Umrah is a holy journey to the city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia. In Islam, it is often called the 'small pilgrimage' to show it is different from the much larger Hajj pilgrimage.
When Muslims go for Umrah, they visit the Ka’aba. This is the sacred building at the center of the Grand Mosque. It is the spot that every Muslim faces while praying their daily Namaj.
Why do people go for Umrah?
For many, Umrah is a way to clean the heart and start fresh. It is a very emotional and spiritual trip. People go there to:
- Ask for Forgiveness: To pray for their past mistakes to be forgiven.
- Make Du’a: To talk to Allah directly and ask for blessings for their family and life.
- Follow the Prophet: Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told his followers to try and do Umrah at least once. He himself did this journey four times.
The Story Behind Umrah
The first Umrah happened a long time ago. After moving to Madinah, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had a dream where he was performing the rituals in Makkah.
In the year 6 AH, he set out with 2,000 followers. Even though there were many struggles and some people tried to stop them at first, a peace deal called the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah was eventually signed. This allowed the Muslims to visit the Ka’aba peacefully.
Key Benefits of Umrah
- Guest of Allah: It is said that those who go for Umrah are like special guests of God.
- Removing Poverty: Some teachings say that doing Umrah regularly can help remove poverty and bring blessings to your wealth.
- Big Rewards in Ramadan: If you perform Umrah during the month of Ramadan, the reward is as great as doing the Hajj pilgrimage.
How is Umrah different from Hajj?
Many people get confused between the two. Here is a simple breakdown:
- Hajj is a duty for every Muslim who can afford it. It happens only once a year during a specific time.
- Umrah is a choice (voluntary). You can go for Umrah almost any time of the year. It is also much shorter, usually taking only a few hours to finish all the prayers.
Basic Steps of the Journey
- Ihram: Wearing simple white clothes and making a promise to stay pure.
- Tawaf: Walking around the Ka’aba seven times.
- Sa’i: Walking seven times between the two hills, Safa and Marwa.
- Haircut: Men shave their heads or cut their hair short, and women cut a tiny bit of their hair to finish the rituals.
So, Umrah is an important act of worship in a Muslim’s life. Every Muslim should try to perform Umrah at least once in their lifetime. If you are looking for a good Umrah agency in Dhaka, choose us—we always try our best to serve you.