Umrah can be performed anytime during the year. It is comprised of Tawaf of the Kaba and Sa’ai of the Safa and Marwah hills enclosed in a long gallery.

There are three ways of performing the Hajj:

Hajj al-Tamatt'u (Interrupted) This means entering into ihram for the Umrah, taking off after performing the Umrah, and then entering into ihram again for the Hajj. People who come from other countries usually perform Hajj al-Tamatt'u.

Hajj al-Qiran (Combined) This means entering into ihram for both the Umrah and the Hajj at the same time, not taking off for the ihram until the day of sacrifice at Mina.

Hajj al-Ifrad (Single) This means entering into ihram only for the Haj.

To understand the concept of Hajj, one has to have some background knowledge of the history of Hajj: when it became Fardh; why it became Fardh; how it became Fardh.

Allah Ta'ala tests man in order to elevate the position of the Believers among them. Many centuries ago, Nabi Ibrahim was commanded by Allah Ta'ala to leave his wife, Hajar and his infant son, Isma'il in the desert with little or nothing to eat and drink. Soon, the meager food and drink were finished. In the scorching sun, their thirst grew and the baby, Isma'il started crying in desperation. Hajar started running between two hillocks, namely Safa and Marwah, searching for water. After having run between the two hillocks seven times, she returned to her infant son and discovered a spring had begun to flow at the heels of Isma'il (A.S.). She was surprised but at the same time delighted. She quickly made a mud heap around the water to prevent it from flowing away, saying “Zam Zam,” meaning to stop. Thus, they were able to quench their thirst whenever they felt thirsty. This water started taking the shape of a permanent well—a haven for thirsty travelers. They made this spot their halfway station to quench their thirst and that of their animals. Soon people started settling at the station and thus, Makkah came into existence. The water that sprang up at the heels of Isma'il is known as Zam Zam.

These two hillocks between which Hajar ran are called Safa and Marwah. Allah Ta'ala loved Hajar’s sacrifice. Thus, it became a ritual that whoever goes to Umrah or Hajj will be required to run between these two hillocks to experience Hajar's desperation.

After some time, when Ibrahim returned, he and Isma'il built the Ka'bah on the very foundation of the Ka'bah that was built by the Prophet Adam.

Later, Ibrahim was tested for the second time when Allah Ta'ala commanded him to sacrifice his beloved son. But before the knife could pass through the throat of Isma'il, Allah Ta'ala replaced him with a ram from Jannah. Thus, the ram was sacrificed instead of Isma'il. To honor this selfless act of Ibrahim, we offer a sacrifice at the time of Eidul-Adha.

While Ibrahim was on his way to the place of sacrifice, Shaytan tried to deter him on three separate occasions from slaughtering his son. On all three occasions Ibrahim pelted him with stones. To commemorate this occasion, the Hajjee is required to pelt stones at the three pillars which represent the shaytan.

Hajj thus a reminder of the sacrifices the beloved prophets of Allah (AS) made in their endeavor to obey every command of Allah Ta'ala - be it by sacrificing their wealth, families or life.

The Qur'an says: "For Hajj are the months well known. If any one undertakes that duty therein let there be on obscenity, no wickedness nor wrangling in the Hajj, And whatever good you do, be sure Allah knoweth it". (Surah Baqarah - 197)

The benefits of Hajj: A Hajjee is the guest of Allah Ta'ala.

"Verily there shall be no reward for a righteous pilgrimage except Jannah."

"Whoever performs Hajj for the sake of pleasing Allah and therein utters no word of evil, nor commits any evil deed, shall return from it as free from sins as the day on which his mother gave birth to him.

"A Hajji never becomes poor and destitute. "

A warnings for a Muslim who does not perform Hajj:

"Whoever possesses the provisions (for the journey) and the means of transport to bring him to the house of Allah yet he does not perform Hajj, then there is no difference in him dying as a Jew or as a Christian.”