Chapter 7: Concerning the Umrah

In the same way that there are obligatory (fardh) salaats, which must be, said at specific times and some voluntary (nafl) salaats for the devoted to present himself in Allah's presence when he so desires. There is a specific time when it is compulsory to present himself at the Home of Allah for Haj and also a time when in a voluntary manner he may perform some of the acts which are also performed in Haj by performing umrah.

Apart form five days (when it is makrooh from the 9th to 13th Zil Haj) umrah may be performed at any time during the year.

It is a special favor from Allah that whenever a person may long to be present at the House of Allah he can do so. Umrah, according to Hazrat Imaam Abu Hanifa رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ and Hazrat Imaam Maalik رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ and Hazrat Imaam Ahmad رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ hence it is advised that a person should perform at least one umrah. There are even some of the Hanafi Imaams who have stated that it is waajib. Some even speaks about it being fardh-e- kifaayah (i.e. that it is a duty upon all, which becomes lifted from them when some of them perform it.)

The Holy Qur'aan also says: "And complete the Haj and umrah for Allah's sake."

In discussing this completion of the Haj and umrah, one Hadith explains that it means that a person should proceed from his home with ihraam and the firm intention of performing Haj or umrah. (Durre Mansoor)

Many Hadiths expound the virtues of putting on the ihraam from ones home. This is highly recommended.

However, the ulama have felt that it would be quite difficult to remain in ihraam for such a long time during which, while in ihraam the Haji may become involved in sinful activities, therefore they have advised that it should rather be done from the Meeqaat (i.e those special places beyond which one should not proceed without ihraam). The reason for this is that it is more important to avoid sin than to be greedy for reward.

Much are the virtues of umrah as is known from the Hadith. In the first chapter of this book some of these ahaadith have already passed.

(Hadith numbers 11, 14 and 15)

Our Rasulullah ﷺ performed only one Haj after the hijrat but performed umrah four times. One of these umrahs could not be completed because the Makkahns prohibited them from entering the city. Three umrahs were completed.

Hazrat Amr bin Absah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ reports that Rasulullah ﷺ said! 'Verily the best of deeds is righteous and accepted Haj or a righteous and accepted umrah.' (Tabarani)

In the first chapter (hadith number 2) we have already explained the meaning of the Hajje mabroor and this same meaning applies to a mabroor umrah. In one hadith we read: 'Umrah is a minor Haj'. (Durre Mansoor)

In other words umrah contains within itself all the fruits and blessings of Haj but to a lesser degree.

Hazrat Abu Hurairah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ reports that Rasulullah ﷺ said: 'Sins committed since one umrah are forgiven through the next umrah'. (Agreed upon)

Rasulullah ﷺ here wished to tell us that whatever sins one commits after one umrah can be forgiven through the blessings of an umrah. So what was done between two umrahs becomes washed away. Many other hadith corroborate this statement.

Hazrat Ibn Abbaas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ reports that a woman hazrat Um Saleem رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , once came to the Messenger of Allah and said: 'O Rasulullah ﷺ (my husband) Abu Talha and his son had gone to perform Haj, and left me behind.' Rasulullah ﷺ replied: 'O Um Saleem, to perform one umrah in the month of Ramadhaan is equal in reward of a Haj in my company'. This is not the only hadith in which it is stated that the reward of an umrah in Ramadhaan is the same as Haj in the company of Rasulullah ﷺ . (Ibn Hibaan)

When Rasulullah ﷺ prepared to go for Haj, the wife of one of the companions told her husband: 'Please take me also to perform Haj with Rasulullah ﷺ . He replied: 'I have no camel to your carrier on Haj'. She said: "But you have one more camel". He replied: "I cannot load you on that because I have made that camel waqf in the way of Allah". The result was that the wife stayed behind.

After Rasulullah ﷺ returned from Haj he was informed by the husband what transpired. Rasulullah ﷺ then said: 'going on the camel for Haj would also have been in the way of Allah: and if she had gone on it, it would not have been wrong." Thereupon the man said:

'O Rasulullah ﷺ my wife sends you her greetings and inquires what the compensation is for having missed Haj in your company?' Rasulullah ﷺ replied: "Convey my salaams to her and tell her to perform one umrah in the month of Ramadhaan which is similar to having performed Haj in my company". (Abu Dawood)

Similar incidents happened with Hazrat Um Sinaa رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , Um Maaqal. Um Tulaiq and Hazrat Um Hasheem رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ they all desired to perform Haj with Rasulullah ﷺ but for some reason or other could not do so, and to each of them Rasulullah ﷺ gave the same answer.

Hazrat Hafiz Ibn Hajra رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ mentions all these cases in his famous commentary on Bukhari called Fat'hul Baari and said it does not mean that the fardh Haj is considered to have been performed by going for an umrah in Ramadhaan. All the ulama are agreed upon this. It means only that the umrah coupled with the great blessing of Ramadhaan, become similar in reward to that of Haj.

Hazrat Imaam Ibn Jowzi رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ mentions that very often it happens that because of the blessedness of time, the reward of some acts are tremendously magnified; as for example in the case of security of intention.

Hazrat Abu Hurairah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ reports that Rasulullah ﷺ said; 'The Hajis and those who perform umrah are Allah's deputation. When they pray to Him, He answers them, and when they seek His forgiveness, He forgives them.' (Ibn Maja)

The Hajis and those enroute to perform umrah are a deputation with special duties towards Allah. In the same manner that we have deputation and delegations going to the courts of great men and rulers, these people go to present themselves at Allah's house. And in the same manner that a delegation desires to be honored, these people are honored in Allah's presence. According to one Hadith: 'The delegation of Allah are of three kinds:

'the fighters in His way, those who perform Haj and those who perform umrah.' (Mishkaat)

In Targheeb a Hdith reported by Hazrat Jabir رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ it is related this way: "They who perform Haj and umrah are the deputation of Allah, whenever they pray to Him, He answers, and whenever they beg of Him, He grants." Another Hadith in Targheeb: "Those performing Haj and umrah are the deputation of Allah.

Whatever they beg, they are given, whatever prayer they make is heard, for whatever expenses they incur they are reward. I swear by Him in whose hand my life lies, whenever a person recites: 'Labbaik' from any high place or whenever they recite the takbeer, everything from around them till the end of earth echoes their cry.' In Targheeb it is also reported: "The Haji and the one performing umrah are Allah's deputation. Whatever they beg they are given, whatever prayer they utter is heard, for whatever expenses they incur they are rewarded."

In another similar Hadith in Targheeb the following addition is reported: 'For every Dirham they spend they are granted (the reward of) a million Dirhams. Further in Targheeb it is reported: "If the people of Makkah should fully realize the due they owe to the Hajis, they would run to welcome them, even kissing the animals on which they travel, because these people are the deputation of Allah."

Hazrat Ibn Mas'ood رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ relates that Rasulullah ﷺ said: 'Follow up the Haj or the unrah (with each other) for verily they remove poverty and sin in the same manner that fire cleans away the dirt in iron, gold and silver'. (Tirmidhi)

Here one is encouraged to follow up Haj and umrah with each other. The meaning of 'follow up' can be explained thus: Among the three manners of performing Haj, is Quraan; which according to the Hanafi is the most virtuous form of Haj. This is the manner in which the Holy Prophet ﷺ put on his ihraam with the niyyat of performing both Haj and umrah with the same ihraam all in one.

Secondly, 'follow up' may also mean that when you have performed Haj, you should also perform umrah afterwards and vice versa. You should follow up the one with the other. One Hadith states that: 'Follow up between Haj and Umrah which increase one lifespan and removes poverty and sins as fire removes dirt'.

(Targheeb)

Another Hadith states: 'Continue to perform Haj and umrah for Allah's sake forever, for these two clean away poverty and sin as fire removes dirt from iron'. (Kanz)

'Performing Haj and umrah often stops poverty.' (Kanz) 'Continuous performing of Haj an umrah removes poverty and sin just as fire removes dirt from iron'. (Kanz) 'Following up between Haj and umrah increases one's life span and increases one's sustenance'. (Kanz).

The same theme runs through many other ahaadith. Hazrat Imaam Nawawi رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ has stated that the performing of umrah in abundance is mustahab. Hazrat Imaam Ibn Hajar Makki رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ quoted Hazrat Imaam Shafi'ee رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ as saying that where one is able, one should not allow any month to pass by without performing at least one umrah; and if one performs two or three, so much better. (Sharhe Manasik)'

Hazrat Abu Hurairah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ reports that Rasulullah ﷺ said: "The Jihaad of the aged, the weak and the females is to perform Haj and umrah'. (At-Targheeb)

In the eleventh Hadith of chapter one this theme has already been discussed. Hazrat Aa'isha رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ asked Rasulullah ﷺ whether Jihaad is also compulsory on woman? Rasulullah ﷺ replied: "Such a form of Jihaad has been laid upon their shoulders wherein there is no fighting and no killing; that is Haj and umrah'. (Targheeb)

A companion once asked Rasulullah ﷺ : "I am a man of little courage, having no strength to appear before the enemy". Rasulullah ﷺ answered: "Shall I show you a Jihaad in which there is no fighting?' He replied: "Yes". Rasulullah ﷺ said:

"Perform Haj and umrah". (Durre Mansoor)

Hazrat Um Salmah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ reports that Rasulullah ﷺ said: "Whosoever puts on his ihraam for an umrah from Baitul Muqaddas, shall be forgiven'. (Ibn Maja)

This Hadith speaks for itself. One Tabi'iyya, (A Muslim woman who saw the Prophet ﷺ ). Hazrat Um Hakeem رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ hearing this hadith from hazrat Um Salmah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ undertook a special journey to Baitul Muqaddas to put on her ihraam there, for an umrah to Makkah. (Targheeb)

That was the spirit of those people that whenever they heard the commands and advices of Rasulullah ﷺ they immediately endeavored to put them into action, according to their means.

They never cared about the hardship they had to undergo.

Hazrat Um Salmah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ also reports another hadith: 'whosoever travels from the Masjidul Aqsaa to the Masjidul Haraam in Makkah with the intention of performing umrah, shall have his previous and future sins forgiven and he shall enter paradise'. (Durre Mansoor)