{{Short description|Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca}} {{distinguish|Ummah{{!}}''Ummah''}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{cleanup|reason=the article contains various style and verification issues|date=January 2023}} [[File:Kaaba mirror edit jj.jpg|thumb|Pilgrims circumambulating the Kaaba in Mecca]]
The '''Umrah''' ({{langx|ar|عُمْرَة|lit=to visit a populated place}}) is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city for Muslims, located in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia. It can be undertaken at any time of the year, in contrast to the ''Ḥajj'' ({{IPAc-en|h|æ|dʒ}};<ref>Hajj</ref> "pilgrimage"), which has specific dates according to the Islamic lunar calendar. However, during the Hajj season (Dhu al-Hijjah), only those who are performing Hajj are permitted to perform Umrah, as per regulations set by the Saudi government to manage crowd control and ensure safety.
==Rites and rituals== In accordance to Islam for both pilgrimages, a Muslim must first assume ''Ihram'', a state of purification achieved by completing cleansing rituals, wearing the prescribed attire, and abstaining from certain actions. This must be attained when reaching a ''Miqat'', a principal boundary point on the way to Mecca, like ''Dhu 'l-Hulaifah'', ''Juhfah, Qarnu 'l-Manāzil, Yalamlam, Zāt-i-'Irq, Ibrahīm Mursīyah'', or a place in ''Al-Hill''. Different conditions exist for air travelers, who must observe Ihram once entering a specific perimeter in the city. thumb|200px|''Tawaf'' and ''Sa'i'' Umrah requires Muslims to perform two key rituals, ''Tawaf'' and ''Sa'i''. Tawaf is a circling round the ''Kaaba'' seven times. This is followed by ''Sa'i'', a walk between the hillocks of ''Safa'' and ''Marwah'' in the Great Mosque of Mecca to commemorate Hagar (Hājar)'s search for water for her son, Ishmael (''Ismāʿīl''), and God's mercy in answering her prayers. Pilgrims conclude the pilgrimage with ''Halq'', a partial or complete shortening of the hair.
Umrah is sometimes considered the "lesser pilgrimage", in that it is not compulsory in all Islam schools of thought, but is still highly recommended. It is mandatory according to the ''Hanbalis'' and also according to the ''Shafi'is''. It is generally able to be completed in a few hours, in comparison to Ḥajj, which may take a few days. It is also not meant to be interpreted as a substitute for Hajj. However, both are demonstrations of the solidarity of the Muslim people, and their submission to ''Allah'' (God).
==History== According to the Muslim traditional accounts, access to the Holy Site (and thus the right to practice the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages) has not always been granted to Muslims. It is reported in the Muslim traditional accounts that throughout Muhammad's era, the Muslims wanted to establish the right to perform Umrah and Hajj to Mecca since the latter had been prescribed by the Quran. During that time, Mecca was occupied by Arab Pagans who used to worship idols inside Mecca.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hawting |first1=G. E. |title=The Disappearance and Rediscovery of Zamzam and the 'Well of the Ka'ba' |journal=Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies |date=24 December 2009 |volume=43 |issue=1 |pages=44–54 |doi=10.1017/S0041977X00110523 |jstor=616125 |s2cid=162654756 }}</ref><ref>''Islamic World''{{Broken anchor|date=2024-11-11|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=#iw|reason= }}, p. 20</ref>
===The Treaty of Hudaibiya=== In the early years of the Islamic Ummah, it is claimed that tensions arose in Mecca between its pagan inhabitants and the Muslims who wished to perform pilgrimages within. According to the traditional Muslim stories, in 628 CE (6 A.H.), inspired by a dream that Muhammad had while in Madinah, in which he was performing the ceremonies of Umrah, he and his followers approached Mecca from Medina. They were stopped at Hudaibiya, Quraysh (a local tribe to which Muhammad belonged) refused entry to the Muslims who wished to perform the pilgrimage. Muhammad is said to have explained that they only wished to perform a pilgrimage, and subsequently leave the city, however the Qurayshites disagreed.<ref name="Sa'd 1967">{{cite book |last1=Saʻd |first1=Muḥammad Ibn |title=Kitab Al-tabaqat Al-kabir |date=1972 |publisher=Pakistan Historical Society |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_vnXAAAAMAAJ |access-date=1 November 2025}}</ref>{{rp|p=164}}<ref>{{Hadith-usc|usc=yes|muslim|43|7176}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Tafsir Ibn Kathir Juz' 5 (Part 5): An-Nisaa 24 to An-Nisaa 147 2nd Edition|author=Ibn Kathir |translator=Muhammad Saed Abdul-Rahman |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GxzFCrGdyQoC&pg=PA94|page=94|isbn=978-1-86179-685-1|date=November 2009|publisher=MSA Publication Limited }}</ref>
Diplomatic negotiations were pursued once the Islamic prophet Muhammad refused to use force to enter Mecca, out of respect to the Holy Ka'aba.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.al-islam.org/unschooled-prophet-ayatullah-murtadha-mutahhari/event-hudaybiyyah|title=The Event Of Hudaybiyyah|website=Al-islam.org|date=30 January 2013 |access-date=12 August 2017}}</ref> In March, 628 CE (Dhu'l-Qi'dah, 6 A.H.), the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah was drawn up and signed, with terms stipulating a ten-year period free of hostilities, during which the Muslims would be allowed a three-day-long access per year to the holy site of the Ka'aba starting the following year. On the year it was signed, the followers of Mohammed were forced to return home without having performed Umrah.<ref name="Mubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar pp. 214-215">Mubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar, pp. 214–215.</ref><ref>Emory C. Bogle (1998), [https://books.google.com/books?id=IpFhLDUw20gC&pg=PA19 Islam: origin and belief], University of Texas Press, p. 19.</ref>
===The First Umrah=== The next year, the Muslim tradition claims that Muhammad ordered and took part in the Conquest of Mecca in December 629.<ref name="Abu Khalil 218">{{cite book|last=Abu Khalil|first=Shawqi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mZmBkoDa9fcC&pg=PA218|title=Atlas of the Prophet's biography: places, nations, landmarks|date=1 March 2004|publisher=Dar-us-Salam|isbn=978-9960-897-71-4|page=218}} Note: 6th Month, 8AH = September 629</ref><ref name="Sa'd 1967"/>{{rp|pp=165–174}} Following the agreed-upon terms of the Hudaibiya Treaty, Muhammad and some 2000 followers (men, women and children) proceeded to perform what became the first Umrah, which lasted three days. After the transfer of power, the people of Mecca who (according to the Muslim traditional narrative) had persecuted and driven away the early Muslims, and had fought against the Muslims due to their beliefs, were afraid of retribution. However, Muhammad forgave all of his former enemies.
Ten people were forgiven, and not to be killed after the capture of Mecca:<ref name=Subhani>''The Message'' by Ayatullah Ja'far Subhani, [http://www.al-islam.org/message/49.htm#n582 chapter 48] referencing Sirah by Ibn Hisham, vol. II, page 409.</ref> Ikrimah ibn Abi-Jahl, Abdullah ibn Saad ibn Abi Sarh, Habbar bin Aswad, Miqyas Subabah Laythi, Huwairath bin Nuqayd, Abdullah Hilal and four women who had been guilty of murder or other offences or had sparked off the war and disrupted the peace.<ref name=Subhani/>
===COVID-19 closures=== {{see also|COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia}} On 26 February 2020, Saudi Arabia suspended travel to the country for reasons related to the Umrah, due to concerns over the rapid spread of COVID-19.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Davidson |first1=Helen |last2=Rawlinson |first2=Kevin |last3=Weaver |first3=Matthew |last4=Gayle |first4=Damien |title=Trump puts Pence in charge of US virus response – as it happened |journal=The Guardian |date=26 February 2020 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/feb/26/coronavirus-latest-updates-who-mission-director-warns-world-is-simply-not-ready }}</ref> After the reporting of the first case of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia, on 4 March 2020, the Riyadh government banned Umrah pilgrimage to the holy cities of Medina and Mecca for Saudi citizens, foreign visitors, and residents living in the kingdom.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ebrahim |first1=Shahul H |last2=Memish |first2=Ziad A |title=Saudi Arabia's drastic measures to curb the COVID-19 outbreak: temporary suspension of the Umrah pilgrimage |journal=Journal of Travel Medicine |date=April 2020 |volume=27 |issue=3 |doi=10.1093/jtm/taaa029 |pmid=32109274 |pmc=7107544 }}</ref> On 10 August 2021, Umrah for pilgrims coming from around the world was resumed.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fatima|first=Sakina|date=25 July 2021|url=https://www.siasat.com/saudi-arabia-international-umrah-to-resume-from-august-10-2169070/|title=Saudi Arabia: International Umrah to resume from August 10|work=The Siasat Daily|access-date=9 August 2022}}</ref>
== Administration and digital services == The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah launched Nusuk in 2022 as the replacement for the ''Eatmarna'' application, with services for Umrah permits, visit and Umrah visas, and bookings related to visits to the Prophet's Mosque.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hajj ministry replaces 'Etamarna' application with 'Nusuk' |url=https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/625513/SAUDI-ARABIA/Hajj-ministry-replaces-Etamarna-application-with-Nusuk |work=Saudi Gazette |date=28 September 2022 |access-date=17 May 2026}}</ref> In 2025, the ministry launched Nusuk Umrah, allowing pilgrims from abroad to apply directly for an Umrah visa and book related services online; accredited local agents remained available through the Nusuk Umrah system.<ref>{{cite news |title=Saudi Arabia Launches Direct Umrah Visa Application Service |url=https://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5177485-saudi-arabia-launches-direct-umrah-visa-application-service |work=Asharq Al-Awsat |date=21 August 2025 |access-date=17 May 2026}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Islam|Saudi Arabia}} *Arabian Peninsula *List of expeditions of Muhammad *Umrah visa policy
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Commons}} {{Characters and names in the Quran}}
Category:Islamic pilgrimages Category:Arabic words and phrases Category:History of Mecca Category:Islamic worship Category:Hajj terminology