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What is Hajj and how is it different from Umrah?

Short answerHajj is a pillar of Islam: travelling to Makkah to perform set rites in the days of Dhul-Hijjah, required once in a lifetime for those able. Umrah is a visit to Makkah for ihram, tawaf and sa‘i that may be done at any time of the year. The central day of Hajj is Arafah, the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah.

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The command

Quran
فِيهِ ءَايَٰتُۢ بَيِّنَٰتٞ مَّقَامُ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُۥ كَانَ ءَامِنٗاۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ حِجُّ ٱلۡبَيۡتِ مَنِ ٱسۡتَطَاعَ إِلَيۡهِ سَبِيلٗاۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ

Darin liegen klare Zeichen. (Es ist) der Standort Ibrahims. Und wer es betritt, ist sicher. Und Allah steht es den Menschen gegenüber zu, daß sie die Pilgerfahrt zum Hause unternehmen - (diejenigen,) die dazu die Möglichkeit haben. Wer aber ungläubig ist, so ist Allah der Weltenbewohner Unbedürftig.

Aal Imran 3:97
Quran
وَأَذِّن فِي ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلۡحَجِّ يَأۡتُوكَ رِجَالٗا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٖ يَأۡتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٖ

Und rufe unter den Menschen die Pilgerfahrt aus, so werden sie zu dir kommen zu Fuß und auf vielen hageren (Reittieren), die aus jedem tiefen Paßweg da herkommen,

Al-Hajj 22:27

The rites in brief

  • Ihram from the miqat with the intention for Hajj and simple uniform garments.
  • Tawaf around the Kaaba seven times, and sa‘i between Safa and Marwa seven times.
  • Standing at Arafah (9 Dhul-Hijjah), spending the night at Muzdalifah, then stoning the pillars at Mina, the sacrifice and shaving or trimming the hair.
  • Farewell tawaf before leaving.

Hajj versus Umrah

  • Hajj: in set days of Dhul-Hijjah, includes standing at Arafah, and is obligatory once for those able.
  • Umrah: any time, with ihram, tawaf, sa‘i and shaving or trimming; strongly recommended according to the majority (obligatory according to some).

The merit of Hajj

Hadith
مَنْ حَجَّ لِلَّهِ فَلَمْ يَرْفُثْ وَلَمْ يَفْسُقْ رَجَعَ كَيَوْمِ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ

Whoever performs Hajj for God, and does not commit obscenity or transgression, returns like the day his mother bore him.

Al-Bukhari 1521, Muslim 1350

The next Hajj

Arafah is expected around 15 May 2027 and Eid al-Adha around 16 May 2027, subject to moon sighting.

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Why can non-Muslims not enter Makkah?

Makkah is a sanctuary dedicated to worship, as established in the Quran and Sunnah; Muslims regard it as a city of worship rather than tourism.

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