrate the four day global festival of Eid ul-Adha.[3][4][5]

As of 2007, an estimated two million pilgrims participate in this annual pilgrimage.[6] Crowd-control techniques have become critical, and because of the large numbers of people, many of the rituals have become more stylized. It is not necessary to kiss the Black Stone, but merely to point at it on each circuit around the Kaaba. Throwing pebbles was done at large pillars, which for safety reasons were in 2004 changed to long walls with catchbasins below to catch the stones. The slaughter of an animal can be done either personally, or by appointing someone else to do it, and so forth.[7] But even with the crowd control techniques, there are still many incidents during the Hajj, as pilgrims are trampled in the crush, or ramps collapse under the weight of the many visitors, causing hundreds of deaths. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj has a website, with the message, "Be peaceful, orderly and kind. No crushing."[8]
Hajj can be performed in three different ways:
Tamattu' - Qiran - Ifraad.

1-Tamattu` means performing `Umrah during the Hajj season, and on the Day of Tarwiyah the pilgrim gets into the state of Ihram for Hajj. Anyone intending to perform a Tamattu' Hajj should make intention for `Umrah when approaching the Miqat. The intention here should be for `Umrah. The pilgrim should say,

"Labbayk-Allahumma labbayka bi'Umrah!" or "Labbayka 'Umratan!"
"O Allah! I answer Your call to perform `Umrah."

The pilgrim can add some other du'aa such as: " O Allah! I intend to perform `Umrah, so make it easy for me, and accept it from me." It is also allowed for the pilgrim though intending initially to complete Hajj or 'Umrah to put a condition whereby if for some unexpected sickness or circumstances the journey could not be completed, he, or she, can end the state of Ihraam without having to sacrifice an animal or fast. Therefore, the pilgrim can address Allah saying,

"Inna mahilli minal-Ardi haythu habastani"
" I will end up my state of Ihraam wherever I cannot proceed."

After this, the pilgrim proceeds with Talbiyah as shown previously. Once the pilgrim reaches Makkah, he heads for al-Masjid al-Haraam and circumambulates the Ka`bah seven times in a state of wudu beginning by kissing the black stone or if it's impossible by raising the hands as far as the ears saying, "Bismillah Allahu Akbar!" After Tawaaf, the pilgrim prays two Rak'aas at Maqaamu Ibraahim - without disturbing those who circumambulate- drinks Zamzam water then goes to walk between as-Safaa and al-Marwah seven times, then gets the hair cut or shaved. With this the state of Ihraam and 'Umrah are ended. On the day of Tarwiyah, that is the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah, the pilgrim enters another time in the state of Ihraam saying,

" Labbayk-Allahumma labbayka bi-Hajj!" or "Labbayka Hajjan"
"O Allah! I answer Your call to perform Hajj."

The pilgrim can add, " O Allah! I intend to perform Hajj, so make it easy for me, and accept it from me. I intend to perform Hajj and I am entering in the state of Ihram only for Your sake, O Allah !" Then the Talbiyah is repeated throughout the rituals of Hajj in Mina, Arafah, and Muzdalifah. On the 10th of dhul-Hijjah, a sacrifice should be offered to Allah as mentioned in Qur'an after stoning at al-Jamaraat. After the sacrifice is done, the pilgrim can shave or cut the hair. Once the Tawaaf of Ifaadah is done, the pilgrim should do Sa'y between as-Safa and al-Marwah for Hajj. However, if a person starts with the Tawaaf of al-Ifaadah, then Sa'y, then shaves and then stones at al-Jamaraat it is also accepted.
Tamattu' Hajj is the most recommended for people and it was more encouraged to it by the Prophet (S). This is indeed the best way to perform Hajj. Once Hajj is completed, a Hady should be offered on the 10th. Allah (swt) says,

"If any one wishes to continue the Umra on to the Hajj, he must make an offering such as he can afford, but if he cannot afford it, he should fast three days during the Hajj and seven days on his return, making ten days in all. This is for those whose household is not in (the precincts of) the Sacred Mosque, and fear Allah, and know that Allah, is strict in punishment."(2:196)

2-Qiran means to combine Hajj and 'Umrah. This means that the pilgrim should declare the intention to perform both Hajj and `Umrah together,

"Labbayk-Allahumma labbayka bi-Hajjin wa-'Umrah!" or
"Labbayka Hajjan wa 'Umratan!"
"O Allah! I answer Your call to perform Hajj and 'Umrah!"

In this kind of Hajj, it is not allowed for the pilgrim to end the state of Ihraam after Sa'ay. The pilgrim will not have to perform after the Ifadah Tawaaf on the 10th of dhil Hijjah the Sa'y because it is already performed for both Hajj and `Umrah.
The pilgrim is supposed to bring his sacrificial animal with him as the Prophet (S) did. This must be done because the rituals of Hajj and `Umrah were joined together.

3-Ifraad means that the pilgrim declares his intention for Hajj only.

" Labbayk-Allahumma labbayka bi-Hajj!" or " Labbayka Hajjan"
"O Allah! I answer Your call to perform Hajj."
The pilgrim maintains his Ihraam up to the Day of Sacrifice. No animal sacrifice offering is required from him.

Pilgrims can also go to Mecca to perform the rituals at other times of the year. This is sometimes called the "lesser pilgrimage", or Umrah. However, even if they perform the Umrah, they are still obligated to perform the Hajj at some other point in their lifetime.