By Asma bint Shameem
Yes although it’s *”allowed”* to do multiple Umrahs, generally speaking, the scholars DISCOURAGE doing that while in Makkah.
That’s because the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam did NOT do multiple umrahs when he was at Hajj.
And it was NOT the practice of the Sahaabah either.
Now I know, we all want to do as many Umrahs as we can and we want to get the MAXIMUM benefit from our visit to Saudi Arabia.
But think about this...
If it was good to do multiple Umrahs all in one trip, surely the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) would have done so himself and the Sahaabah would have done so too.
But we see that although the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) stayed in Makkah for multiple days after the conquest of Makkah, yet he did NOT leave Makkah to do `Umrah, even though he could have easily done so.
Sheikh al-`Uthaymeen said:
"Ibn Taymiyah mentions that the Salaf are agreed that making multiple `Umrahs is DISLIKED.
In any case, leaving Makkah and going to the boundary of the sacred precincts to make a second or third `Umrah is an *unfounded* practice that was unknown during the time of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam.
The only exception to this was the case where `A'ishah radhi Allaahu anhaa sought permission to make a single `Umrah after Hajj because of SPECIAL circumstances.
*If it was generally recommended to leave Mecca to perform `Umrah in this way, the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam would have encouraged his Companions to do so*."
Shaykh Sa'd ash-Shithree said:
“The better option is to not perform mutliple Umrahs on one trip.
That’s because the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam never did this, nor was it practiced by a number of the Companions.
So what to do?
1. Do TAWAAF instead.
Instead of making multiple Umrahs, the better thing to do and the worship that will earn MORE REWARDS, is to perform as many TAWAAF as you can for yourself.
Tawaaf is an *Ibaadah that cannot be done anywhere else except Makkah* and this is a GOLDEN opportunity.
Ibn Taymiyah said:
"The Salaf agree that performing voluntary tawaaf is SUPERIOR to going to al-Tan’eem or to the boundaries of the sacred precincts and making `Umrah.”
(Majmu` al-Fataawa)
2. Or you can do a lot of SALAAH instead of doing multiple umrahs.
Shaykh Sa'd ash-Shithree said:
“Good deeds vary in their virtue and reward and the Muslim should try to take advantage of that which is of greater benefit.
The Salaah is a greater act of devotion than Umrah.
Since a person is in Makkah, and the reward for 1 Salaah is greater than 100,000 prayers, the Muslim should strive to pray more often vs. conducting an additional Umrah.
Also, the prayer consists of reciting the Qur’aan- the Speech of Allaah- Qiyaam, Du'aa, and Sujood - the closest a servant will be to his Lord.
There also comes in the Hadeeth of Rabi'ah Radhi Allaahu anhu when he asked the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam for his companionship in Paradise, the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam responded:
"Then help me do it for you by prostrating often.” (Muslim)
And there are many other virtues related to Salaah that far outweigh the rewards attached to an additional voluntary Umrah.”
Also, speaking based on my personal experience as well as from a doctor’s point of view, although it is ALLOWED, it’s BETTER NOT to do multiple umrahs on your Hajj trip, especially if this is your FARDH Hajj.
UNLESS you want to do just one umrah or so for a SPECIFIC REASON such as an umrah for your deceased loved one, etc.
That’s because going again and again to Masjid Aaishah and putting in ihraam for Umrah again and again puts a LOT of stress on a person’s health and immunity.
It’s EXTREMELY HOT in Makkah, there are a LOT of people who’re sick and doing multiple Umrahs EXPOSES a person to all these stresses.
And by the time Hajj comes along, these people are either actually SICK or completely EXHAUSTED for their hajj, the MAIN reason they were there for!
Every year I see people WASTE their Arafah because they’re so drained and weak and exhausted from their multiple umrah every day.
In fact, by the time the day of Arafah comes, they’re so tired and suffering from such lack of sleep that they’re actually SLEEPING,
completely knocked out, on THE most important day of their life!
They can’t help it.
They can’t even keep their eyes open, Subhaan Allaah.
Do understand that all these rituals are physically AND emotionally EXHAUSTING especially with our time differences and because we’re not used to such heat or such strenuous activities.
So I would advise my brothers and sisters to PACE themselves and NOT to OVEREXERT themselves by doing multiple Umrahs on their Hajj/Umrah trip.
Instead, do multiple *Tawaafs*.
Remember it’s NOT the *quantity* that matters.
It’s the *QUALITY*.
That’s my advice and suggestion so that you can perform your Hajj in the BEST way possible.
But if you feel you know what you’re doing, and still want to do multiple Umrahs, then of course, you can go ahead and do what you think is best for you.
And Allaah knows best
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