There is no contradiction between Anas’s report that all these ‘umrahs took place in Dhū al-Qa‘dah except the one performed with his Hajj, and the statement of ‘Ā’ishah and Ibn ‘Abbās that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, performed ‘umrah only in Dhū al-Qa‘dah (1). The ‘umrah combined with Hajj began in Dhū al-Qa‘dah and ended in Dhū al-Hijjah, when the Hajj was completed. Thus, ‘Ā’ishah and Ibn ‘Abbās spoke of its beginning, while Anas spoke of its completion.

As for ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Umar’s statement that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, performed four ‘umrahs, one of them in Rajab = this was a mistaken recollection on his part. When ‘Ā’ishah heard that he had said this, she said: “May Allah have mercy on Abū ‘Abd al-Rahmān. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, never performed an ‘umrah without Ibn ‘Umar being present, and he never performed ‘umrah in Rajab” (2).

As for the report narrated by al-Dāraqutnī (3) from ‘Ā’ishah, in which she said: “I accompanied the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, on an ‘umrah in Ramadan. He did not fast, while I fasted, and he shortened his prayers, while I performed them in full. I said, ‘May my father and mother be sacrificed for you! You did not fast, while I fasted, and you shortened your prayers, while I performed them in full.’ He replied, ‘You have done well, ‘Ā’ishah’” = this hadith is erroneous. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, never performed ‘umrah in Ramadan, and the number and timing of his ‘umrahs are precisely recorded. We say: May Allah have mercy on the Mother of the Believers; the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, never performed ‘umrah in Ramadan. She herself, may Allah be pleased with her, said: “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, performed ‘umrah only in Dhū al-Qa‘dah.” This was narrated by Ibn Mājah and others (4).