What are the Islamic Pilgrimages?

 For religious reasons, Muslims are subjected to observe pilgrimages to the holy city of Makkah, Saudia Arabia. Islamic pilgrimages have the basic concept of gathering Muslims from across the world at one platform; supplicating to Allah Almighty; promoting the sense of brotherhood, unity and equality among them. There are two Islamic Pilgrimages; Hajj (the obligatory pilgrimage) and Umrah (the voluntary/sunnah pilgrimage). All around the year, Muslims keep on arriving through their Islamic Travel Offers Cheap Hajj and Umrah Packages 2023 in the kingdom of Saudia Arabia for observing the holy rituals.

Here’s a brief description of the Islamic Pilgrimages and their importance.

Hajj; the obligatory pilgrimage of Islam.

Hajj, also known as the ‘Major Pilgrimage’ is a religious obligation for every able Muslim as the fifth pillar of Islam. For anyone who has the financial, mental as well as the physical capability for it, Hajj remains an obligation to be fulfilled at least once in a lifetime. Remember that such a person should also be providing for his family for all of their expenditures back home during his travel to the holy land. If and only all of these conditions are fulfilled, then hajj becomes obligatory for such a person.

Time for Hajj performance. 

Hajj is observed annually during the month of Dhu-al-Hijjah which is the 12th and last month of an Islamic Lunar year. Hajj rituals officially commence from the 8th of Dhu-al-Hijjah and continue till the 12th of Dhu-al-Hijjah. Usually, pilgrims arrive in the kingdom before the 8th of Dhul Hijjah, offer their Umrah rituals, and then reassume Ihram to gather and perform all of the Hajj rituals collectively. 

Significance of Hajj.

As the rituals of hajj complete, the pilgrims are offered an opportunity to get all their sins wiped away; renew their perspective of life, and have a fresh start just like a newborn baby. One of the greatest rewards one would get from the Almighty after the performance of Hajj with honest intentions is that all of his past sins will be forgiven.

Umrah; the voluntary pilgrimage.

Umrah, also referred to as the ‘Minor Pilgrimage’ is a voluntary pilgrimage that Muslims undertake in the performance of the Sunnah of our Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW). To explain it further, performing Umrah is not an obligation for any Muslim even if he/she has all the means for it. However, it remains a recommended activity because of the great rewards it holds for pilgrims. 

Time for Umrah's performance.

Umrah season lasts all around the year i.e., one can travel for umrah rituals any time of the year except for the days of hajj. 

Significance of Umrah.

Umrah's performance holds exceptional rewards for the pilgrims, similar to that of the hajj pilgrimage. In fact, the performance of Umrah during the holy month of Ramadan is itself equivalent to hajj in reward.

These are some of the important things to know about Islamic pilgrimages.