Umra

The merit of the 'umra

Abdullah ibn Mas'ud reports: "Follow hajj and 'umra one with the other, for they drive away poverty and sins as fire drives away impurity from iron, gold and silver; and the accepted hajj has no reward but Paradise" (reported by at-Tirmidhi, judged hasan-sahih). And Abu Hurayra: "One 'umra to another expiates what lies between them, and the accepted hajj has no reward but Paradise" (al-Bukhari 1773). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) performed several 'umras, the last with his farewell pilgrimage.

A reward measured by effort

Aisha said at the pilgrimage's return: "People return with two pilgrimages, I with one"; she was told to wait for purity, go out to Tan'im and enter ihram, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) told her brother to lead her: "Her reward is according to her spending and her toil" (al-Bukhari 1695, Muslim 1211); a narration of al-Hakim (judged sahih): "Your reward in your 'umra is according to your spending". Ibn Hajar draws from it that ihram from the near profane zone is worth less than from the far one; al-Shafi'i ranks: the best place for the 'umra is al-Ji'rana, where the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) entered ihram, then Tan'im, from where he ordered Aisha's 'umra.

How to perform the 'umra

The outsider prepares at the miqat, the man of the miqat from his village, the Meccan and the man of the Haram leave the Haram for the profane zone, even by a step, to reunite profane and sacred in his acts. The ihram is prepared: major ablution with the intention, cleaning, scent leaving no trace, two clean garments not dyed with perfume; the woman covers her body except the face and hands, with neither niqab nor gloves. One prays two rak'as (those of ihram), then forms the intention and recites the talbiya, recited by the scholars' agreement in its transmitted form: "Here I am, O Allah, here I am..."; Qadi Iyad reports that most scholars, among them Malik and al-Shafi'i, recommend limiting oneself to the Prophet's talbiya (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). One continues the talbiya until the tawaf begins. Entered into Mecca, one advances the right foot to the Sacred Mosque with the transmitted invocation, starts at the Black Stone's corner: kissing it, else touching it, else pointing at it saying Allahu akbar; the Ka'ba stays to the left, seven circuits (pillar of the 'umra), the hand on the Rukn yamani if possible, between that corner and the Stone: "Lord, give us good in this world..." (al-Baqara 201). The man has two sunnas: the bared shoulder (idtiba') and quick walking in the first three circuits. Then the sa'i: seven laps between Safa and Marwa, multiplying invocation, ending at Marwa. Finally: shaving (preferable) or shortening, and the consecration is lifted entirely; and the farewell tawaf if one leaves Mecca, except for the Meccan and the man of the Haram.

On the acts' rank: shaving or shortening is a pillar for the Shafi'is, a duty for the Hanafis, Malikis and Hanbalis; whoever leaves a duty of the 'umra (the sa'i according to one opinion, the shaving with the majority) sins and owes an animal according to the Hanafis.

Repeating the 'umra?

Two views: the Malikis (famous view), Sa'id ibn Jubayr, al-Hasan, Ibrahim al-Nakha'i and al-Muzani dislike more than one 'umra per civil year (the year starting at Muharram; from Dhu al-Hijja to Muharram, no dislike), calling rather for multiplying tawafs. The majority (Hanafis, Shafi'is, Hanbalis, Zahiris, Ibn Abd al-Barr and some Malikis) recommends repetition, on the hadith "one 'umra to another expiates..." and the practice of Umar, Ali, Ibn Umar, Ibn Abbas, Aisha, Anas and the successors. In the same journey: the majority allows it: Aisha asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) for another 'umra after her pilgrimage, and he ordered her brother (al-Bukhari 1693, Muslim 1213); al-Shafi'i notes she performed two 'umras within Dhul-Hijja.

Practical note

A 'umra is prepared at the miqat like a miniature hajj: intention, talbiya, seven circuits, seven laps, shaving. For the Mecca resident, going out to al-Ji'rana or Tan'im, even a few steps, remains the recommended form.