Shah Rukh Khan performed Umrah in Mecca; What is the difference between Hajj and Umrah?

Shah Rukh Khan’s visit to Mecca, Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah was big news in the media. Shahrukh’s visit to Saudi Arabia for Umrah came to light through a photo posted by her official fan group on Twitter. After this photo of Shahrukh came out, many people doubt what Umrah is. Learn more.

What is Umrah?

Umrah is a short pilgrimage to Mecca. Umrah is a shortened version of Hajj, which is obligatory in Islam. It’s an Arabic word. It means visiting a famous place. Umrah is not an obligatory act among the five main tenets of Islam. Umrah can be performed at any time of the year. This job can be done in hours.

What is the importance of the umrah?

Though a lesser-known pilgrimage, Umrah is a sacred journey, taken by Muslims as an opportunity to increase their faith, pray, and ask for forgiveness. Those who perform Umrah are believed to be cleansed of their sins.

[Pics]: King #ShahRukhKhan performing Umrah al Makka Sharif ❤️@iamsrk#Pathaan #ReKhan pic.twitter.com/Rb1Uz3bfzk

— Team Shah Rukh Khan Fan Club (@teamsrkfc) December 1, 2022

What clothes are worn for Umrah?

Before starting the pilgrimage, the first thing a believer should do is purification. Makeup and beauty products should not be used during this time. Men should wear two white suits. One should cover the lower half of the body and the other should cover the body and shoulders. You shouldn’t wear underwear. Men can wear sandals. Don’t hide your head.

Women should wear loose clothing such as hijab which covers the body. It is believed that the face should not be covered.

How to perform umrah?

To perform Hajj or Umrah, a Muslim believer must first enter Ihram. According to this, a person entering Ihram should not quarrel with anyone or use obscene words. No animals should be harmed. It is said in the precept of Ihram that one should not harm even a small insect.

When pilgrims reach the Meeqaat, the first step of the entrance to Mecca, they must recite the purpose of the umrah and their intentions aloud.

Then, while walking to the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest shrine, pilgrims must recite the Talbiya. It is to announce their arrival to Allah and to announce that they are his servants. The Kaaba is located in Mecca’s large mosque complex known as the Masjid al-Haram.

At every step of the mosque, one should pray to Allah for forgiveness and mercy for one’s mistakes. Then the believers perform Tawaf. The Kaaba is circumambulated counterclockwise seven times. After performing this ceremony, pilgrims are to recite verses from the Quran at Maqam Ibrahim, the site of Abraham near the Kaaba. After that holy water called Samsam will be served.

Thereafter, the pilgrims will circumambulate between Mount Safa and Mount Marwa seven times. This ceremony commemorates the journey of Hajar, wife of the Prophet Ibrahim, in search of water for her son Ishmael in the barren land. Legend has it that the angel Gabriel appeared before Hajjar, who had climbed from hill to hill, and created holy water there, thus saving Ishmael’s life. Pilgrims still drink water from this water source.

After completing this ceremony there is a prayer. It is known as Takseer. Cutting the hair and shaving the head are part of this prayer. These ceremonies are performed as a completion of rebirth and pilgrimage. Pilgrim women only cut a small part of their hair. Ihram should not be followed by Taqseer.

Difference between Umrah and Hajj?

Umrah is not mandatory. But Hajj must be performed by physically able Muslims. Hajj is one of the five basic principles of Islam. Hajj is a pilgrimage that Muslims must make at least once in their lifetime.

Umrah can be performed at any time of the year. But Muslims choose Hajj between the 8th and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

Umrah pilgrimage is cheaper and faster than Hajj. As of last October, Saudi Arabia had issued more than two million visas for pilgrims from 176 countries.

10 lakh Muslims have completed Hajj this year. This year, only those who have been vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus and are between the ages of 18 and 65 have been able to make the pilgrimage. About 85% of pilgrims come from foreign countries for Hajj.

All Muslims who are able to travel must perform the Hajj pilgrimage. The Hajj pilgrimage aims to lead the faithful along the path taken by the Prophet Muhammad some 1,400 years ago. It takes pilgrims about five days to complete the pilgrimage.

The story of Shihab, a young man who was walking to Mecca from Malappuram, made headlines recently. The young man hopes to complete the journey in eight months. The journey began last June. It is estimated that the distance of 8640 km will be reached in 280 days. The plan is to apply for Hajj in 2023 after going to Saudi Arabia.