(post by Jack Reacher)
Umrah is more than just a journey to Muslims from all corners of the globe. It is a feeling of utmost contentment and closure to the Almighty Creator. When it comes to different aspects of the religion Islam, the examples set by our beloved Prophet (PBUH) serve as a guiding light to all.
To better understand it, let’s travel back in the old good times, in the lively streets of the old Makkah- to explore how many times the Prophet performed Umrah and the significance of each occasion. Today, millions of Muslims across the globe gather in the house of Allah to perform Umrah, provided they can mentally, financially, and physically afford it. To make this journey possible, they tend to seek reputable agencies offering cheap Umrah packages, such as December and Ramadan Umrah Packages 2025, just to name a few.
Many devout Muslims are eager to learn about how and when did Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) perform Umrah, and we are going to provide you with a complete historical timeline here, but before that, let’s first share a few cents on what Umrah is and why do Muslims book cheap Umrah packages each year to visit the sacred cities.
What is Umrah?
Before excavating through the specifics, the most important thing is to understand what Umrah is. Often known as the minor pilgrimage or second pilgrimage, is a voluntary worship that Muslims from any part of the world can perform at any time of the year except the Hajj (major pilgrimage) days.
The act of Umrah involves a set of rituals that Muslims have to perform with all their heart. For this, they need to visit the sacred Holy Kaaba in Makkah, perform Tawaf which encompasses circling the Kaaba seven times, and walk between the hills of Safa and Marwa seven times.
As mentioned above, the ones who can afford this journey can perform it. Due to the flexibility of time and Umrah duration, Muslims living in the UK look for top travel agencies such as Muslims Holy Travel, to book cheap Umrah packages and get a chance to follow the footprints of the Prophet at the time that best suits them.
A Timeline of Prophet Muhammad’s Umrahs
Now, it’s time to go a little back on the pages of history to the precious time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Throughout his life, he performed Umrah four times, each of which was performed under specific conditions and holds an immense significance. Each of them not only served as an act of worship but also played a massive role in the early Islamic days. Let’s discuss each of them below, with a brief history:
Umrah #1: Umrah of Hudaibiyah
This was the first Umrah attempt by the Holy Prophet, that took place back in 6 AH in the Islamic Calendar. This journey is also referred to as the Umrah of Hudaibiyah. The dear Prophet led a group of 1400 Muslim companions, setting out from Madinah to perform the auspicious pilgrimage. All of them travelled with no arms, and just the routine traveller’s sword, and were dressed in the white garments specified for Umrah. As it was the very first time for them to embark on this journey, with the best company ever, they were pretty much excited about it. Their excitement rose to the next level as they got to see their beloved city Makkah, which they hadn’t seen for more than six years since their migration.
However, to their utmost dismay, this Umrah was not destined to be completed. As they reached Makkah, the opposing Quraish tribe blocked their path due to the number of conflicts between them.
With the Prophet’s wisdom, they were able to sign a peace treaty and negotiate things. The treaty was though apparently not in the favour of Muslims, but still it paved the way for the spread of Islam. Also, these Muslims were not able to complete their Umrah journey, they were promised to return back the same year to accomplish it.
Umrah #2: Umrah of Qadha
As per the signed treaty, the Prophet again led a group of Muslims to Makkah in 7 AH to perform Umrah, what became famous as Umrah of Qadha. Just imagine how excited would be the Prophet and his companions as they finally got a chance to catch sight of the Holy Kaaba, circle it, and complete the required rituals that they had always desired to perform. This Umrah perfectly portrayed the commitment of Muslims to peace and their strong bond with the divine Creator.
Umrah #3: Umrah of Ja’ranah
The third Umrah by the Prophet was performed in 8 AH in the year after the conquer of Makkah. Now that the entire land of Makkah was under Muslim rule, the Prophet performed what is sometimes named as the “Umrah of Ja’ranah.”
This Umrah took place after the battle of Hunayn and was performed before going back to Madinah. This was a time of triumph and endless joy for Muslims, for now, the land of Islam’s origin was free for each of them to pray without any worries.
Umrah #4: The Farewell Pilgrimage
This was the fourth and last one in the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), performed in 10 AH. This was not a separate journey but was his only pilgrimage that was further combined with Hajj. During the performance of Hajj rituals, he also did the rites of Umrah which proved that one combine both these acts of worship together.
The Significance of Each Umrah
All these Umrahs hold the utmost importance not only in Islam, but in the hearts of Muslims as well. They were not mere practices but were closely related to the social and political events of the specific period.
Each of these Umrahs taught Muslims to be patient when facing adversity, respect the treaties, be thankful when winning, and learn the right ways of performing rituals. Perhaps it will be interesting to imagine how the performance of Umrah has evolved over time. During the lifetime of the Prophet, as Makkah and Madinah were quite distant from one another, it would take these Muslims weeks or even months to reach from one place to another.
People used to go on pilgrimage on foot or on the back of camels through desert and other tough terrains, with lots of difficulties on the way. The reward for them was the utmost feeling of joy they got as soon as they reached the Holy Kaaba and got the esteemed chance to perform the noble rites of Umrah.
A Vow to Walk on the Footsteps of the Prophet
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the remarkable Umrah journeys of the Holy Prophet and the incredible legacy he left behind. From those first difficult trips to Mecca, a custom has evolved that now sees millions of Muslims practice Umrah annually. It’s true that every pilgrim, whether through Cheap Umrah Packages or a luxury 5-star one, is linked to the Prophet through this divine act of worship.
The Umrahs of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) were not only about performing some rituals. Those were moments in history, acts of faith, and guidance for future generations. When booking your own Umrah do not forget that you are not purchasing a simple trip but are preparing to follow the footsteps of the Prophet, to connect with the Islamic history and traditions.
Make the most out of your Umrah journey and get a chance to follow the teachings of the beloved Prophet, by booking all-inclusive Umrah deals offered by Muslims Holy Travel- an ATOL-protected and IATA-certified travel agency in the UK.
