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According to Mālik, ‘umrah is a sunnah, not an obligation. Ibn al-Mājishūn held that it is obligatory, as did Ibn al-Jahm. Mālik’s position is correct, because Hajj became obligatory through Allah’s words—Mighty and Majestic:

“Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to Allah by those who are able to make their way there.” [Āl ‘Imrān: 97]

As for His words, Most High:

“And complete Hajj and ‘umrah for Allah.” [al-Baqarah: 196]

This is simply a command to complete them once one has begun them. There is also a reading, “And ‘umrah is for Allah,” construed as a subject and predicate. Thus, no one can invoke this verse to establish that ‘umrah is obligatory; rather, it is a sunnah.

Those who hold it obligatory have cited Allah’s words—Mighty and Majestic:

“And a proclamation from Allah and His Messenger to the people on the day of the greater pilgrimage.” [al-Tawbah: 3]

They argue that this indicates the existence of a lesser pilgrimage, namely ‘umrah. This argument is unsound, for by “the greater pilgrimage” Allah meant the greater gathering at the Sacred Monument, when Quraysh and all the other people gather together; He did not mean a particular rite. It has also been said that He meant Abū Bakr’s Hajj, because it took place [in Dhū al-Qa‘dah and was greater than the preceding Hajj, held] in Dhū al-Qa‘dah as well. Another view is that “greater” qualifies the day, not the pilgrimage, and that it means the Day of ‘Arafah. This is far-fetched.

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The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, performed ‘umrah three times. The first was in the year of al-Hudaybiyyah, in Dhū al-Qa‘dah, 6 AH, when the polytheists prevented him from reaching the House. The second was the compensatory ‘umrah the following year, 7 AH, in Dhū al-Qa‘dah, when he and his Companions were safe. He then performed his third ‘umrah in Dhū al-Qa‘dah, 8 AH. It has also been said that one of his ‘umrahs took place in Shawwāl; Mālik mentioned this in his Muwatta’, reporting from ‘Urwah ibn al-Zubayr.

It is reported from Ibn ‘Umar—may Allah Most High be pleased with them both—that “he, peace and blessings be upon him, performed ‘umrah in Rajab.” ‘Ā’ishah denied this, saying, “He never performed ‘umrah in Rajab.”

Thus, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, performed three ‘umrahs over three years, one each year. Accordingly, Mālik—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—favored performing ‘umrah only once a year. Those who hold that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, performed ‘umrah followed by Hajj, or combined Hajj and ‘umrah, during the Farewell Pilgrimage say that he performed four ‘umrahs.