Authored by: Imran Ayub Lahori❖ Miqāt and Entering into Iḥrām
Just as the Prophet ﷺ designated Yalamlam, Dhāt ʿIrq, and other points as Miqāt, these apply equally to both Ḥajj and ʿUmrah.
Evidence:The Prophet ﷺ instructed ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī Bakr رضي الله عنه to take ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها to Tanʿīm for entering into iḥrām for ʿUmrah.
(Bukhārī: 1784; Muslim: 1211)
❖ Steps After Iḥrām
Narrated by Jābir رضي الله عنه, the Prophet ﷺ instructed those without sacrificial animals to:
Perform Ṭawāf, Saʿī between Ṣafā and Marwah, trim their hair, and exit iḥrām.
(Bukhārī: 1785; Muslim: 1216)
After this, they were fully out of iḥrām, and permitted even intimacy with their spouses.
Shaving the head (ḥalq) is more virtuous than trimming.The Prophet ﷺ made special duʿā for those who shaved first.
(Bukhārī: 1728; Muslim: 1302)
❖ ʿUmrah Is Permissible Throughout the Year
➊ The Prophet ﷺ prescribed ʿUmrah without specifying any fixed time.
➋ Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"ʿUmrah in Ramaḍān is equivalent to Ḥajj (in reward)."
(Bukhārī: 1782; Muslim: 1256; Abū Dāwūd: 1990; Ibn Mājah: 2994; Aḥmad: 1/229; others)
➌ Al-Barā’ ibn ʿĀzib رضي الله عنه reported that the Prophet ﷺ performed two ʿUmrahs before Ḥajj in Dhul-Qaʿdah.
(Bukhārī: 1781)
➍ Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما said the Prophet ﷺ performed four ʿUmrahs, one of them in Rajab.
(Bukhārī: 1775)
➎ ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها refuted this:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ never performed ʿUmrah in Rajab."
(Bukhārī: 1777)
➏ ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها herself performed ʿUmrah from Tanʿīm.
(Bukhārī: 1784)
❖ Difference of Opinion in Counting the Prophet’s ﷺ ʿUmrahs
- Those who count four ʿUmrahs include the Ḥudaybiyah incident.
- Those who count three exclude Ḥudaybiyah.
- Those who say two, exclude Ḥudaybiyah and the one performed with Ḥajj.
The correct opinion is that the Prophet ﷺ performed all of his ʿUmrahs in the months of Ḥajj to reject the pre-Islamic belief that ʿUmrah during those months was impermissible.(Nayl al-Awṭār: 3/306)
❖ Scholarly Views on the Timing of ʿUmrah
✔ Majority (Jumhūr):
Permissible to perform ʿUmrah during the months of Ḥajj.
✔ Minority:
Some considered it makrūh, such as the Hādawiyyah sect.
(al-Mughnī: 5/16; al-Ḥāwī: 4/30; al-Umm: 2/163; al-Mabsūṭ: 4/178; others)
✔ Preferred Opinion (Rājiḥ):
ʿUmrah may be performed at any time throughout the year, with no aspect of disapproval.
(al-Sayl al-Jarrār: 2/215)
Summary of the ʿUmrah Procedure
① Iḥrām: Enter at the Miqāt with intention and talbiyah
② Ṭawāf: Perform 7 circuits around the Kaʿbah
③ Saʿī: Walk between Ṣafā and Marwah 7 times
④ Ḥalq or Qaṣr: Shave or trim the head (shaving is more virtuous)
⑤ Exit Iḥrām: After hair removal, all prohibitions are lifted
Is ʿUmrah Fard or Sunnah?This has been discussed in detail at the beginning of the Kitāb al-Ḥajj.
