What Is Umrah? Meaning, Steps and the Difference Between Umrah and Hajj

What Umrah means, what pilgrims do step by step, how it differs from Hajj in obligation, timing, rites and cost, and how to explain it simply.

Umrah is the pilgrimage to Makkah that Muslims can perform at almost any time of year. The word comes from the Arabic *i'timar*, "to visit", and it is often called the "lesser pilgrimage" to distinguish it from Hajj. It takes only a few hours to complete, yet for most Muslims it is one of the most meaningful journeys of their lives. This guide explains what the word means, what pilgrims actually do, how it differs from Hajj, and how to explain it simply to a friend or colleague who isn't Muslim.

What does Umrah mean?

Linguistically, Umrah means a visit. In Islamic law it means visiting the Kaaba in Makkah in a state of ihram (ritual consecration) to perform a set of acts of worship: walking around the Kaaba, walking between the hills of Safa and Marwah, and then shaving or trimming the hair. There is no single English word for it: "pilgrimage" or "minor pilgrimage" is the closest translation, which is why English speakers simply keep the Arabic word. The Prophet ﷺ described its reward: "Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed between it and the previous one, and the reward of an accepted Hajj is nothing less than Paradise" (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). That promise of a fresh start is why many Muslims return more than once in their lives.

What do pilgrims do during Umrah?

There are four main steps, and together they usually take between three and six hours depending on the crowds: 1. Ihram. Before crossing the miqat (the boundary around Makkah), the pilgrim makes the intention and enters ihram. Men wear two plain white unstitched sheets; women wear ordinary modest clothing. Certain things, such as perfume and cutting hair or nails, are then not allowed until the rites are finished. Pilgrims recite the Talbiyah: Labbayk Allahumma labbayk, "Here I am, O Allah, here I am." 2. Tawaf. Seven anticlockwise circuits around the Kaaba, starting and ending at the corner of the Black Stone, followed by two units of prayer. 3. Sa'i. Seven laps between the small hills of Safa and Marwah, now inside the mosque, recalling Hajar's search for water for her son Ismail. 4. Halq or taqsir. Men shave their heads or trim their hair; women trim a fingertip's length. The pilgrimage is then complete. Most pilgrims then spend a few days praying in the Grand Mosque and travel to Madinah to visit the Prophet's Mosque, which is recommended but is not one of the rites. If this is your first Umrah, our guide on how to perform Umrah step by step walks you through each rite.

What is the difference between Umrah and Hajj?

Both are pilgrimages to Makkah and both begin in ihram with Tawaf and Sa'i, but they differ in five important ways: - Obligation. Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam, obligatory once in a lifetime for every adult Muslim who is physically and financially able. The lesser pilgrimage is considered obligatory once by the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools and a strongly recommended Sunnah by the Hanafi and Maliki schools. - Timing. Hajj can only be performed on fixed days, from the 8th to the 13th of Dhul Hijjah. The lesser pilgrimage can be performed at any time of year, except that Saudi Arabia pauses it for international visitors for several weeks around the Hajj season. - Rites. Hajj adds standing at Arafah (the heart of Hajj), the night at Muzdalifah, the days in Mina, stoning the pillars (jamarat) and, for most pilgrims, an animal sacrifice. The lesser pilgrimage has no Arafah, Mina or stoning. - Duration. The lesser pilgrimage takes hours; Hajj takes about five days, and most packages are two to three weeks long. - Access and cost. Pilgrims from the UK, Europe and North America book Hajj through the official Nusuk Hajj platform, with limited places and prices usually several times higher. The lesser pilgrimage needs only a tourist e-visa (for most Western passports) and a free Nusuk permit. Does Umrah replace Hajj? No. Even an Umrah in Ramadan, whose reward the Prophet ﷺ compared to Hajj (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim), does not remove the obligation of Hajj for someone who is able.

Hajj or Umrah first?

There is no requirement to perform Umrah before Hajj or the other way round. In practice, most Muslims from the UK and North America go for the lesser pilgrimage first: it is easier to arrange, cheaper and available all year, and it familiarises them with Tawaf, Sa'i and the Grand Mosque before Hajj. Many Hajj pilgrims also combine the two in one trip using the tamattu' method, performing Umrah on arrival and Hajj a few days later. If you are able to perform Hajj, scholars advise not to delay it.

How to explain Umrah to someone who isn't Muslim

A simple way to put it: "Umrah is a short pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city in Islam. Pilgrims wear simple white clothes, walk seven times around the Kaaba, walk between two hills as the prophet Abraham's wife Hagar once did, and then cut their hair as a sign of a new beginning. Unlike Hajj, which happens once a year, it can be done at almost any time." Colleagues often ask how long you will be away: most people travel for 7 to 14 days, including a few days in Madinah. Mecca and the central area of Madinah are open only to Muslims.

When can you perform Umrah, and how do you start?

It can be performed throughout the year, but the experience changes a lot with the season: Ramadan brings the greatest reward and the biggest crowds, while the winter months are cooler and calmer. Our guide to the best time for Umrah compares each month, and our Ramadan Umrah 2027 page covers the most sought-after dates. To go, you need a passport valid for six months, a visa that allows Umrah, the meningitis ACWY vaccine and a Nusuk permit, plus flights and hotels in Makkah and Madinah. Yuusr lets you compare complete packages with flights, hotels near the Haram and transfers: start with our Umrah packages from the USA, from Canada or from the UK. For a first trip, many people prefer a group departure with a scholar. Use our Umrah checklist and packing list so nothing is forgotten. For the exact words at each stage, see our Umrah duas step by step.

Frequently asked questions

Is Hajj better than Umrah?

Hajj is greater in status because it is a pillar of Islam and obligatory for those able. The lesser pilgrimage is still a highly rewarded act of worship, and performing it in Ramadan carries a reward comparable to Hajj, although it does not replace it.

How long does one Umrah take?

The rites themselves take about three to six hours. Most trips last 7 to 14 days so that pilgrims can pray in both holy mosques.

Is Umrah compulsory?

Scholars differ. The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools hold that it is obligatory once in a lifetime for those able; the Hanafi and Maliki schools hold that it is a strongly recommended Sunnah. Hajj, by contrast, is obligatory by consensus for those able.

Can you do Umrah during Hajj season?

Not on a tourist visa. Saudi Arabia pauses it for international pilgrims for several weeks before and after Hajj; Hajj pilgrims usually perform it as part of their Hajj.

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