Umrahs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A pilgrimage that is less formal than the Hajj, typically undertaken in Mecca by Muslims at any time of the year
2. A minor pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca that can be performed at any time and is not obligatory
3. A non-mandatory religious journey to Mecca that holds spiritual significance but is distinct from the yearly Hajj ritual

Etymology: "Umrahs" is simply the plural of "umrah," which English borrowed from Arabic "ʕumra," a word meaning a visit to the sacred precinct at Mecca performed at any time of year. The Arabic term rests on a root associated with building up or inhabiting a place, so the same word-family sits behind the notion of a dwelling or a populated area. The distinction the word carries is a theological one. Within Islamic practice, the Hajj is the obligatory pilgrimage that must take place during a fixed period in the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, while the umrah can be undertaken at other times of the year and is considered meritorious rather than required. English speakers adopted the Arabic noun largely to name this optional journey on its own terms, instead of trying to fit it into the vocabulary of the Hajj.