Umrah is often referred to as the ‘lesser’ or ‘minor pilgrimage. It is an act of worship undertaken by Muslims. It involves pilgrims travelling to the blessed city of Makkah; where the revered Ka’aba stands as the epicentre of Islamic faith and the focal direction of worship, and performing a set of blessed rituals.
Umrah is a sacred journey that holds immense significance in the hearts of all Muslims. It is a beloved Sunnah that offers a unique opportunity to refresh one’s faith and cleanse one’s soul. Pilgrims seek forgiveness, make sincere du’a and aim to gain a closer connection to Allah.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged us to perform Umrah at least once in our lifetime. He, himself (PBUH) performed it four times.
Many pilgrims choose to book their trip with a package provider. An Umrah package is provided by a tour operator and includes essential services that are needed for your trip, such as visas, flights and hotels.
If you are arranging your Umrah travel without a package provider, you will need a visa to perform Umrah. You can apply for a Saudi tourist visa online here.
If you’re booking without a package provider, you will also need to book flights to Makkah, plan your travel between Makkah and Madina or to Islamic Historical sites, and also to choose and book a hotel online which is convenient for accessing the Haram Sharif.
Umrah involves making your intention and assuming Ihram. It is then followed by entering the Masjid al-Haram and performing Tawaf.
The next step is to perform two Rak’ah at the Maqam Ibrahim and to drink Zamzam water.
Then, one must perform Sa’i, which involves walking/running between Safa and Marwa, completing 7 circuits in total.
The final step is for men to shave their head, while women cut the length of a fingertip in order to break from the state of Ihram.
After a friend or relative returns from Umrah, it is the custom to visit and congratulate them on completing Umrah. It’s also a nice idea to present them with a gift.
Pilgrims travelling may also wish to bring gifts from Makkah and Madinah for their loved ones at home.
As Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
Give presents to one another for this would increase your mutual love.
Hadith | Sahih Bukhari
There are no specific gifts to present to those who have returned from Umrah.
Whilst, both Umrah and Hajj involved the sacred sites in Makkah. there are notable differences, between the two:
Umrah is a voluntary pilgrimage and is an optional act of worship. Hajj is one of the 5 pillars of Islam, and is obligatory for every able-bodied Muslim who has the financial means to undertake the journey.
Umrah can be performed at any time throughout the year, except for the days of Hajj and usually takes between 3-6 hours.
Hajj takes place during the specific days of Dhul Hijjah. from the 8th to 12th or 13th of Dhul Hijjah. When the new crescent moon is sighted, Eid al-Adha begins, which lasts for four days.
It is a longer pilgrimage that spans several days and involves various rituals and activities.
Hajj comprises a set of additional rituals. These include spending time in Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah, performing specific prayers and supplications and stoning the pillars representing Shaytaan (Rami).
We’ve put together a list of things to remember before going for Umrah:
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Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.
Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.
Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.
Nadeem Azhar
Nadeem joined Islamic Relief Worldwide in September 2022. He has worked in the charitable sector for over a decade.
He studied Modern History and Politics at Manchester University, and at the University of Law in London before qualifying as a solicitor in 2011.
Nadeem is an experienced corporate, commercial and governance lawyer, having worked with various faith-based and grant making charities as well those in health and education settings. He was a partner at a law firm in London before moving in-house where he focused on setting up and restructuring charities and social enterprises.
Most recently, Nadeem was Lead Counsel at Mind, a leading mental health charity, where he co-authored a new federation agreement, revamped legal processes, and played a major role in developing its strategic and fundraising partnerships.
Nadeem has been a charity trustee for the Seafarers Charity, as well as many grant-making bodies and theatre companies.
Adnan Hafiz
Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.
Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.
Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.
Martin Cottingham joined Islamic Relief in 2012 as IRUK Media Relations Manager, and was appointed Head of Communications in 2015 before taking up his current position as Director of External Relations and Advocacy for Islamic Relief Worldwide.
Martin has helped Islamic Relief to increase its mainstream media profile and expand its campaigning work, producing hard-hitting advocacy reports on floods in Pakistan (2011) famine in Somalia (2012) disaster risk reduction (2013) and aid to Afghanistan (2014). He has over 20 years’ experience working in media, communications and marketing roles for international development and environmental charities.
Martin graduated from the University of London with a degree in English and Drama (1982-85) then trained as a journalist with a postgraduate diploma at City University (1986-87). He has previously worked for Christian Aid as Editor of Christian Aid News and Media Relations Manager (1988-97) for Oxfam as Regional Campaigns Manager (1997-2000) and at the Soil Association as Marketing Director (2001-2006), as well as working for a wide range of organisations as a freelance writer, researcher and communications consultant.
Waseem Ahmad joined the Islamic Relief family over 24 years ago, serving as Programme Officer in the Balochistan province of south-western Pakistan before becoming Head of Programmes in Pakistan. Waseem then moved to Oxfam and Tearfund before returning to Islamic Relief to establish our mission in Malawi. Later serving as Head of Programme Funding and Partnerships, Waseem led the response to major crises across the globe, including the East Africa drought, Pakistan earthquake and the Indian Ocean Tsunami.
Waseem then served for nearly 6 years as our Director of International Programmes, during which time the charity secured and retained the coveted Core Humanitarian Standard certification in recognition of the quality of our programming. He was appointed CEO of Islamic Relief in May 2021.
With a special interest in community mobilisation and infrastructure, Waseem received an MSc in Project Planning and Management from the University of Bradford, as well as an MSc in Economics from Arid Agriculture University in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Waseem has also worked for Lepra Health in Action and is a member of the International Civil Society Centre’s Board of Trustees. The father-of-3 enjoys walking and playing football, and is a keen birdwatcher.