Is Umrah obligatory upon one for whom Hajj is obligatory?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Hajj
Primary text
Umrah is obligatory upon the person upon whom Hajj is obligatory, according to one of the two narrated opinions. This position is reported from companions such as Umar, Ibn Abbas, Zayd ibn Thabit, Ibn Umar, and companions of later generations including Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib, Sa'id ibn Jubayr, 'Ata', Tawus, Mujahid, al-Hasan, and Ibn Sirin, and al-Sha'bi. This view is held by al-Thawri, Ishaq, and al-Shafi'i in one of his two positions. The evidence for this obligation is the Almighty's saying: "And complete the Hajj and Umrah for Allah" (Quran 2:196). The command implies obligation, and Umrah is coupled with Hajj, suggesting equality between the two acts. Furthermore, a narration indicates that when someone embraced Islam and found Hajj and Umrah written upon him, Umar confirmed he followed the Sunnah of the Prophet. Another narration instructs one to perform Umrah for a frail father, and a tradition instructs the Prophet's companion to establish the prayer, give Zakah, perform Hajj, and perform Umrah. A letter from the Prophet to the people of Yemen stated that Umrah is the minor Hajj.
Supporting text
The second narrated opinion states that Umrah is not obligatory. This view is reported from Ibn Mas'ud and is held by Malik, Abu Thawr, and the People of Opinion (Ahl al-Ra'y). The supporting evidence cited is the hadith narrated by Jabir that when the Prophet was asked if Umrah was obligatory, he replied, "No, and your performing Umrah is better," which al-Tirmidhi graded as Hasan Sahih. Another hadith states, "Hajj is jihad, and Umrah is voluntary (nawafil)." Additionally, Umrah is argued to be non-obligatory because it is a non-timed ritual, unlike obligatory Hajj, similar to a standalone circumambulation (Tawaf).