The Prophet ﷺ said that Umrah to Umrah is an expiation for what is between them, and an accepted Hajj has no reward but Paradise. Allah says: complete the Hajj and the Umrah for Allah (2:196). It can be done at any time of the year.
1The steps
Ihram from the miqat with the intention for Umrah, and the talbiyah.
Tawaf of the Kaaba seven times, starting and ending at the Black Stone, then pray two rak'ahs behind the Station of Ibrahim if possible.
Sa'i, seven laps between Safa and Marwa, starting at Safa and ending at Marwa.
Shaving or shortening the hair (for women, a fingertip's length from the ends).
2Women and Umrah
A woman performs Umrah as men do. She wears her ordinary modest clothes, and in ihram she does not wear a face veil (niqab) or gloves, as reported in the hadith, although she covers from men who are not her mahram in other ways.
Where the schools differ
The four Sunni schools agree on the main ruling above and differ in these points. No school is preferred here.
The ruling. the Hanafi and Maliki schools say Umrah is a sunnah (stressed); the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools say it is an obligation once in life, like Hajj.
And complete the Hajj and 'umrah for Allah. But if you are prevented, then [offer] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter. And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice. And when you are secure, then whoever performs 'umrah [during the Hajj months] followed by Hajj [offers] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And whoever cannot find [or afford such an animal] - then a fast of three days during Hajj and of seven when you have returned [home]. Those are ten complete [days]. This is for those whose family is not in the area of al-Masjid al-Haram. And fear Allah and know that Allah is severe in penalty.
From the Sunnah
Sahih al-Bukhari 1773Authentic collection
The point of the hadith: Umrah to Umrah is an expiation for what is between them, and an accepted Hajj has no reward other than Paradise.
Read the Arabic text
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ سُمَىٍّ، مَوْلَى أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ السَّمَّانِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " الْعُمْرَةُ إِلَى الْعُمْرَةِ كَفَّارَةٌ لِمَا بَيْنَهُمَا، وَالْحَجُّ الْمَبْرُورُ لَيْسَ لَهُ جَزَاءٌ إِلاَّ الْجَنَّةُ ".
This is general information, not a fatwa. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar.
Fiqh questions
Umrah
The Prophet ﷺ said that Umrah to Umrah is an expiation for what is between them, and an accepted Hajj has no reward but Paradise. Allah says: complete the Hajj and the Umrah for Allah (2:196). It can be done at any time of the year.
Is this a fatwa?
No. It is a summary of well-known rulings with their evidence. For your own case, ask a qualified scholar.
What if my school differs from this answer?
Follow the view of the school you follow and the scholar who teaches you. The page lists the differences of the four schools.
