Is It True That ’Umra Done More than Once Is Unrewarding When One May Fulfill Other Needs?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
Is it true, like some say, that an ‘Umra is not rewardable if it is done more than once because that large amount of money could be used for Islamic schools, poor people, da‘wa, etc?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
I pray you are in good faith and health.
If one does ‘Umra more than once, it is rewardable, no doubt, especially going with one’s children where they can witness the majesty (Jalal) of Allah Most High in Makka and beauty (Jamal) of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) in Madina and strengthen and consolidate their Islamic identity. One cannot say it is not rewardable due to leaving the needs out of the poor and needy.
However, jurists differ if an optional Hajj or ‘Umra is preferable and more virtuous than giving charity (sadaqa). One can incline towards any of the views. If one opts to give to charity and fulfill the needs of the poor, social and educational projects, and stricken areas, it will be virtuous and more rewarding. [Ibn ‘Abidin , Radd al-Muhtar]
Successive Haj and Umra
‘Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ud (Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Perform Hajj and ‘Umra in succession, for they remove poverty and sins just as the bellows remove filth from iron, gold, and silver. There is no reward for an accepted Hajj except Janna.” [Tirmidhi; Nasa’i]
Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) reports the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace ) said: “(The performance of) ‘Umra is an expiation for the sins committed between it and the previous Umrah.” [Bukhari; Muslim]
Fulfilling the Needs of a Muslim
‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with him) related that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace ) was asked, “O Messenger of Allah, which of the people are most beloved to Allah, and which deeds are most beloved to Allah?”
The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace ) said: “The people most beloved to Allah are those who are most beneficial to the people, and the most beloved deed to Allah is to make a Muslim happy or remove one of his troubles, or to fulfill his debt, or to satiate his hunger.
Walking to fulfill a need of my Muslim brother is more beloved to me than sitting in i’tikaf in a Masjid for two months. Whomsoever averts his anger, Allah will conceal his faults, and whomsoever suppresses his anger while he is able to vent it, Allah will fill his heart with happiness. Whoever walks with his brother to fulfill his need and fulfills it for him, then Allah Most High will make his footing firm (on the bridge) on the day when the footings are shaken. Evil character spoils one’s deeds just as vinegar spoils honey.” [Tabarani, al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir, al-Awsat, al-Saghir; Haythami, Majma‘ al-Zawa’id; Mundhiri, Targhib Wa al-Tarhib; Ibn Abi al-Dunya, Qada al-Hawa’ij]
Related:
A Hadith encourages fulfilling the needs of a Muslim
What Can One Give to Charity?
Sadaqa Archives
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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.
