Hajj and Umrah, both remain the most significant and the only two holy pilgrimages of Islam. These pilgrimages are observed in the Holy city of Makkah in Saudia Arabia. Every year, tens of millions of pilgrims arrive for the holy rituals in the kingdom as they Book Hajj Package. While there are a lot of similarities between these pilgrimages, some of the things differ as well.
Hajj.
Hajj or the ‘Major Pilgrimage’ is an obligation in Islam as the 5th pillar. Every Muslim who is able to afford all the travel, accommodation, and staying expenses for the Hajj pilgrimage while also fulfilling the needs of his family; remains mentally sane as well as has the physical ability to perform the holy rituals, must offer Hajj. It’s a religious obligation for him/her. That’s why Hajj is also known as the ‘Obligatory Pilgrimage’.
Umrah.
Umrah or the ‘Minor or Lesser Pilgrimage’ isn’t an obligatory pilgrimage rather a Sunnah of our Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW). Anyone who can afford it, by all means, should perform it. However, if one doesn’t travel for umrah despite having the means for it, there’s no sin because it is a non-obligatory pilgrimage. Since it holds great rewards for pilgrims i.e., no less than that of Hajj, it remains advised to follow up on the performance of Umrah.