It is not only About Regular Ritualistic Trips for Umra!

[strivingobserver98]

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*Important Article to read*

By Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari

Why do we go for Umra?

Well, there are many reasons: First and foremost, it is a Sunna of Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) that holds much reward; hence we travel with the intention of worship and reward. Secondly, the holy Mosques of Makka and Madina are both blessed where [as per the hadith] rewards for prayers are increased manifold; hence we go with the intention of obtaining these rewards for our prayers (salat). Thirdly, the chances of supplications (du’a) being accepted are greater whist doing tawaf, Umra, at the Multazam, etc; hence we go with the hope of our dua being accepted. Finally, in Madina al-Munawwara, along with worshipping Allah and praying in the Prophet's Mosque, we are able to visit his grave and say our salawat and salam, which is also a means of reward, benefit and building a connection with him (Allah bless him & give him peace).

It is not for an annual holiday, shopping, enjoying the sun, showing off, being able to tell people that you've been, a mere customary journey, or a ritual! Rather, the whole concept is based on worshipping Allah and earning His pleasure and reward.

Keeping in tune with the reasons outlined above, those who travel for Umra must also look at other aspects of their lives. Umra should not be treated as a mere ‘customary ritual’ such that one’s day-to-day life is not lived in accordance with Islamic teachings but one travels and thinks it is sufficient! Performing Umra is Sunna, but offering 5 daily prayers is fard, and it does not make sense to execute a Sunna and not care about fard. Moreover, we travel in order for du’a to be accepted, but there are many things that prevent one’s supplication from being accepted such as the consumption of haram or doubtful food. Therefore, if we are eating haram food - especially whilst in Makka and Madina - then there's no guarantee our du’a will be accepted. It is also important for dua and Umra to be accepted that our financial dealings are clear. It is wrong to go for Umra with haram money, or when we have debts that are due to others. Lastly, Umra is one Sunna, but what about the many other Sunna acts that we can implement in our daily lives. In Madina al-Munawwara, we offer our salam to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and want to increase in our connection with him, but are we doing things in our daily lives that actually sadden him?! As such, Islam is not just about making regular, ritualistic trips to Makka and Madina, and overlooking one’s life as a whole.

On the other hand - again, based on the reasons mentioned above - if someone is unable to afford Umra, then they should not become too despondent. Of course, we would all like to be able to go, but if you can't then it does not mean you are somehow inferior to those who travel regularly or that you have ‘not been chosen’. There are countless great ulama and saints in our history who were unable to go for Hajj or Umra, but they were extremely close to Allah due to every aspect of their life being lived in accordance with the commands of Allah and his Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).

Yes, one may miss out on the Sunna of Umra, but there are countless other Sunna acts that one can implement in one’s daily life and reap rewards. Yes, one misses out on the rewards of praying in the two holy Mosques, but there are many other ways of earning rewards through prayer such as regularly offering Fard, Sunna and Nafl prayers with devolution and full concentration. Yes, one misses out on the opportunity to make dua at the sacred places, but there are also other times when duas are accepted such as on Fridays and after fard prayers. In fact, the best of duas are those that are done with full devotion and ultimate neediness towards Allah - wherever one may be, provided one avoids the things that prevent the acceptance of dua. And lastly, yes, one misses out on offering salam at the Prophet's grave, but one’s connection with him is not based on 'physical' distance, but rather, acting upon his Sunna and sending salawat on him in abundance. The Mushrikin of Makka were close to him in a physical sense, yet distant; whilst Uways al-Qarni was physically distant, yet spiritually close!

Therefore, those unable to travel for Umra due to financial and/or other reasons can also avail of the same benefits - and maybe even more - by living out their lives in accordance with the Qur’an and Sunna. This is why in the famous Hadith of Bukhari and Muslim, when a group of 'poor' companions said to Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) that the rich have an advantage over us because they pray, fast and carry out other acts of worship like us, but then they are able to give in charity and we do not have the wealth to do so. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) explained to them that charity is not restricted to wealth; rather, there are many other ways of earning the reward of Sadaqa such as tasbih of Allah, enjoying the good, forbidding the evil, and even intimacy with one's spouse [with the correct intention]. With this, he explained that our Deen is not only for the rich and wealthy; it is for everyone: the rich and poor, young and old, men and women, ruler and the ruled, Arab and non-Arab, black and white... May Allah grant us the correct understanding, Ameen.