known place for entering ihram for Umra other than Aisha Mosque, since no one but she ever left the Sanctuary for the area outside it and entered ihram for Umra. Nor did the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) combine Hajj and Umra under a single ihram in a manner involving performing the circumambulation twice and the rite between Safa and Marwa twice. All the authentic reports expressly state that he circumambulated the House and performed the rite between Safa and Marwa only once before the standing at Arafat.

Any follower of Abū Hanīfa, Mālik, al-Shāfi‘i, or Ahmad who advances any of these claims is mistaken.

The cause of his error lies in expressions used in more than one sense that he encountered in the words of the Companions who transmitted the account of the Prophet’s Hajj (peace and blessings be upon him). It is established in the authentic collections from more than one of them—including Aisha, Ibn Umar, and others—that “the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed tamattu with Umra followed by Hajj.” It is also established from them that “he performed Hajj alone.” Indeed, from nearly all those who were reported as saying that “he performed Hajj alone,” it is also established that they said, “He performed tamattu with Umra followed by Hajj.”

It is established from Anas ibn Mālik that he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say, “Here I am, O Allah, for Umra and Hajj.” Umar also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A messenger from my Lord came to me—meaning in Wādī al-Aqīq—and said: ‘Say: Umra together with Hajj.’” No one other than Umar and Anas related the wording with which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) entered ihram.

This is why Imam Ahmad said: “I have no doubt that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) combined Hajj and Umra under a single ihram.” As for