Q: Salaamu Alaikum Sheikh, what are virtues of Umrah performed in Ramadan?
Abu Qunaisa Saleh, Minna
A: Ibn ‘Abbaas may Allaah be pleased with him narrated, “When the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention )returned after performing Hajj (major pilgrimage), he asked Umm Sinaan Al-Ansaariyyah,‘Why did you not perform Hajj?’ She replied, ‘The father of so-and-so [i.e., her husband] had two camels and he went on pilgrimage on one of them, and the second is used for the irrigation of our land.’ The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention )said [to her]:‘An ‘Umrah (minor pilgrimage) in Ramadan is akin to Hajj with me [in terms of reward].’” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim] According to another narration, he told her: “When Ramadan comes, do ‘Umrah as [the reward for] it then is equivalent to Hajj.”
Likewise, it was reported by Umm Ma‘qil may Allah be pleased with herthat the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ), said to her, “Perform ‘Umrah in Ramadan, as it is equal to Hajj.”[Abu Daawood] Similar Hadeeths were also narrated on the authority of Jaabir, Anas, Abu Hurayrah and Wahb ibn Khanbash may Allaah be pleased with them all.
Ibn Battaal may Allah have mercy upon himcommented on the aforementioned Hadeeths, saying:
The sentence that ‘Umrah “then is equivalent to Hajj”, proves that the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ), was actually encouraging her to perform a voluntary Hajj, as the whole Ummah (Muslim nation) has unanimously agreed that the ‘Umrah can never be a substitute for the obligatory Hajj.
Moreover, what he, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ), meant is that they are like each other in reward, but virtues cannot truly be perceived through analogy; and Allaah The Almighty bestows His Bounty upon whom He Wills.
Benefits and rulings [derived from these Hadeeths]:
1- The mercy and bounty bestowed by Allaah The Almighty upon His slaves is great, as He granted them huge rewards in return for small good deeds; so, we praise Him abundantly for that.
2- The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ), was keen on ensuring the welfare of his Ummah and would ask after those under his rule. Just as he was the sincerest confidant to all people, any slave whom Allah The Almighty puts in charge of subjects should treat them leniently, advise them, check on their conditions and serve their worldly and religious benefits.
3- ‘Umrah done during the month of Ramadan cannot be a substitute for the obligatory Hajj, i.e., they are equal in reward, but the former does not replace the latter as a fulfillment of the obligation that is unanimously agreed upon by the scholars.
4- The reward of good deeds increases in proportion to the virtue of the time they are performed in, as well as one’s heartfelt devotion and dedication.
5- This Hadeeth is similar to the narration that says, “The Chapter Al-Ikhlaas (Purification) equals one third of the Quran”; it indicates that it is equivalent in terms of the reward of recitation, not that reciting it could, or should, substitute actually reciting [that much or] the whole of the Quran.
6- The ‘Umrah here is considered equal to the Hajj in reward, when it is performed during the month of Ramadan, which is a great season for good deeds. Hence, whoever performs it then, enjoys the virtue of the place [i.e., the Sacred Mosque in Makkah] and time [i.e., Ramadan]; this is also the case with one who performs Hajj, as he is also in the same holy place and in a blessed time [i.e., months of Hajj].
In addition, doing ‘Umrah in the month of Ramadan is more difficult. That is because one may be fasting while performing it or break his fast due to the traveling involved, and then have to make up for it. This is not the case when one performs ‘Umrah during any other month.
The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said to ‘Aa‘ishah may Allah be pleased with heronce, when he ordered her to perform ‘Umrah, “It [i.e., its reward] is according to your effort”, or, as per another narration, “according to your expenditure.”[Muslim]
And Allah knows best.