… than to come back from four miles outside the Sanctuary after having already completed two hundred circuits; every additional tawaf (circumambulation) of the House is better than walking that distance for no specific act of worship. Abu Talib relates: It was said to Ahmad ibn Hanbal, “What is your opinion about the ‘umrah of someone who is already in ihram (the Makkan ‘umrah)?” He replied, “What is there in it? In my view the real ‘umrah (minor pilgrimage) is the one you set out for deliberately from your home. Allah says: ‘And complete the hajj and the ‘umrah for Allah’ (Q 2:196). ‘Aisha said: ‘The ‘umrah is only in proportion to its hardship,’ meaning to the effort and expense involved. He also cited the report from ‘Ali and ‘Umar: ‘Its completion is that you enter ihram for it from the doorstep of your own house …’ ‘Aisha likewise said: ‘To fast three days or to give charity to ten poor persons is dearer to me than performing again the ‘umrah I once performed from at-Tan‘im.’ Tawus remarked: ‘As for those who perform an ‘umrah after the hajj, I do not know whether they will be punished for it or rewarded.’ ‘Ata ibn as-Sa’ib said: ‘We performed an ‘umrah after the hajj and Sa‘id ibn Jubayr reproached us for it.’ Others held it permissible but did not practice it themselves. It is related that Umm al-Darda’ was asked about an ‘umrah after hajj and she advised the questioner to perform it. ‘Ata’ was asked about the ‘umrah from at-Tan‘im and said, ‘It is valid and sufficient.’ Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad said, ‘The ‘umrah of a Makkan is complete.’ ‘Abd al-Razzaq records in his Musannaf: someone who heard ‘Ata’ told me that ‘Ata’ said, ‘Making seven circuits is better for you than traveling to Madinah …’ (1) Reported by al-Bukhari, no. 1190, and Muslim, no. 1394, on the authority of Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him).