Umrah or the lesser pilgrimage may not be a part of the five pillars of Islam but its emphasis and purpose is immense. Umrah is termed as the minor pilgrimage that can be performed or carried out throughout the Islamic year. There is no specified or designated period for performing Umrah. This means believers have the freewill to carry out this pilgrimage when they find feasible.
But what is the purpose of Umrah in Islam? Are there any benefits that Muslim believers can avail? To help you answer questions like these and more, we have listed down some interesting facts worth a glance. So let’s take a look.
Understanding the purpose of Umrah
Umrah carries special purpose for all Muslim believers. It can be thought of as a minor Hajj pilgrimage or a supererogatory prayer but the two terms should never be misinterpreted for one another. Every Muslim can embark upon Umrah throughout the Islamic calendar, except on those days that are designated for Hajj. An Umrah pilgrim is one who has made clear intentions of leaving his home to visit the home of ALLAH SWT and then returning back after completion of Umrah.
Why is Umrah Important?
Umrah carries great weightage and possesses huge rewards for those that believe in ALLAH’s divine message. It can be considered as a spiritual act of purity that is performed to earn ALLAH’s great bounty and pleasure. And ALLAH SWT knows all that believers do and intend to do. Umrah is also a preferred Sunnah. This can be understood by the fact that the beloved Holy Prophet Muhammad PBUH engaged on the Umrah pilgrimage twice in his lifetime.
What are the rewards of performing Umrah in Islam?
It is deemed important to understand that Umrah carries special significance and great purpose in the Islamic religion. There is a bountiful of rewards for those Muslim pilgrims that choose to embark upon this journey. And there are several mentions of this notion in the Holy Quran and the Sunnah. With all of that being said, believers must realize that this holy pilgrimage’s purpose can only be fulfilled when Umrah is performed correctly. This includes establishing a proper intention and adopting a true sense of mannerism for Umrah. Only then can believers expect ALLAH SWT to fulfill His promise for those embarking on this pious journey.
The abundance of countless blessings, worldly gains and abolishment of sins
Believers can envision Umrah as an act of great purification. This includes purifying both the soul as well as the mind. Umrah works to uplift the spirits and morale of Muslims while it continues to serve as an inspiration for lifetime. Umrah nourishes the soul and eliminates all forms of negative energy, sins and hatred. Believers return with a refurbished mind too. It is a known fact that ALLAH SWT will forgive every pilgrim’s sins that take place in between two Umrah pilgrimages performed. Umrah seeks to shelter Muslims from all forms of troubles and mishaps during their worldly life. And above all, Umrah works to strengthen a believer’s faith or Emaan with the Lord of the worlds, ALLAH SWT.
