`Umrah in Ramadan is like accompanying me on Hajj”
Ibn `Abbâs relates that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) asked a woman from Madinah: “What prevented you from embarking on the Hajj pilgrimage with us?”
She replied: “We had two camels. My husband and child took one and left the other for the rest of us to ride on.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) then told her: “When the month of Ramadan arrives, go for ‘umrah, because `Umrah in Ramadan is like accompanying me on Hajj.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (1764)]
What a great achievement it would be for one of us to accompany Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) on Hajj! Think of standing beside him on the Plain of `Arafah. Imagine spending the night in his encampment in Muzdalifah and then getting up the next morning to go with him to Minâ. What would it be like to perform tawâf and say alongside him?
The apparent meaning of the hadîth is that our performing `Umrah in Ramadan is really that significant. You can get Hajj packages for 2018 now!
The decision for `Umrah in universal & for `Umrah in Ramadan
We must understand that going for `Umrah in Ramadan is Sunnah. It is not an obligation and should not be treated as one.
Indeed, the majority of scholars hold the opinion that performing `Umrah in one’s lifetime is not a religious obligation at all. This is the view of the Hanafî and Mâlikî schools of thought. It is also one of the views expressed by Ahmad b. Hanbal. Al-Shâfî also one time held this view, and it seems to have been his older opinion, The official position of the Shâfi`î school of law is that `Umrah is obligatory upon a Muslim, just like Hajj, once in a lifetime.
The stronger of the two opinions – and Allah knows best – is that `Umrah is not an obligation. The Qur’ân clearly mentions the obligation of the Hajj without once indicating anything similar for `Umrah.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) further emphasized this by saying: “O people! Allah has enjoined the Hajj upon you, so go for Hajj.” [Sahîh Muslim (1337)]
And by saying: “Islam is built upon five things: the testimony that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, the establishment of prayer, the payment of Zakâh, the pilgrimage to the House, and the fast during the month of Ramadan.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (8) and Sahîh Muslim (16)]
We also have where a man from central Arabia with disheveled hair approached the Prophet (peace be upon him) and asked him about Islam. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to him: “There are five prayers to be offered in the day and the night.”
The man asked: “Do I have to offer any others?”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: “No unless you do so voluntarily.” Then he continued: “You must fast the month of Ramadan.”
The man asked: “Do I have to offer any other fasts?”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: “No unless you do so voluntarily.”
Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) informed him about Zakâh, and he asked: “Do I have to pay anything else?”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: “No unless you do so voluntarily.”
The man then turned away saying: “By Allah, I will do nothing extra for these things nor do any less than I have to.”
At this, Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) remarked: “He will attain success if he proves truthful.” [Sâhîh al-Bukhârî (46) and Sâhîh Muslim (11)]
As for detailed hadîth on the subject of the ruling of `Umrah, there are some which point out that it is compulsory and others that point out it is not compulsory. However, all of these hadîth have some weak spot that can be levied against them.
for that reason, we speak on the power of the universal proof that `Umrah is a Sunnah. It is not a responsibility.
A little sensible considerations
It should create us really happy to see a lot of Muslims unite on Mecca every year in Ramadan to complete `umrah. However, there are a small number of matters that we require to consider so that the best potential things of observing this Sunnah can be realized.
Some people abandon their families to go on `Umrah in Ramadan. This is a sober problem because the holy month of Ramadan is a time for people to demonstrate superior concern for their families. It is particularly awful for parents to overlook their children during this month.
unluckily this is closely what a lot of parents do. They go away their children at the back – because those children are in school – and throw out them for at least half of Ramadan. The children spend these valuable days without anyone to look after them and guide them. Younger children miss out on necessary aspects of their education. Older children may even fall keen on sin.
There is another fault parents create concerning their children. Some parents take their children along with them to Mecca. Then, the father decides to spend his time in privacy at the Sacred Mosque, leaving his children to languish in the hotel. You can get Umrah Packages for Ramadan 2018 from the USA!
What is the end of parents looking for the extra prize from their individual devotions while incurring sin due to their abandon of those whom Allah has made them answerable for?
And Allah knows best.
