Ahmad explicitly stated in several places that ‘umrah is not obligatory for the people of Mecca, although he held it to be obligatory for others. Thus, the accurate formulation of his position, when he holds ‘umrah to be obligatory, is that it is obligatory for everyone except the people of Mecca. Some of his followers, however, have treated this distinction as a third position reported from him, considering his position affirming its obligation to apply universally. Others have interpreted his words to mean that the people of Mecca need not perform ‘umrah alongside Hajj, because they perform it beforehand, outside the time of Hajj. This, however, contradicts Ahmad’s explicit statements making this distinction.

Some followers of al-Shāfi‘ī likewise hold that ‘umrah is obligatory for the people of Mecca. This is an exceedingly weak view, contrary to the established Sunnah and the consensus of the Companions. Had it been obligatory for them, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, would have commanded them to perform it, and they would have done so. Yet it is known that the people of Mecca did not perform ‘umrah at all during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Indeed, no one can produce a report of anyone setting out from Mecca to perform ‘umrah during his lifetime except ‘Ā’ishah.

For this reason, when the compilers of Sunan collections wished to mention the reports in the Sunnah concerning ‘umrah undertaken from Mecca, they had nothing but the account of ‘Ā’ishah. It is well known that even matters of lesser significance attract ample interest and incentive to transmit them. Thus, if all the people of Mecca—nay,