Umrah

Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca involving a set of rites performed at the Sacred Mosque and nearby sites. Unlike Hajj, it can be undertaken at any time of year and does not fulfill the obligation of Hajj.

Ihram: A sacred state entered for pilgrimage, marked by intentions and restrictions on conduct. Pilgrims enter ihram before beginning Umrah’s rites.
Kaaba: A cube-shaped sanctuary in Mecca toward which Muslims pray and around which pilgrims circumambulate. It is the focal point of Umrah’s tawaf.
Niyyah: The intention that gives an act its religious purpose in Islamic practice. A pilgrim forms the intention to perform Umrah before entering ihram.
Ihram clothing: Simple garments worn by male pilgrims during ihram; women generally wear modest clothing without a prescribed uniform. The garments are often mistaken for the whole of ihram, which is a sacred state.
Tawaf: The ritual circumambulation of the Kaaba, performed seven times counterclockwise. Umrah includes seven circuits around the Kaaba.
Mecca: A city in western Saudi Arabia and the holiest city in Islam. Umrah’s rites are performed in and around this city.
Talbiyah: A devotional Arabic formula recited by pilgrims responding to God’s call to pilgrimage. Pilgrims recite it after entering ihram on the way to Mecca.
Hajj al-tamattu: A form of Hajj in which a pilgrim performs Umrah, leaves ihram, then enters ihram again for Hajj. It incorporates Umrah into Hajj but does not make the two pilgrimages identical.
Sa'i: The ritual passage seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa in Mecca. It follows tawaf and recalls Hajar’s search for water.
Hajj: The obligatory Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, performed during specific days of the Islamic lunar year. Hajj shares central rites with Umrah but has a fixed season and distinct obligations.

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