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As for frequently performing ‘umrah during Ramadan, whether by residents of Mecca or others, there are three questions to consider in order: performing ‘umrah more than once a year; then performing ‘umrah for those who are not residents of Mecca; and finally, frequently performing ‘umrah for residents of Mecca.

As for “frequently performing ‘umrah in the prescribed manner”—as when someone travels from his own home and enters ritual consecration for ‘umrah at the appointed boundary, as the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his Companions used to do—this was a form of ‘umrah well known among them. The scholars disagreed over whether performing ‘umrah more than once a year is disliked. Some held it to be disliked, including al-Hasan and Ibn Sīrīn, and this is Mālik’s position.

Ibrāhīm al-Nakha‘ī said, “They used to perform ‘umrah only once a year.”

This is because the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his Companions used to perform only one ‘umrah: they did not perform it twice in a single year. Thus, going beyond what they did is disliked, just as entering ritual consecration before reaching the appointed boundary and other such practices are disliked. Another reason is that “in the letter which the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, wrote to ‘Amr ibn Hazm, it is stated that ‘umrah is the lesser pilgrimage.” This is also indicated by