Umrah in December 2023: Importance of Umrah
Many Muslims compare Umrah and Hajj and question the importance of Umrah. They believe that Umrah is of very less religious significance and if one has to make a holy journey that should be Hajj only. There is no denying the fact that being one of the five pillars of Islam, Hajj has more religious significance, but if someone is getting a chance to perform Umrah in December 2023, he/she should not let it go waste. To clarify the misconceptions, this article shares the importance of Umrah in the light of Ahadith. So, when you go for Umrah in December 2023, you go with full confidence, enthusiasm and religious zeal.
Numerous Ahadith signify the importance of Umrah. The collection of hadith of holy prophet (PBUH) talks about Umrah being an important tool for the expiration of sins and removing poverty. Ahadith also mention that a person who visits Makkah for Umrah is Allah’s quest and for some of the pilgrims Umrah is equivalents to Jihad. Keep all these factors in mind while performing Umrah in December so that you put in your maximum efforts to please Allah. Some of the selected Ahadith are shared below:
Jabir (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) was asked about whether Umrah was obligatory? He said, “No. But if you perform it, it is virtuous.”
[Hadith No. 931, Chapters on Hajj, Jami’ At-Tirmidhi, Vol. 2.]
While embarking on the journey of performing Umrah in December 2023, do remind yourself that Umrah is not of ‘no significance’ in Islam. It might not be obligatory, but the Hadith proves that it is virtuous.
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah (RA) said: Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “From one Umrah to another is expiation for what comes in between, and ‘Hajj Al-Mabrur’ brings no reward less than Paradise.”
[Hadith No. 2630, Book of the Rites of Hajj, Sunan An-Nasa’i, Vol. 3; Hadith No. 2888, Chapters on Hajj, Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 4.]
Ibn Abbas (RA) said: Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Perform Hajj and Umrah consecutively; for they remove poverty and sin as bellows removes impurity from iron.”
[Hadith No. 2631, Book of The Rites of Hajj, Sunan An-Nasa’i, Vol. 3.]
While performing Umrah in December 2023, remind yourself that it is your golden opportunity to shed off your sins and pray to Allah to give you more opportunities to perform Umrah and Hajj.
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah (RA) that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Jihad of the elderly, the young, the weak and the women, is Hajj and Umrah.”
[Hadith No. 2627, Book of The Rites of Hajj, Sunan An-Nasa’i, Vol. 3.]
Abu Hurairah (RA) said: Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The guests of Allah are three: The Ghazi (i.e. the warrior who fights in Jihad), the Hajj (i.e. the pilgrim who performs Hajj) and the Mu’tamir (i.e. the pilgrim performing Umrah).”
[Hadith No. 2626, Book of The Rites of Hajj, Sunan An-Nasa’i, Vol. 3.]
A pilgrimage will be able to perform Umrah in December 2023 in a much better way if they remind themselves that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has placed the status for Hajj/Umrah as Jihad for the weak, young, elderly and women.
It was narrated from Ibn Umar (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “The one who fights in the cause of Allah, and the pilgrim(s) performing Hajj and Umrah are a delegation to Allah. He invited them, so they responded to Him, and they ask Him and He gives to them.”
[Hadith No. 2893, Chapters on Hajj Rituals, Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 4]
Qatadah narrated: I said to Anas bin Malik, “How many times did the Prophet (PBUH) perform Hajj?” He said, “He performed one Hajj, and he performed four Umrah: An Umrah during Dhul Qa’dah, the Umrah of Al-Hudaibiyah, and Umrah with his Hajj, and an Umrah from Al-Ji’irranah when he divided up the war spoils of Hunain.”
[Hadith No. 815, Chapters on Hajj, Jami’ At-Tirmidhi, Vol. 2.]
Umm Ma’qid narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Umrah during Ramadan is equal to Hajj.”
[Hadith No. 939, Chapters on Hajj, Jami’ At-Tirmidhi, Vol. 2.]
Leave for performing Umrah in December with an intention to ask Allah to give you opportunities to perform more Umrah and Hajj.
Jabir (RA) said, “The Prophet (PBUH) ordered his companions to perform Umrah and to perform the Tawaf (of Ka’bah, As-Safa & Al-Marwa), and then cut short their hair and finish the Ihram.”
[Chapter 11, Book of Al-Umrah, Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 3.]
Do not forget to follow all the rituals of Umrah while performing Umrah in December 2023.
Considering the above stated Ahadith one cannot underestimate the importance of Umrah. So, perform Umrah in December 2023 the sole intention of pleasing Allah alone. Performing Umrah is a compulsion on all Muslims who have sufficient amount of money, so they should not avoid it. If you have performed Umrah more than one time and are capable for performing more, do that. There is also another Nobel way to please Allah, which is, to enable an underprivileged person to perform Umrah. In shaa Allah, this act will earn you great rewards. Keep all these Ahadith in your mind while performing Umrah in December 2023 so that you may make the most out of it.
