while refraining from doing so also showed mercy and compassion towards his community. For had he performed ‘umrah in Ramadan, his community would have hastened to do likewise, and combining ‘umrah with fasting would have been difficult for them. Most people might have been unwilling to break their fast during this act of worship, eager to perform both ‘umrah and the Ramadan fast, and hardship would have resulted. He therefore postponed it until the months of Hajj. He would often refrain from deeds he wished to perform for fear of causing them hardship. When he entered the Ka‘bah, he emerged saddened. ‘Ā’ishah asked him about this, and he replied, “I fear that I may have caused hardship for my community” (1). He also considered going down to draw water with those supplying Zamzam water to the pilgrims, but feared that others would take over their task of supplying water after him (2). And Allah knows best.

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It is not recorded (3) that he, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ever performed ‘umrah more than once in a year; he never performed it twice in the same year. Some people have thought that he performed ‘umrah twice in one year, citing what Abū Dāwūd narrated in his “Sunan” (4) from ‘Ā’ishah: that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, performed two ‘umrahs—one in Dhū al-Qa‘dah and one in Shawwāl. They said: This was not intended to state the total number of ‘umrahs he performed, for ‘Ā’ishah, Anas, Ibn ‘Abbās and others said that he performed four ‘umrahs. Thus, it is understood that she meant he performed ‘umrah twice in one year: once in Dhū al-Qa‘dah and once in Shawwāl,