What is the difference between Hajj and 'Umrah, what is the pillar without which Hajj is not valid, and what are the things that invalidate Hajj?
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The questioner : This questioner is Abdullah Ali Sudani from the State of Darfur. He asks: What is the difference between Hajj and 'Umrah, what is the pillar without which Hajj is not valid, and what are the things that invalidate Hajj? May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : It appears that the answer to this question requires a volume. Hajj and 'Umrah differ; Hajj is the major pilgrimage and 'Umrah is the lesser pilgrimage. 'Umrah consists of entering the state of ihram, circumambulation of the Ka'bah (tawaf), walking between al-Safa and al-Marwah (sa'y), and shaving or shortening the hair; that is, four things: entering the state of ihram, tawaf, sa'y, and shaving or shortening the hair.
As for Hajj, it is composed of more than that. It includes entering the state of ihram, tawaf, sa'y, shaving or shortening the hair, standing at 'Arafah, staying overnight at Muzdalifah, staying overnight at Mina, and stoning the pillars. It is greater and broader than 'Umrah. Then, Hajj is specific to a certain time, which are the days of Hajj, whereas 'Umrah is performed at any time.
Then, Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam according to the consensus of the scholars. As for 'Umrah, there is scholarly disagreement regarding it. Some scholars said it is obligatory, some said it is not obligatory, and some said it is obligatory for non-Meccans but not obligatory for a Meccan, meaning one who resides in Makkah.
As for the prohibitions, the prohibitions of ihram are shared by 'Umrah and Hajj because they relate to ihram, and ihram does not differ between Hajj and 'Umrah.
As for the pillars and the obligatory acts, 'Umrah differs from Hajj. 'Umrah and Hajj agree that among their pillars are tawaf, sa'y, and entering the state of ihram. These three are pillars in 'Umrah, and there is no fourth pillar in it.
As for Hajj, it has a fourth pillar, which is standing at 'Arafah, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) This is specific to Hajj. As for the obligatory acts, the obligatory acts in 'Umrah are only two: that the ihram be from the recognized miqat according to the Shari'ah, and that one shaves or shortens the hair after completing the tawaf and sa'y.
As for Hajj, its obligatory acts are more numerous. It shares with 'Umrah the obligatory acts of entering the state of ihram from the recognized miqat according to the Shari'ah, and shaving or shortening the hair. Hajj adds the obligation of remaining at 'Arafah until the setting of the sun, the obligation of staying overnight at Muzdalifah, the obligation of staying overnight at Mina on the eleventh and twelfth days of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, and on the thirteenth if one delays, and the obligation of stoning, meaning stoning the pillars.
As for the farewell tawaf, it is not among the established obligatory acts of Hajj, nor among the established obligatory acts of 'Umrah. Rather, it is obligatory for one who has performed 'Umrah or performed Hajj if he intends to leave for his homeland. For this reason, the farewell tawaf is not obligatory for the people of Makkah because they are residents there. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : It appears that the answer to this question requires a volume. Hajj and 'Umrah differ; Hajj is the major pilgrimage and 'Umrah is the lesser pilgrimage. 'Umrah consists of entering the state of ihram, circumambulation of the Ka'bah (tawaf), walking between al-Safa and al-Marwah (sa'y), and shaving or shortening the hair; that is, four things: entering the state of ihram, tawaf, sa'y, and shaving or shortening the hair.
As for Hajj, it is composed of more than that. It includes entering the state of ihram, tawaf, sa'y, shaving or shortening the hair, standing at 'Arafah, staying overnight at Muzdalifah, staying overnight at Mina, and stoning the pillars. It is greater and broader than 'Umrah. Then, Hajj is specific to a certain time, which are the days of Hajj, whereas 'Umrah is performed at any time.
Then, Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam according to the consensus of the scholars. As for 'Umrah, there is scholarly disagreement regarding it. Some scholars said it is obligatory, some said it is not obligatory, and some said it is obligatory for non-Meccans but not obligatory for a Meccan, meaning one who resides in Makkah.
As for the prohibitions, the prohibitions of ihram are shared by 'Umrah and Hajj because they relate to ihram, and ihram does not differ between Hajj and 'Umrah.
As for the pillars and the obligatory acts, 'Umrah differs from Hajj. 'Umrah and Hajj agree that among their pillars are tawaf, sa'y, and entering the state of ihram. These three are pillars in 'Umrah, and there is no fourth pillar in it.
As for Hajj, it has a fourth pillar, which is standing at 'Arafah, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family)
Hajj is 'Arafah
الحج عرفةAs for Hajj, its obligatory acts are more numerous. It shares with 'Umrah the obligatory acts of entering the state of ihram from the recognized miqat according to the Shari'ah, and shaving or shortening the hair. Hajj adds the obligation of remaining at 'Arafah until the setting of the sun, the obligation of staying overnight at Muzdalifah, the obligation of staying overnight at Mina on the eleventh and twelfth days of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, and on the thirteenth if one delays, and the obligation of stoning, meaning stoning the pillars.
As for the farewell tawaf, it is not among the established obligatory acts of Hajj, nor among the established obligatory acts of 'Umrah. Rather, it is obligatory for one who has performed 'Umrah or performed Hajj if he intends to leave for his homeland. For this reason, the farewell tawaf is not obligatory for the people of Makkah because they are residents there. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.