The Virtues of performing Umrah

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

It is Sunnah Muakkadah (Emphasised Sunnah) to perform Umrah once in a lifetime if one has the financial means and ability to perform Umrah. Performing Umrah is virtuous and a great act of ibaadah.[1]

Whenever Rasullulah (Sallallahu Alahi Wasallam) and Sahaba (Radhiyallahu Anhum) would have the opportunity to perform Umrah, they would do so. Rasullulah (Sallallahu Alahi Wasallam) travelled four times for Umrah after hijrat (migration).[2]  

1. Umrah of Hudaibiyah (6 AH),

2. Umrat-al-Qadha (7 AH),

3. Umrah from Ji’raan (7 AH) 

4. Umrah with Hajj (10 AH). 

This was despite the very busy schedule of Rasullulah (Sallallahu Alahi Wasallam). Rasullulah (Sallallahu Alahi Wasallam) even took out time in the middle of the war in Hunain to perform Umrah from Ji’raan. See the following hadith: 

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَرَجَ مِنَ الْجِعْرَانَةِ لَيْلاً مُعْتَمِرًا فَدَخَلَ مَكَّةَ لَيْلاً فَقَضَى عُمْرَتَهُ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ مِنْ لَيْلَتِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ بِالْجِعْرَانَةِ كَبَائِتٍ (جامع الترمذي حديث 128)    

Translation: "The Messenger of Allah Ta’ala left Al-Ji'irranah during the night for Umrah, then he entered Makkah during the night and performed his Umrah. Then he left there during the night, then he was in Al-Ji'irranah by the morning,” (Jami`at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 128)

Allah Ta’ala even refers to the willingness and desire of Sahaba to perform Umrah in the Quraan:

لَقَدْ صَدَقَ اللَّهُ رَسُولَهُ الرُّؤْيَا بِالْحَقِّ لَتَدْخُلُنَّ الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ آمِنِينَ مُحَلِّقِينَ رُءُوسَكُمْ وَمُقَصِّرِينَ لَا تَخَافُونَ (الفتح: 27)                                                Translation: “Verily, Allah Ta’ala shall make the dream of his Rasool (Sallallahu Alahi Wasallam) come true. When Allah Ta’ala wills, you (Rasool (Sallallahu Alahi Wasallam) and the Sahaba) shall definitely enter the Masjidul Haraam in peace with your hair shaved or trimmed (after completing the Umrah) without any fear.” (Surah Al-Fatah: 27)

-Rasullulah (Sallallahu Alahi Wasallam) also narrated to us the virtues for performing Umrah. See the following hadith:

A GUEST OF ALLAH TA’ALA

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ وَفْدُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ثَلاَثَةٌ الْغَازِي وَالْحَاجُّ وَالْمُعْتَمِرُ ‏"(سنن النسائي حديث 37)                                                                                                                    Translation: “The Messenger of Allah Ta’ala said: 'The guests of Allah Ta’ala, the Mighty and Sublime, are three: The warrior, the pilgrim performing Hajj, and the pilgrim performing 'Umrah.'" (Sunan an-Nasa'i, Hadith 37)

DUAS READILY ACCEPTED

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ"‏ الْغَازِي فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالْحَاجُّ وَالْمُعْتَمِرُ وَفْدُ اللَّهِ دَعَاهُمْ فَأَجَابُوهُ وَسَأَلُوهُ فَأَعْطَاهُم (سنن ابن ماجه حديث 37)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Translation:  ‘’Rasullullah (Sallalahu Alahi Wasallam) said: “The one who fights in the cause of Allah Taála, and the pilgrim performing Hajj and ‘Umrah are a delegation to Allah Taála. He invited them, so they responded to Him, and they ask Him and He gives to them.” (Sunnan-ibn Majah, Hadith 2893)

SINS FORGIVEN AND BARAKAH IN WEALTH 

قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ تَابِعُوا بَيْنَ الْحَجِّ وَالْعُمْرَةِ فَإِنَّهُمَا يَنْفِيَانِ الْفَقْرَ وَالذُّنُوبَ كَمَا يَنْفِي الْكِيرُ خَبَثَ الْحَدِيدِ وَالذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ (سنن النسائي حديث 2631)                                                                                                                                    

Translation: "The Messenger of Allah Taála said: 'Perform Hajj and 'Umrah consecutively, for they remove poverty and sin as the bellows removes impurity from iron and gold and silver.” (Sunan an-Nasa'i, Hadith 2631)

People go around touring the world and spend many resources. We advise to spend such resources in performing Umrah. The resources and time spent will be for our permanent investment for the hereafter. Furthermore, the reward for one Salaah in Masjudul Haram is equivalent to hundred thousand prayers. This is equivalent to approximately 55 years of Salaah in lieu of just one Salaah. See the following hadith:

ONE SALAAH = 100 000 SALAAH

صَلاَةٌ فِي مَسْجِدِي أَفْضَلُ مِنْ أَلْفِ صَلاَةٍ فِيمَا سِوَاهُ إِلاَّ الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ وَصَلاَةٌ في الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ مِائَةِ أَلْفِ صَلاَةٍ فِيمَا سِوَاهُ (سنن ابن ماجه حديث 37)

Translation: The Messenger of Allah Ta’ala said: “One prayer in my mosque is better than one thousand prayers elsewhere, except the Sacred Mosque, and one prayer in the Sacred Mosque is better than one hundred thousand prayers elsewhere.” (Sunnan Ibn Majah,1406)

If one performs just one day Salat in Musjidul Haram, it is as though he performs Salat for 275 years. We have limited lifespan. When we perform our Salaah in the haram, we are virtually capitalising on maximising our short lifespan. There can be no price equivalent to that.

Furthermore, one gets the opportunity to make Tawaaf of the Ka’aba Shareef which is an act of great virtue. See the following Ahadith on the virtue of making Tawaaf:

THE MERCY OF ALLAH TA’ALA POURING 

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: يُنْزِلُ اللَّهُ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْمَسْجِدِ مَسْجِدِ مَكَّةَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ عِشْرِينَ وَمِائَةَ رَحْمَةٍ، سِتِّينَ مِنْهَا لِلطَّائِفِينَ، وَأَرْبَعِينَ لِلْمُصَلِّينَ، وَعِشْرِينَ مِنْهَا لِلنَّاظِرِينَ (المعجم الأوسط, ص: 248)

Translation: Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alahi Wasallam) said, “Allah Taála showers unto those present in the masjid of Makkah every day one hundred and twenty mercies. Sixty mercies are for those who are performing tawāf, forty for those engaged in salah, and twenty for those who are merely looking (at the Ka‘bah). (Al Mu’jamul Awsat, P 248)

CLOSENESS TO ALLAH TA’ALA UPON EVERY STEP 

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ طَافَ أُسْبُوعًا يُحْصِيهِ وَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ كَانَ لَهُ كَعِدْلِ رَقَبَةٍ مَا رَفَعَ رَجُلٌ قَدَمًا وَلَا وَضَعَهَا إِلَّا كُتِبَتْ لَهُ عَشْرُ حَسَنَاتٍ وَحُطَّ عَنْهُ عَشْرُ سَيِّئَاتٍ وَرُفِعَ لَهُ عَشْرُ دَرَجَات (مسند أحمد حديث 27862)  

Translation: Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alahi Wasallam) said: “Whoever circles the Ka’bah seven times and prays two cycles will be rewarded as if he has freed a slave. A man does not raise his foot and bring it back down but that ten good deeds will be written for him, ten bad deeds will be erased, and he will be raised by ten degrees.” )Musnad- Ahmed, hadith 27862)

ANGELS MAKE DUA  

عن عطاء ومجاهد قالا: النظر إلى البيت عبادة وتكتب له بها حسنة وتصلي عليه الملائكة ما دام ينظر إليه (مصنف عبد الرزاق, الصفحه 135)

Translation: ‘Atā’ and Mujāhid have said, “Looking at the Ka‘bah is a form of worship. A good deed will be written for him, and the angels will pray for him as long as he’s looking at it.” (Musanaf- Abdur Razaq P 135)

وَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ ‏"‏ لاَ يَضَعُ قَدَمًا وَلاَ يَرْفَعُ أُخْرَى إِلاَّ حَطَّ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ بِهَا خَطِيئَةً وَكَتَبَ لَهُ بِهَا حَسَنَةً (جامع الترمذي  حديث 951)

Translation: Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alahi Wasallam) said, “A person who circumambulates this House (the Ka’bah) seven times and performs the two Rak’at Salat (of Tawaaf) in the best form possible will have his sins forgiven.” (Jamai’at Tirmidhi hadith 959)

A person making Tawaaf has the opportunity to kiss or make استلام of the Hajr Aswad. This too has great virtues: 

THE HAJR ASWAD WILL BE YOUR WITNESS

قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم"‏ نَزَلَ الْحَجَرُ الأَسْوَدُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَهُوَ أَشَدُّ بَيَاضًا مِنَ اللَّبَنِ فَسَوَّدَتْهُ خَطَايَا بَنِي آدَمَ ‏"(جامع الترمذي حديث 70)     ‏

Translation: The Messenger of Allah Ta’ala said: "The Black Stone descended from the Paradise, and it was whiter than milk, then it was blackened by the sins of the children of Adam (Alayhis Salam)." (Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 70)

يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ إِنَّ الرُّكْنَ وَالْمَقَامَ يَاقُوتَتَانِ مِنْ يَاقُوتِ الْجَنَّةِ طَمَسَ اللَّهُ نُورَهُمَا وَلَوْ لَمْ يَطْمِسْ نُورَهُمَا لأَضَاءَتَا مَا بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏(جامع الترمذي حديث 71)

Translation: “The Hajre Aswad and al-Maqam (Ibrahim) are the two jewels from the jewels of Paradise. Had Allah Ta’ala not concealed their radiance, they would illuminate everything between the East and the West.” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 71)

قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الْحَجَرِ "‏ وَاللَّهِ لَيَبْعَثَنَّهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ لَهُ عَيْنَانِ يُبْصِرُ بِهِمَا وَلِسَانٌ يَنْطِقُ بِهِ يَشْهَدُ عَلَى مَنِ اسْتَلَمَهُ بِحَقٍّ ‏"‏ ‏.(جامع الترمذي حديث 155)‏ 

Translation: The Messenger of Allah Ta’ala said about the (Black) Stone: "By Allah Ta’ala! Allah Ta’ala will raise it on the Day of Resurrection with two eyes by which it sees and a tongue that it speaks with, testifying to whoever touched it in truth. (Jami` at-Tirmidhi Hadith 155)

Moreover, Umrah presents an opportunity to travel to Madinah Shareef and convey Salaam to Rasullullah (Sallalahu Alahi Wasallam), to perform Salaah in Masjidun-Nabawi and to go to Riyaadul-Jannah.  Consider the following virtues for the those visiting Masjid-e-Nabawi and conveying Salaam to Rasullullah (Sallalahu Alahi Wasallam). See the following Ahadith:

AS THOUGH YOU VISITED RASULLULLAH (SALLALLAHU ALAHI WASALLAM) IN HIS LIFETIME

وقال صلى الله عليه وسلم: "من زارني بعد مماتي فكأنما زارني في حياتي (التوضيح لشرح الجامع الصحيح (ص:102)                                                                                       

Translation: Rasullullah (Sallalahu Alahi Wasallam) said: “Whoever visits my grave, is as if he visited me during my life" (At- Tawdheeh P 102)

 وقال صلى الله عليه وسلم: "من زار قبري وجبت له شفاعتي (سنن الدارقطني ص:334)                                                                      

Translation: Rasullullah (Sallalahu Alahi Wasallam) said: "Whoever visits my grave, my intercession will be guaranteed for him" (Sunnan Adarakuthni P 334)

قَالَ ‏"‏ صَلاَةٌ فِي مَسْجِدِي هَذَا أَفْضَلُ مِنْ أَلْفِ صَلاَةٍ فِيمَا سِوَاهُ إِلاَّ الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ ‏" (صحيح مسلم حديث 155)

Translation: Rasullulah (Sallallahu Alahi Wasallam)) said: Prayer in this mosque of mine (in Madinah) is better than a thousand prayers (observed in another mosque.) besides it, except that of Masjid al-Haram (in Makkah). (Sahih Muslim 1395, Hadith 583)

YOU IN THE GARDEN OF JANNAH

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ مَا بَيْنَ بَيْتِي وَمِنْبَرِي رَوْضَةٌ مِنْ رِيَاضِ الْجَنَّةِ ‏"‏ ‏. (جامع الترمذي حديث 4294) ‏                                                                                                                                                      Translation: Rasullulah (Sallallahu Alahi Wasallam) said: "What is between my house and my Mimbar is a garden from the gardens of Paradise." (Jami`at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 4294)                                                                 

As believers, our focus is the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala and the hereafter. Performing Umrah is a means of gaining the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala and investing for the hereafter. Umrah is an effective way of developing one’s spirituality and connecting with Allah Ta’ala and Rasullullah (Sallallahu Alahi Wasallam). Additionally, one experiences such peace and tranquillity in the travels of the Haramain Shareefain (Makkah and Madinah). That is not experienced in other worldly travels. 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best

M. Akhtar 

Student Darul Iftaa
South Africa

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

(2021)