Badal umrah

Umrah, often called the “lesser pilgrimage”, is a sacred act of worship performed in Makkah. While it is distinct from Hajj, it carries great spiritual value and serves as a means of drawing closer to Allah. Many Muslims perform it as a voluntary act, though some scholars consider it obligatory at least once in a lifetime for those who are able.

The virtue of Umrah is highlighted in the words of the Prophet ﷺ. In an authentic hadith recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, he said:

“One Umrah to the next is an expiation for the sins committed between them, and the accepted Hajj has no reward but Paradise.”

Pillars of Umrah

The Umrah is based on three pillars*:
*The pilgrimage is declared void if one of these acts has not been performed.

1st pillar

IHRAM

State of
sanctification

2nd pillar

TAWAF

Circumambulation
around the Kaaba

3rd pillar

SA’I

Making Sa’i between As-Safa and Al-Marwa

Obligations of Umrah

The acts required to perform Umrah can be summarized in three simple steps, making them easy to remember. First, a pilgrim must enter the state of Ihram from the designated Miqat — the place of sanctification for those coming from outside Makkah — or from any point outside the sacred boundary if already in Makkah. Second, men must avoid wearing stitched clothing, observing the specific dress code of Ihram. Finally, the pilgrim completes this stage by either shaving or trimming the hair, marking the formal beginning of Umrah.

The Virtue of Umrah in Ramadan

Performing Umrah during the holy month of Ramadan holds special merit. It is narrated from Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Umrah performed in Ramadan is equal in reward to Hajj.”
(Al-Bukhari 1782, Muslim 1256)

This means that undertaking Umrah in Ramadan brings immense spiritual reward, comparable to the Hajj performed with the Prophet ﷺ. However, it does not replace the obligation of Hajj for those who are required to perform it.