“Only those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish prayer, give zakah, and fear none but Allah maintain the mosques of Allah.”

One who remains at the House more fully embodies the meaning of ‘imārah (maintaining it through worship) than one who travels to it. Hence it has been said that ‘umrah means a visit, since the person performing ‘umrah must enter from outside the sanctuary, and that constitutes a visit. The former activity, however, is called ‘imārah. The term ‘imārah is better than the term ‘umrah, and the additional letters reflect additional meaning. Thus it is recorded in the Sahīh:

“One of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘After embracing Islam, I would not mind doing no other deed than maintaining the Sacred Mosque.’ Another said, ‘After embracing Islam, I would not mind doing no other deed than providing water for the pilgrims.’ ‘Alī said, ‘Jihad in Allah’s cause is better than what you have mentioned.’

“‘Umar then said, ‘Do not raise your voices beside the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. When the Friday prayer is over, Allah willing, I will go in to him and ask him.’ Then Allah Most High revealed: ‘Have you made the provision of water for pilgrims and the maintenance of the Sacred Mosque’—the verse.”

Since this is so, a person who remains at the House, circumambulating it and maintaining it through worship, has fulfilled the meaning embodied by someone performing ‘umrah more completely and has attained the purpose of ‘umrah. It is therefore not recommended for him to abandon this by leaving off maintaining the mosque through worship, only to return afterward to maintaining it; for he has exchanged what is better for what is inferior.