Section

The reports from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, likewise differ considerably as to whether he performed Hajj alone, combined Hajj and ‘umrah, or performed ‘umrah followed by Hajj. Mālik—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—held that he performed Hajj alone, based on the report from ‘Ā’ishah, who said:

“We set out with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, in the year of the Farewell Pilgrimage. Some of us entered ihrām for ‘umrah, some for Hajj and ‘umrah, and some for Hajj. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, entered ihrām for Hajj. Those who had entered ihrām for ‘umrah came out of ihrām, whereas those who had entered ihrām for Hajj, or combined Hajj and ‘umrah, did not come out of ihrām until the Day of Sacrifice…”

This hadith of ‘Ā’ishah establishes the permissibility of performing ‘umrah followed by Hajj and of combining Hajj and ‘umrah. The scholars did not disagree over their permissibility; they differed only over which was preferable. Mālik—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—held that performing Hajj alone was preferable, based on the report from ‘Ā’ishah “that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, performed Hajj alone.” This was also reported from Abū Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthmān, and ‘Ā’ishah.

It is reported that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb said concerning the words of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, “And complete Hajj and ‘umrah for Allah” [al-Baqarah: 196]: “Part of completing them is to perform each separately from the other, and to perform ‘umrah outside the months of Hajj, for Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says: ‘Hajj is during well-known months’ [al-Baqarah: 197].”

It is reported that Mālik—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—said: “When two conflicting hadiths are reported from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and we learn that Abū Bakr and ‘Umar acted upon one and left the other, this indicates that the truth lies in the one upon which they acted.”

Others held that performing ‘umrah followed by Hajj was preferable. This was the position of ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Umar and ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Abbās. Some held that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, had performed ‘umrah followed by Hajj. This is the view expressed in Sa‘d’s statement to al-Dahhāk ibn Qays in al-Muwatta’: “What a terrible thing you have said, my nephew! The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, did it, and we did it with him.” There is also Hafsah’s question to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him: “Why have the people come out of ihrām while you have not come out of ihrām after your ‘umrah?” He replied: “I have matted my hair and garlanded my sacrificial animal, so I shall not come out of ihrām until I sacrifice it.”

There is also the statement of ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Umar in al-Muwatta’: the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, had entered ihrām for ‘umrah during the Farewell Pilgrimage. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, then told them: “Whoever has brought a sacrificial animal should enter ihrām for Hajj together with ‘umrah, and should not come out of ihrām until he has completed both.”

Those who accepted as authentic the report that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, combined Hajj and ‘umrah held that