Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … This hadith is weak, and neither is the meaning of these words clear nor is any relevance apparent, because when the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was performing the Farewell Pilgrimage (Hajjat al-Wada‘), there was no danger of being prevented (from Hajj), since Allah Ta‘ala had granted dominance to Islam, Makkah Mukarramah had been conquered, and in the previous year during the days of Hajj, it had already been announced that henceforth no polytheist or naked person would be able to perform tawaf. Moreover, there were approximately forty thousand Companions present with the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. In any case, it is possible that Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Amr radi Allahu anhu uttered these words due to some assumption, or that some mistake occurred from a narrator below him, while the chain of transmission is also weak. And Allah knows best what is correct.

The Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam performed Hajj Qiran. The Rightly Guided Caliphs were aware that performing ‘umrah during the months of Hajj is permissible; despite this, they held the opinion that during the journey of Hajj, only Hajj should be performed, and for the performance of ‘umrah, a new journey should be undertaken afterwards, so that the reward and merit would be greater. The reason for their opinion was that Allah Ta‘ala had granted means such as wealth and resources.

Hafiz Ibn Kathir has mentioned the number forty thousand on the occasion of Hajjat al-Wada‘ in "Al-Bidayah wa’l-Nihayah," whereas "Al-Raheeq al-Makhtum," "Rahmatul-lil-‘Alameen," and other biographers of the Prophet have mentioned the number of those who performed Hajj with the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam during Hajjat al-Wada‘ as one hundred and twenty-four or one hundred and forty-four thousand. (Abdullah Rafiq)