Umrah is a sunnah act of worship that can be done at any time by Muslims who are able physically, financially, and mentally. Umrah is not bound by time and specific months, as long as it is done in Makkah and meets the requirements and pillars of umrah.
One of the months that many Muslims choose to perform umrah is the month of Shawwal. Shawwal is a blessed and special month, because it contains the Eid al-Fitr celebration and the sunnah fasting of six days.
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| The Ruling of Performing Umrah in the Month of Shawwal. Photo source: Arab News |
So, what is the ruling of performing umrah in the month of Shawwal? Is there any special virtue that can be obtained? Read the following review.
The Ruling of Umrah in the Month of Shawwal
According to the scholars, the ruling of performing umrah in the month of Shawwal is permissible, as well as umrah in other months. This is based on several hadiths that mention that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) performed umrah in the month of Shawwal.
For example, the hadith reported by Imam Malik bin Anas in his book al-Muwattha':
أَنَّ النَّبِي صَلىَّ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَمْ يَعْتَمِرْ إِلَّا ثَلاَثَ عُمَرٍ إِحْدَاهُنَّ فِي شَوَّالٍ وَاثْنَيْنِ فِي ذِيْ الْقَعْدَةِ
Meaning, "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not perform umrah except three times, one of them in Shawwal and two in Dhu'l-Qa'dah." (Reported by Malik)
Another hadith reported by Sayyidah Aisha ra also mentioned the same thing:
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِىَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا: أَنَّ النَّبِىَّ صَلىَّ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اعْتَمَرَ عُمْرَتَيْنِ فِى ذِى الْقِعْدَةِ وَعُمْرَةً فِى شَوَّالٍ
Meaning, "From Aisha ra: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) performed umrah twice, one in Dhu'l-Qa'dah and one in Shawwal." (Reported by Abu Dawud).
Based on these hadiths, Imam Nawawi (died 676 H) in one of his works said that Imam Shafi'i and most of the Shafi'i scholars said that all months in a year can be used to perform umrah, and it is not disliked to do it in any month, whether it is a hajj month or not.
The Virtue of Umrah in the Month of Shawwal
In addition to being permissible according to shariah, performing umrah in the month of Shawwal also has its own virtue. Some of these virtues are:
- Completing the worship of fasting Ramadan.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
مَنْ صام رمضان ثم أتبعه ستا من شوال كان كصيام الدهر
Meaning, "Whoever fasts Ramadan then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasts for a lifetime." (Reported by Muslim)
- Getting the reward of hajj with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
عُمْرةٌ فِي رمضان تعدل حجة أو حجة معي
Meaning, "Umrah in Ramadan is equivalent to hajj or hajj with me." (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim)
- Getting forgiveness for sins.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
ما بين العمرتين كفارة لما بينهما والحج المبرور ليس له جزاء إلا الجنة
Meaning, "Between two umrahs is an expiation for what happens between them. And hajj that is accepted has no reward but Paradise." (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim)
Tips for Performing Umrah in the Month of Shawwal
In order for umrah in the month of Shawwal to run smoothly and maximally, here are some tips that can be applied:
- Intend umrah as an act of worship solely for Allah's sake. Do not be influenced by other motivations besides seeking Allah's pleasure.
- Prepare physical, financial, and mental provisions as best as possible. Make sure your body condition is healthy and strong to perform umrah. Prepare enough funds for travel expenses and needs while in the holy land. Do not forget to pay off debts if any before leaving. Include your family or friends who can advise and help each other during worship.
- Learn the procedures of umrah correctly according to the sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Understand the requirements, pillars, obligations, sunnahs, and prohibitions in umrah. Follow the guidance of umrah rituals if available from the travel organizer.
- Be smart in choosing a reliable and quality travel organizer for umrah. Choose a travel agency that has an official license from the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Indonesia and has a good track record. Pay attention to the facilities and services offered by the travel agency. Compare prices and quality between different travel agencies.
- Make use of your time as best as possible while you are in the holy land. Increase your worship such as prayer, recitation of Quran, remembrance, supplication, charity, etc. Do not waste your opportunity to get closer to Allah swt in noble places such as Masjid al-Haram and Masjid al-Nabawi.
That is the article about the ruling of performing umrah in the month of Shawwal. I hope it is useful.
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