Is Umrah obligatory, and what are its steps?
The question as asked, details removedWhat is the ruling on Umrah, and how is it performed?More
This is a sample answer written to show how the site works. It follows the standard Hanafi books, but no mufti has reviewed or signed it yet, so it is not a fatwa. For a real answer, ask a question. Ask a mufti
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِكِ الْوَهَّابِ اَللّٰهُمَّ هِدَايَةَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
1Short answer
In the Hanafi school, Umrah is sunnah muakkadah once in a lifetime for those who can afford it. Its steps are: ihram from the miqat, seven rounds of tawaf, two rak'ahs, seven rounds of sa'i between Safa and Marwah, and shaving or trimming the hair.
2Detailed answer
Umrah is sunnah muakkadah once in a lifetime for someone who has the means, and it can be done at any time of the year except the days of Hajj (9th to 13th Dhul Hijjah), when it is makruh.
Steps:
- Put on ihram before or at the miqat: make the intention of Umrah and say the talbiyah. Men wear the two unstitched sheets.
- On reaching the Masjid al-Haram, perform tawaf: seven rounds around the Ka'bah, starting from the Black Stone.
- Pray two rak'ahs of tawaf, behind Maqam Ibrahim if possible.
- Perform sa'i: seven rounds between Safa and Marwah, starting at Safa.
- Men shave the head or trim it; women cut about a fingertip's length from their hair.
Then the ihram ends. The ihram is a condition and the tawaf is the fard part; the sa'i and the shaving or trimming are wajib.
3Evidence and sources
- Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:196
- Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Umrah
- Jami' al-Tirmidhi, Book of Hajj
- Bahar-e-Shariat, chapter on Umrah
Arabic texts, translations and how the ruling was derived
وأتموا الحج والعمرة لله
Meaning: And complete the Hajj and the Umrah for Allah.
العمرة إلى العمرة كفارة لما بينهما، والحج المبرور ليس له جزاء إلا الجنة
Meaning: One Umrah to the next is an expiation for what is between them, and an accepted Hajj has no reward but Paradise.
The verse orders that an Umrah once begun be completed. When the Prophet ﷺ was asked whether Umrah is obligatory, he said, "No, but performing Umrah is better," which is why the Hanafi school holds it to be sunnah.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُهُ أَعْلَمُ صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ