Hajj is the annual pilgrimage to Makkah and the fifth pillar of Islam — an obligation once in a lifetime upon every Muslim who is physically and financially able to make the journey.
It takes place during the days of Dhul-Hijjah, the twelfth and final month of the Islamic year, and retraces the footsteps of Prophet Ibrāhīm (Abraham), his wife Hājar, and their son Ismāʿīl, peace be upon them — and is perfected in the example of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
"And Hajj to the House is a duty owed to Allah by those who are able to make the journey." — Qur'an 3:97
Millions of Muslims of every race, language, and background gather as equals — all in simple white garments — in the greatest display of unity and submission to Allah on earth.
An accepted Hajj wipes the slate completely clean and has no reward less than Paradise:
"Whoever performs Hajj for the sake of Allah and does not commit any obscenity or wrongdoing returns (free of sin) as the day his mother bore him." — Sahih al-Bukhari
"An accepted Hajj has no reward except Paradise." — Sahih al-Bukhari & Muslim
The pilgrimage begins by entering iḥrām, a state of consecration entered at appointed boundaries (mīqāt). Men wear two simple unstitched white cloths; women wear plain modest dress. In iḥrām, the pilgrim avoids certain acts — cutting hair or nails, perfume, arguing, and marital relations — focusing wholly on Allah.
Upon entering iḥrām, the pilgrim makes their intention and calls out the Talbiyah, the timeless cry of the pilgrim:
Labbayk Allāhumma labbayk, labbayka lā sharīka laka labbayk…
"Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Truly all praise, grace, and dominion are Yours — You have no partner."
Over roughly five days (8th–13th of Dhul-Hijjah), the pilgrim performs a series of sacred rites:
Umrah is often called the "lesser pilgrimage." Unlike Hajj, it is not obligatory and can be performed at any time of year. It is shorter and consists of a few core rites performed in iḥrām:
Umrah in Ramadan carries especially great reward — the Prophet ﷺ said it is equal in reward to a Hajj.
| Hajj | Umrah | |
|---|---|---|
| Ruling | Obligatory once, if able | Recommended (Sunnah) |
| Time | Only in Dhul-Hijjah | Any time of year |
| Length | About 5 days | A few hours |
| Key rites | ʿArafah, Minā, Muzdalifah, stoning, sacrifice, ṭawāf, saʿī | Ṭawāf, saʿī, hair trimming |
If you're preparing for Hajj or Umrah, the community can help — with guidance on the rites, trusted travel groups, and connecting you with others making the journey. Reach out to the masjid.