Hajj (Pilgrimage):-
The fifth pillar of Islam is Hajj (Pilgrimage), Hajj is an act of worshiping Allah by heading toward the Holy Mosque in Mecca and doing certain acts of worship at certain times.
Allah says in The Holy Quran chapter 3 verse 97:-
“Thus, Pilgrimage to The House (The Holy Mosque) is a duty to Allah upon mankind-whoever can make a way to it. Yet whoever has denied then Allah is indeed Self-Sufficient of all realms.”
Hajj is obligated only once in a lifetime.
Hajj rites are usually done between the eighth and thirteenth of the month Dhul-Hijjah, the twelfth month in the lunar Islamic calendar.
Hajj has four main pillars:
1-Ihraam, it means the intention of beginning of Hajj in a state of purity
2-Standing on mount Arafah, praising and glorifying Allah
3-Tawaaf, it means walking seven times around The Kaaba
4-Al-Sa’i, it means walking seven times between mount As-Safa and mount Al-Marwa
Virtuosi of Hajj:-
Prophet Muhammad PBUH said: “Whoever performs Hajj to Allah, and he does not have sexual relations nor commit any sin, then he will come back from it sinless as the day his mother gave birth to him.”
Prophet Muhammad PBUH also said: “An accepted blessed Hajj has no reward except Paradise.”
Who must perform Hajj? :-
Hajj is obligatory upon every person who is:
1-Muslim
2-Sane and accountable of his actions
3-Mature, not a kid
4-Free, not a slave as there were slaves in the previous civilizations
5-Able with money and health to perform Hajj
6-For a woman, she must perform Hajj with her husband or any male relative whom she is not permitted to marry like her father, brother, son, grandfather, grandson, nephew and uncle.
Umrah:-
Umrah (Minor pilgrimage), is an act of worshiping Allah in a certain way, Umrah can be performed at any time of the year unlike Hajj which has certain time to be performed in.
All the ritual practices of Umrah performed inside the area of The Holy Mosque in Mecca.
Umrah has four main pillars:-
1-Ihraam, it means the intention of beginning of Umrah in a state of purity
2-Tawaaf, it means walking seven times around The Kaaba
3-Al-Sa’i, it means walking seven times between mount As-Safa and mount Al-Marwa
4-Having one’s head shaved off or one’s hair cut short
Umrah is obligated upon those who can afford it once in a lifetime, and it is recommended to do it again, prophet Muhammad PBUH said:
“From one Umrah to the next Umrah is an atonement for what (sins) occurred between them.”
Virtues of Umrah during the month of Ramadan:-
Prophet Muhammad PBUH said: “Performing Umrah during the month of Ramadan is equal to performing Hajj (Pilgrimage).”