The Virtues in Hajj/Umrah

 What is the Meaning of Hajj? 

The word Hajj is an Arabic word, meaning 'to intend a journey'. Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam- the others are shahadah (declaration of faith); salat (daily prayer); zakat (giving of alms); sawm (fasting in Ramdhan). Hajj is mandatory for every Muslim who has a sound mind and is financially and physically capable of performing Hajj once in their lifetime. 

What is the Meaning of Umrah? 

Umrah is an Arabic word, meaning 'to visit a populated place'. The word Umrah comes from the word i'tamara meaning intend and to visit the house of Allah. Umrah is the non-mandatory lesser pilgrimage made by Muslims to Mecca, which may be performed at any time of the year. Compare with hajj. 

The Virtues in Hajj/Umrah: 

1. At-Tadhiyyah (Sacrifice)

In order to perform the Hajj/Umrah, all Muslims must spend quite a lot amount of money in terms of preparation, flight ticket, and others. They also must sacrifice their time by spend a lot of time doing ibadah to Allah instead of doing duniya stuff. Therefore, we sacrifice for Allah in order to get his blessing and pleasures. 

2. Taqwa (God-consciousness)

Hajj/Umrah makes people be aware of the greatness of God and his majesty. Hence, most people will become a servant with humility toward their creator. With humility, people can develop kindness and sincerity in anything. Always remember, He loves who does good.