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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

S’y trouvent des signes manifestes, au nombre desquels la station d’Abraham. Quiconque y pénètre se trouve en sécurité. Se rendre en pèlerinage à ce sanctuaire est un devoir envers Allah pour quiconque en a les moyens. Quant à celui qui, par impiété, se détourne de cette obligation, qu’il sache qu’Allah peut parfaitement se passer des hommes.

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

Nous lui avons ordonné d’appeler les hommes à venir y accomplir le pèlerinage à pied ou sur toute monture efflanquée, en provenance des contrées les plus éloignées,

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.

Questions fréquentes

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.

Les textes et traductions sont en cours de révision par des savants.