Al‘Umrah

The Meaning of ‘Umrah
The word ‘umrah in common speech "visit", but in the Shari’ah it means paying a visit to the Bayt Allah alHaram (the Sacred House of God, i.e. the Holy Ka'bah) in a specific form.
The Kinds of ‘Umrah
The ‘Umrah is of two kinds: the first which is performed independently of the Hajj (called al‘Umrat almufradah almustaqillah ‘an alHajj), and the second kind which is performed in conjunction with the Hajj (al‘Umrat almundammah ila alHajj). The al‘Umrat almufradah, the independent ‘Umrah, all the five legal schools agree, can be performed at all times of the year, though it is meritorious to perform it during the month of Rajab according to the Imamiyyah, and in Ramadan according to the four Sunni schools.
The time of the conjugate ‘Umrah, which is performed before the Hajj and in the course of the same journey by the Hujjaj coming to the Holy Makkah from distant countries, by consensus of all five schools, extends from Shawwal to Dhul Hijjah. However, there is disagreement among legists about the month of Dhul Hijjah, whether the entire month or only the first ten days belong to the Hajj season. Anyone who performs the conjugate ‘Umrah is considered relieved of the obligation to perform the al‘Umrat almufradah by those who believe in its being obligatory.
Difference Between the Two Kinds of ‘Umrah
The Imamiyyah scholars make a distinction between al‘Umrat almufradah and ‘Umrat altamattu’, citing the following reasons:
1. The Tawaf al-nisa' (to be explained later) is obligatory in al‘Umrat almufradah, not in the ‘Umrat altamattu; and according to some jurists is forbidden.
2. The time of ‘Umrat altamattu’ extends from the first of the month of Shawwal to the ninth of Dhu alHijjah, whereas al‘Umrat almufradah can be performed at all times of the year.
3. The pilgrim (mu'tamir) performing the ‘Umrat altamattu’ is required to shorten his hair (altaqsir), whereas the mu’tamir of al‘Umrat almufradah can choose between shortening his hair or completely shaving his head (alhalq), as shall be explained later.
4. The ‘Umrat altamattu’ and the Hajj occur in the same year, which is not the case with al‘Umrat almufradah.
Karrarah, in his book alDin wa alHajj ‘ala almadhahib al'arba'ah, says that, according to the Maliki and Shafi’i schools, for the mu'tamir of al‘Umrat almufradah all things are permissible, even sexual intercourse, after the shortening of hair (altaqsir) or the head shave (alhalq), irrespective of whether he brings along with him the sacrificial offering (alhady) or not. But according to the Hanbali and Hanafi schools, the mu'tamir gets away with altaqsir or alhalq, if he does not bring the sacrificial offering; otherwise he remains in the state of ihram until he gets through the Hajj and the ‘Umrah on the day of sacrifice (yawm alnahr).
The Conditions of the ‘Umrah
The conditions for the ‘Umrah are essentially the same as mentioned in the case of the Hajj.
The Status of ‘Umrah
According to the Hanafi and Maliki schools, the ‘Umrah is not obligatory but a highly recommended sunnah (sunnah mu'akkadah). But according to the Shafi’i and Hanbali schools and the majority of Imamiyyah legists, it is obligatory (wajib) for one who is mustati’, and desirable (mustahabb) for one who is not mustati: In support, they cite the Qur'anic verse:
وَأَتِمُّوا الْحَجَّ وَالْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ
(Perform the Hajj and the ‘Umrah for Allah.)1
(Fiqh alSunnah, vol. V; alFiqh ‘ala almadhahib al'arba’ah; alJawahir; alMughni)2
The Acts of the ‘Umrah
According to alFiqh ‘ala almadhahib al'arba’ah, whatever is wajib or sunnah for the Hajj is also wajib and sunnah for the ‘Umrah. But the ‘Umrah does differ from the Hajj in certain respects: there is no specific time for performing the ‘Umrah; it does not involve the halt (wuquf) in the plain of ‘Arafat; neither the departure thenceforth to alMuzdalifah; nor the ramy aljamarat.3
The Imamiyyah book alJawahir mentions that: "The obligatory acts (af'al or a'mal) of the Hajj are twelve: ihram; the wuquf at ‘Arafat; the wuquf at alMash'ar alHaram; the entry into Mina; the ramy; the dhibh (sacrifice); its related taqsir or halq; the tawaf (the sevenfold circumambulation of the Ka'bah), and its related raka'at (units of the length of prayers); the sa’y; the tawaf al-nisa', and its related raka'at. The obligatory acts of al‘Umrat almufradah are eight: niyyah (intention); ihram4 ; tawaf and its related raka'at; the sa’y; the taqsi; the tawaf al-nisa'; and its related raka'at."
This indicates that all the legal schools agree that the acts of the Hajj exceed those of the ‘Umrah by the acts associated with the wuquf. Moreover, the Imamiyyah school considers it obligatory for the performer of the al‘Umrat almufradah to perform a second tawaf, the tawaf al-nisa'. Similarly the Maliki school differs from others in considering halq or taqsir as nonobligatory for al‘Umrat almufradah.
Two Subsidiary Issues
1. The obligation (wujub) of al‘Umrat almufradah is not connected with the istita’ah for the Hajj. If, supposedly, it is possible for a person to go to Mecca at a time other than that of the Hajj and not possible at the time of the Hajj, then the ‘Umrah instead of the Hajj becomes obligatory for him. If he dies without performing it, its expense is taken out from his heritage."5
Similarly, if one has istita'ah for Hajj al'ifrad instead of the ‘Umrah, it becomes obligatory upon him; because each of them is independent of the other. This applies to al‘Umrat almufradah. As to ‘Umrat altamattu’, which shall be explained later, its wujub depends upon that of the Hajj, since it is a part of it.
2. According to the Imamiyyah, it is not permissible for one intending to enter the Holy Mecca to cross the miqat or enter its haram (sacred precincts) without getting into the state of ihram, even if he has performed the Hajj and the ‘Umrah many times before. Only when the exit and entry recur several times during month, or when after entering the city as a muhrim he goes out and reenters for a second time in less than thirty days, it is not obligatory. Therefore, ihram with respect to entry into Mecca is comparable to the wudu' before touching the Holy Qur'an. This clearly demonstrates the baselessness of the lie that the Shi’ah do not consider alBayt alHaram as sacred, and that they pretend to perform the Hajj for the sake of polluting the holy sanctuaries. (!)
According to Abu Hanifah, it is not permissible to go beyond the miqat and enter the haram without ihram, but entry into the remaining area is permissible without ihram. Malik does not agree with this, and two opinions are ascribed to alShafi'i on the matter.
This much of discussion about the ‘Umrah is sufficient for throwing light upon it, so that the reader may grasp its difference with the Hajj, though only in some aspects. What we shall say later will offer further clarification.
• 1. The Qur'an, 2:196.
• 2. According to alMughni, Ahmad ibn Hanbal did not consider the ‘Umrah as being obligatory for Meccans, for the reason that the most important act of the ‘Umrah is tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka'bah) which they do and it suffices them.
• 3. In the book alFiqh 'ala almadhahib al'arba’ah, it is the author's want to give the text followed by a commentary and notes. In the text, he states the points of consensus of all the four Sunni schools, the different position of each is given in the commentary. What we have quoted here is taken from the text, not from the commentary.
• 4. According to alDin wa alHajj 'ala almadhahib al'arba'ah, by Karrarah, one of the things which distinguishes the ‘Umrah from the Hajj is that its ihram is not assumed from any of the mawaqit specified for the Hajj. From the Imamiyyah viewpoint, there is no difference between the miqat for one performing ‘Umrah and the miqat for one on Hajj with regard to ihram.
• 5. The Imamiyyah author of alMadarik says: "The better known and sounder of opinions is that the obligation of ‘Umrah is independent of the obligation of Hajj." The author of alJawahir states, "The statements of fuqaha' are not free of confusion... the one which appears sounder is that those who live far away from Mecca are relieved of the obligation of ‘Umrah mufradah, and that which is obligatory upon them is 'Umrat altamattu; whose wujub is related to that of Hajj.

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