his entry into ihram.

The correct view is that he entered ihram for Hajj and ‘umrah together from the outset, and did not leave ihram until he completed both. He performed a single circumambulation and a single ritual walk between Safā and Marwah for both rites, and brought sacrificial animals with him. This is demonstrated by the numerous reports whose mass transmission is recognized by hadith scholars.

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The grounds for these opinions and the sources of confusion and error

Those who say that he performed ‘umrah in Rajab base their view on the hadith of ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar stating that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, performed ‘umrah in Rajab. It is reported by both al-Bukhārī and Muslim. However, ‘Ā’ishah and others pointed out his error, as related in the two Sahīh collections (1), from Mujāhid, who said:

“‘Urwah ibn al-Zubayr and I entered the mosque and found ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar sitting beside ‘Ā’ishah’s chamber, while some people were performing the mid-morning prayer in the mosque.”

He said: “We asked him about their prayer, and he replied, ‘An innovation.’ Then ‘Urwah asked (2) him, ‘How many times did the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, perform ‘umrah?’ He replied, ‘Four times, one of them in Rajab.’ We were reluctant to contradict him.”

He continued: “We heard ‘Ā’ishah, the Mother of the Believers, cleaning her teeth with a tooth-stick in her chamber. ‘Urwah said, ‘Mother! Mother of the Believers! Do you not hear what Abū ‘Abd al-Rahmān is saying?’

“She asked, ‘What is he saying?’

“He replied, ‘He says that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, performed four ‘umrahs, one of them in Rajab.’

“She said, ‘May Allah have mercy on Abū ‘Abd al-Rahmān! He never performed an ‘umrah without Abū ‘Abd al-Rahmān being present, and he never performed ‘umrah in Rajab.’”