History of Umrah Pilgrimage and What Significance It Holds?

Umrah journey was first started by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in 629 CE, when He along with His 2000 followers traveled to Makkah to perform Umrah. He faced struggles negotiating with tribes in Makkah and Madinah. Umrah is not mandatory as a hajj and is considered as a ‘minor pilgrimage’ but has a lot of significance from an Islamic point of view. That is the reason millions of Muslims book the best Umrah packages and embark on this spiritual trip.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ faced many difficulties in carrying out the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. Muslims were not allowed to enter the premises of holy sites of Makkah. At that time, Makkah was under the control of Arab pagans and they worshipped idols. History states that Muslims have struggled during the whole era of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to gain access to Makkah’s holy sites. Let's delve deep into the history of the Islamic pilgrimage Umrah, and what sacrifices it involved.

History of Umrah Pilgrimage from an Islamic Point of View

Back in 622 CE, Muslims of Makkah migrated from Makkah to Madinah under the guardianship of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to avoid the torture of non-believers. Mostly these were the Arab pagans and city authorities who didn’t let Muslims live in peace in the holy place of Makkah. It became a dream of Muslims to visit their homeland, the holiest Makkah. However, in 628 CE the issues between Arab pagans and Muslims who wanted to perform holy pilgrimage increased.

So Prophet Muhammad ﷺ along with His 1400 followers started the Umrah journey, inspired by the dream where He was offering Umrah rituals. When the Arab pagans heard about the large number of Muslims approaching Makkah, they thought these Muslims were planning to attack Makkah and take control of its inhabitants. After reaching the border of Makkah, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ sent a message to Arab pagans. He explained that they intended to perform Umrah and would leave peacefully afterward. Qurayshites stopped them at the point of Hudaybiyyah and asked them to come back after certain years.

So Prophet Muhammad ﷺ avoided entering Makkah by force because of their respect for the holy Kaaba. Due to this act, several negotiations took place and this resulted in the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. According to this, there would be no conflicts and Muslims would be allowed to visit the holy Kabba for 3 days per year. So at that time, Muslims returned to Madinah without performing Umrah.

When Did the First Umrah Pilgrimage Take Place?

In 629 CE (the next year) 2000 Muslims along with Prophet Muhammad ﷺ traveled to Makkah and performed the Umrah pilgrimage under the terms of the Hudaibiyyah treaty. Muslims stayed there for three days and performed Umrah with peace. However, the issue of the treaty was also resolved when Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his followers were attacked by the allies of Makkans. The purpose of the treaty was to spread peace and to prevent the bloodshed.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ led the conquest of Makkah in 630 C, along with an army of 10000 Muslims. Seeing that much force and power of Muslims, the leaders of Makkah surrendered. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ forgave everyone who fought with the early Muslims. In Islamic history, this victory is known as the ‘Succession of Makkah’. That’s how Muslims got the privilege of performing Umrah and now every year Muslims look for the best Umrah packages to travel towards Makkah conveniently.

Best Time to Perform Umrah

Unlike Hajj there aren’t any restrictions of time for Umrah, you can perform this spiritual act at any time and month of year, except the Hajj days. However, most Muslims start this journey in Ramadan to seek maximum blessings from Allah Almighty. That is the reason there is a lot of rush during these days, if you have social anxiety and don’t want to face too many people, avoid going in peak season. Instead, look for the best Umrah packages in off season.

Significance of Performing Umrah

The efforts and struggles that this religious pilgrimage holds, describe its importance. It’s the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and an opportunity for Muslims who cannot travel to Makkah for Hajj. Performing Umrah means visiting the house of Allah and purifying the soul from all sins. Several pilgrims share their experiences that they feel relaxed and it feels like Allah’s blessings are showering on them. If you ever get a chance to perform Umrah, never miss it.

Final Thoughts

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ devoted His life to show non-believers the right path. In His life, He ﷺ performed four Umrah and mentioned it as the most sacred act after Hajj to worship Allah. We must embrace the sacrifices of our beloved Prophet and follow His teachings. If you ever plan to embark on this sacred journey, contact Muslims Holy Travel. They’ll surely offer you the best Umrah packages according to your demands.