The Ahadith of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) are the traditions of the Last Prophet of Allah that guide Muslims in matters concerning ethics and morality, state and social law, and religious principles. The Ahadith are the explanations and clarifications of the commands of Allah as instructed in the Quran. The Prophet’s (S.A.W) traditions bridge the divine orders of Allah with the day to day lives of ordinary Muslims, who find guidance and ease in the words of the Ahadith. After the Quran, the six books of the Ahadith (The Authentic Six) are considered the holiest in Islam.
Umrah has been mentioned in the Ahadith of the Prophet (S.A.W) many times. When pilgrims prepare to perform the Umrah, they seek inspiration from the Ahadith of the Prophet (S.A.W) as well. The Umrah is a worship of devotion to Allah. Welcoming humility and spirituality into your life is a good practice before the Umrah pilgrimage. The hadith from the 26th book of the Sahih Bukhari can help enhance the spiritual aptitude of the pilgrim and make him realise the importance of the journey ahead. According to Hazrat Abu Huraira (R.A) and translated into English:
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 ".
Allah's Apostle said, "(The performance of) Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed (between it and the previous one). Also, the reward of Hajj Mabrur (the one accepted by Allah) is nothing except Paradise."
This authentic hadith illustrates the importance of the Umrah pilgrimage. It convinces the reader to perform the Umrah to be rid of the sins weighing down on his soul. Like a furnace, the Umrah soften the Muslim soul and burns away all its impurities, only to cast a stronger soul that is more resilient to the cruelties of this world. Like a purified precious metal, the Umrah pilgrim leaves the Haram rejuvenated and at a higher spiritual value.
The Umrah, therefore, brings us closer to Allah and attracts His blessings into our lives, our families and our businesses. It turns those who stray back to the righteous path, making them god-fearing and humble. The Umrah asks us to rebuild our relationship with Allah and to become a Penta-Chronos worshipper. We encourage the reader to delve deeper into the traditions of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) concerning the Umrah. Many Ahadith guide and detail the different rituals of the Umrah pilgrimage, which could provide greater insight for the Umrah pilgrim.