The Five Pillars of Islam: Umrah and Hajj

Islam has five mandatory pillars for all Muslims to follow if they want coherence and peace. These are obligatory on Muslims; they must perform them with a pure heart and intentions to please Allah Almighty. In Islam, pleasing the Almighty and submitting to Him entirely is the only way to live. There is no other option if you want a fulfilling life with countless blessings from your Creator.

These five pillars create a direct relationship between the Muslims and Allah Almighty. Therefore, they have great significance in Islam. Hajj is one of these pillars but not everyone can afford or physically perform it. This is when Muslims turn to Umrah to visit the Holy Kaabah and renew their faith. To perform Umrah this year, you will need ideal Umrah packages 2023 from the UK, or you can also perform a DIY Umrah.

Here is some information about the five pillars of Islam, especially the fifth pillar, Hajj and the minor Hajj.

What are the Pillars of Islam?

The five pillars of Islam are;

Shahada (the belief that Allah Almighty is the only deity worthy of worship and Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is His last messenger)
Salah (Prayer)
Zakat (Alms)
Sawm (Fasting)
Hajj (Pilgrimage)

How is Hajj Different from Other Pillars of Islam?

All the first four pillars require constant practice in everyday life, while Hajj is something you must prepare to perform at least once. To complete the pilgrimage, you must be financially, physically, and emotionally stable. It requires a lot of patience and hard work, so you must be in an ideal physical state with a sound mind to perform the Hajj perfectly. On the other hand, you must keep practising Shahada, offering prayers, giving Zakat, and fasting (especially in Ramadan) regularly all your life, no matter what.

Hajj is your ultimate temperature, strength, and patience test, so it requires proper preparation. But it has great rewards and allows you to be closer to Allah like no other opportunity. You are a guest of the Almighty during the pilgrimage, and he ensures to take care of you and gives you enough gifts in the form of blessings to take with you for your future life. He forgives all your sins and allows you to live as He pleases. If you can’t perform Hajj, you can book Umrah packages 2023 to visit the sacred house of Almighty.

Rites to Perform Hajj

Here is a comprehensive list of steps of Hajj that you must know;

Make Niyyat
Enter the state of Ihram
Perform Tawaf
Perform Saee
Clip or shave your head
Rest and pray
Wear Ihram
Stay at Mina
Day of Arafah
Muzdalifah (spending night under the sky)
Stone the devil
Do Qurbani
Shave your head
Perform Tawaf al-Ifadha
Stone the devil
Stay at Mina
Stone the devil
Perform Tawaf al-Alvida

What is the Minor Pilgrimage?

Umrah is a minor pilgrimage as it is not as extensive as Hajj and is not obligatory for Muslims like Hajj. Moreover, Muslims can perform it any time of the year at their convenience, which makes it more accessible and convenient. But Umrah also has multiple promising rewards and is quite significant for the Muslims as Prophet Muhammad (SAW) performed it four times in his life.

In addition, Umrah has also helped you get rid of your past sins and ask for blessings from the Almighty for the future. It is also seen as a way to eradicate poverty and revival of faith. Those who perform Umrah with pure intention and please Allah Almighty successfully get exceptional rewards and benefits that might lead them to Jannah. So, it would help if you started looking for Umrah packages 2023 to benefit from this beautiful Sunnah.

Rewards of Umrah in Ramadan

Ramadan is a sacred Islamic month that has great significance for Muslims. Performing Umrah in this holy month has exceptional rewards. Pilgrims who perform Umrah in Ramadan get rewards equivalent to that of Hajj. But you must remember that it only replaces the obligation of performing the Hajj if you are financially and physically capable.

Moreover, Ramadan is the month of blessings, and it is said that Muslims must benefit from it as much as they can through their Ibadah and good deeds. So, performing an Umrah during this time can yield them great rewards and blessings they might never have considered. You can consult a reliable Umrah travel agency in the UK and get some good deals during the sacred month of Ramadan.

Final Words

If you have found a trusted Islamic travel agency for Umrah packages 2023, you must immediately perform this highly rewarding Sunnah. It is an excellent opportunity for Muslims to visit the holy house of the Almighty and get a chance to be closer to Him and please Him. So, if you can’t afford to perform Hajj or lack adequate physical health, you can perform Umrah.