As for ‘umrah from the mīqāt (the designated boundary for entering ihrām)—where someone goes to the mīqāt and enters ihrām there, or returns to his homeland and then sets out from there on a journey for ‘umrah—this is not an ‘umrah undertaken from Mecca. Rather, it is a complete ‘umrah, and it is not what is being discussed here.

There is disagreement concerning this: is remaining in Mecca better than undertaking such an ‘umrah, or is returning to one’s homeland or to the mīqāt better? The statements of some who preferred remaining in Mecca to circumambulate the House over returning to perform ‘umrah from the mīqāt will be cited later.

The dispute is only over whether it is disliked for a Meccan to go outside the sacred precincts to perform ‘umrah; whether it is disliked for someone for whom ‘umrah is prescribed, such as someone coming from afar, to perform it more than once a year; and whether performing ‘umrah frequently is recommended.

As for circumambulating the House being better than performing ‘umrah for someone in Mecca, no one knowledgeable about the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the practice of his caliphs, and the reports from the Companions, the early generations of the Muslim community, and its imams would doubt this. Circumambulating the House is among the finest acts of worship and means of drawing near to Allah that He, Exalted is He, has prescribed in His Book and through His Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. It is among the greatest acts of worship performed by the people of Mecca—by which I mean anyone in Mecca, whether permanently resident or not—and among their regular, ongoing acts of worship that distinguish them from the inhabitants of all other cities. Throughout the time of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, his caliphs and his Companions—may Allah be pleased with them—the people of Mecca would circumambulate the House at every