The importance of Umrah in Islam

 From the noble conversations about the virtue of Umrah

On the authority of Abu Huraira that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Umrah to Umrah is an expiation for whatever is between them, and the accepted Hajj has no reward but paradise.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

Interpretation: Performing Umrah atone for the sins of the servant between the previous Umrah and the current Umrah except for major sins (interpretation of Ibn Baz).

1. Complete sincerity in performing Umrah and that the intention is pure only for the sake of God Almighty.

2. Make sure to perform Umrah in the same way that was mentioned in the Sunnah of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace.

Date of Umrah:

In the early days of Islam, tensions were constantly rising in Mecca between Muslims and the infidels, who prevented residents from performing the Hajj pilgrimage in Medina. In 628 AD (6 AH), Muslims traveled from Medina to Mecca, after the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, had a vision of Muslims performing the rituals of Umrah.

But they refused to enter the Quraysh tribe, and the Prophet did not want to enter the holy site by force out of respect for the Kaaba. Diplomatic negotiations took place between the two parties, whereby the Treaty of Hudaybiyah was concluded, which promised a period free of hostilities for 10 years, and access to the Kaaba for a period of three days annually.

In the following Hijri year, the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, made his way to Mecca with 2,000 Muslims (men, women and children), where they performed the rituals of what became the first Umrah in Islam.

The importance of Umrah:

Umrah is considered the "smaller Hajj", while Hajj is considered the "greatest Hajj", it is from the Sunnah and not an obligatory act, and Muslims are advised to strive to perform this work not once but for as many times as they can during their lives, as is evident from the hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah ( May God be pleased with him), where the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, says: “Performing Umrah is the expiation for the sins committed between them and the previous ones, and the reward for the accepted Hajj (Hajj is accepted by God) is nothing but heaven.” (Bukhari)

Umrah, performed with faithful intentions, can be a way to purify the mind and soul polluted by sin and waving negation. It was said that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “alternate between Hajj and Umrah” because both of them get rid of poverty and sins just as mourning removes all the impurities from minerals such as Iron, gold and silver. (Al-Tirmidhi)

One should forgive God Almighty at all times and places, but Umrah has enormous rewards, as it requires a Muslim to leave his home and amenities for life and devote all of his time to worshiping God. In Surat Al-Baqarah (2: 186), he says: "If my slaves asked me, I answer to the supplicant if the whisperings Felictjibwa me and believe me they might usher (186). So let them respond to me [obedience] and believe in me that they may be guided by the" right . And how great were his blessings when they asked him and invited him in his holy house?

Moreover, any Muslim who travels to Umrah is considered a Hajj until he returns to his country. In the hadith narrated by Ibn Umar, the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, said: “The performance of Hajj and Umrah is from God Almighty. If he calls for him, he answers them, and if they ask for his forgiveness, he will forgive them.

Virtues of Umrah:

Umrah is one of the best deeds that one can do to gain closeness to God Almighty, and it is vitally important that we learn from the great blessings that one can gain by taking advantage of every moment during their time near the Sacred House of God. It has a tremendous impact on her spiritual and mental state, not only at the time of performing this simple Hajj, but throughout the rest of their lives, it is not just an act through which the pilgrim can atone for his sins and purify his soul.

It is also considered jihad in this modern era, especially for the elderly and the weak, women and children, who were not able - during the time of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace - to participate in the Islamic conquests and traditional acts of jihad.