Umrah Type Of Umrah Minor Hajj, Its Meaning, Lawful Status And Rites

Its Meaning

Since two out of the three types of Hajj; which will be discussed in more detail later, include 'Umrah as a part of their rites, it would be appropriate to look at 'Umrah before going on to a discussion of the rites of Hajj and 'Umrah.

The name 'Umrah literally means having the intention to visit an inhabited house. However, Islamically 'Umrah means to visit Makkah at any time of the year in a state of dress and spirit known as Ihram with the intention of performing certain religious rites there according to the method prescribed by the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم). It has also been referred to in English as the minor pilgrimage.

This religious rite is classified among the highly recommended (Mustahabb or Mandoob) acts of worship in Islam based on statements from both the Qur'an and the Sunnah. Allah ordained it along with Hajj saying: Complete Hajj and 'Umrah for Allah (2:196) and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) clarified that order in the following Hadeeth (saying or action of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). Jaabir ibn Abdullaah reported that some one asked the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) "Is 'Umrah Waajib (compulsory)?" The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) replied, No, but you should perform the 'Umrah because it has great benefits. Hence, 'Umrah is Mustahabb and should be done whenever one is able to do so.

The pre-conditions for 'Umrah being considered recommended and acceptable are basically the same as the preconditions for Hajj being considered compulsory. One intending to do 'Umrah should be a Muslim past the age of puberty, able to afford the journey and in the case of women, they should be accompanied by a Mahram if the 'Umrah involved a distance requiring twenty-four or more hours of travel.

Its lawful status: 

A group of scholars held that it is obligatory, consequently, it must be performed once in one's life time. Other groups were of the opinion that it is a Sunnah. Its time: The vast majority of scholars were of the opinion that 'Umrah may be performed any time during the year before or after Hajj. The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) performed Umrah before Hajj and Aisha performed it after Hajj in the Farewell Hajj. The best time to perform 'Umrah is during the month of Ramadan for the authentic Hadith reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said: An 'Umrah in the month of Ramadan is equal in reward to performing a Hajj. The lawful verdict on the repeated performance of 'Umrah: Ibn 'Omar performed 'Umrah twice a year during the reign of Ibn Az-Zubair. Aisha performed 'Umrah three times in only one year. The majority of scholars held that it is preferred the repetition of 'Umrah more than once a year. Abu Hanifa, Ash-Shaf'i, and Ibn Hanbal supported this view whereas Malik held that it is disliked to repeat 'Umrah more than once a year

Hajj And Umrah Guides, Pilgrimage Essentials, Mecca & Medina Topics Links:

Advice To Pilgrims | A Step by step Hajj and 'Umrah | Adhkar (Pertaining to the remembrance of Allah) | A Lasting Word For Hajj And 'Umrah | An Account of the Miqat | An Account of visiting the Prophet's Mosque | Ayaam at-Tashreeq | Binding on the pilgrim to refrain from sins | Command about the Menstruating and similar women | Conditional Ihram | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day One | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Two | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Three | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Four | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Five | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Six | Day of Arafah | Day to Day Activities of Hajj | Dhabh | Duties of pilgrims at 'Arafah | Entering Mecca | Entering Al-Masjid-al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque) and Tawaf | Errors Often Committed by Pilgrims | Etiquette of Ihram | Etiquette of Visiting the Prophet's (P.B.U.H) Grave | Farewell Pilgrimage of the Messenger of Allah | Farewell Tawaf | Farewell Tawaf is binding on everyone except the menstruating and women with post childbirth bleeding | Fixed time for Hajj | Fixed time for Hajj | Four Khutbahs in Hajj | Hajj in Pre-Islamic Times | Hajj of a woman | Hajj, Umrah & Ziyarah At a Glance | Halq or Qass | Halq or Qasr: Shaving or Clipping | Ihram | Ihram for youngsters | Ihram: Introduction And Significance | Innovations of `Arafah | Innovations Before Ihraam | Innovations of Hajj, `Umra and Visiting Madinah | Innovations of Ihraam and Talbiyyah, etc. | Innovations of Muzdalifah | Innovations of Sacrifice and Shaving the Head | Innovations of Sa'y Between Safaa and Marwah | Innovations of Stoning | Innovations of Tawaaf | Innovations of Visiting Madinat-ul-Munawwarah | Innovations of Visiting Bait-ul-Maqdis | Innovations: Various Innovations | Istilaam | Kinds of Ihram | Leaving Arafah to spend night in Al Muzdalefah | Many `Umrahs after Hajj is not encouraged by the Shari`ah | Maqaam Ibraaheem | Meeqaat | Merits of Hajj | Merits of 'Umrah | Minaa | Neglecting and delaying the throwing of pebbles | No Specific Supplication for Tawaf and Sa'y | Not allowed to shave the beard | Not obligatory to visit the Prophet's Mosque | Objective of Hajj - To seek the Divine Pleasure | Obligations during Hajj and Umrah | Performing Hajj on behalf of others | Permitted and Forbidden things in the State of Ihram | Pilgrim with Sacrificial Animal in the month of Hajj should intend Qiran (accompanied Hajj) and the one | Pillars of Hajj | Prayers at Arafah | Preparations for Hajj, Umrah and travelling to the holy lands | Preparing for Hajj or 'Umrah | Prerequisites and Sunnahs of valid Tawaf | Ramy | Reaching Miqat at a Time other than the Hajj Season | Regulations Concerning Hady (Sacrificial animals) | Restrictions of Ihram | Rites, obligations and Sunnahs of Umrah | Sa'y | Sa'y between Safa and Marwah | Sa'y and its rituals | Sacrificial animals | Shaving or clipping hair | Sunnah and allowed throwing | Sunnahs of Tawaf | Supplication at the beginning of the journey | Supplication on entering the Mosque | Supplications at Arafah | Supplications: Some All-Inclusive Supplications | Supplications: Some Supplications which may Be Recited At 'Arafat, at the Sacred Sites, and at Other Places of Supplication | Talbeeyah | Tawaaf | Tawaaf al-Ifaadah | Throwing Al Jemar | Throwing pebbles on behalf of other people | Types of Hajj | Umrah | Veiling and giving up the display of beauty is compulsory for women | Verdict on spending the night at Mina | Visitation of the Prophet's Mosque | Visiting Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi | Visiting Quba Mosque and Al-Baqi' cemetery | What a Pilgrim should do when he reaches the Miqat | What Is Required of the Pilgrims | What is allowed to a Muhrim | Where to pick the pebbles from and the number and size of pebbles | Woman's Hajj with Mahram, expenses of Hajj, taking husband's permission | Woman may enter into the Ihram in any dress | Wuqoof 'Arafaat | Wuqoof Muzdalifah | Zamzam