Is উমরাহ ওয়াজিব in Islam?

The obligation of উমরাহ is one of the well-known points of scholarly difference among the four schools of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence, and both positions are supported by legitimate evidence. The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools hold that উমরাহ is ওয়াজিব (fard or wajib) once in a lifetime for every Muslim who meets the conditions of ability, similar to হজ্জ. Their primary evidence is আল-কুরআনic verse: 'And complete the হজ্জ and উমরাহ for Allah' (2:196), which they interpret as a command to perform both হজ্জ and উমরাহ. They also cite the hadith in which নবী করীম was asked about উমরাহ: 'Is it ওয়াজিব?' and he replied, 'No, but if you perform উমরাহ it is better for you,' though the Shafi'i scholars note some chains of this narration are weak, and they rely on stronger evidence for the obligation.

The Hanafi and Maliki schools hold that উমরাহ is a strongly মুস্তাহাব Sunnah (sunnah mu'akkadah) but not ওয়াজিব. Imam Abu Hanifah and Imam Malik both interpreted আল-কুরআনic verse 'Complete the হজ্জ and উমরাহ for Allah' as referring to completing the rites once you have begun them (i.e., if you start হজ্জ or উমরাহ, you must finish them), rather than as a command to initiate both. They also cite the hadith of Jabir in which নবী করীম was asked whether উমরাহ is ওয়াজিব and he said it is not (reported by al-Tirmidhi), along with the fact that নবী করীম only performed উমরাহ when it coincided with his travels for হজ্জ or other purposes, never making a journey solely for উমরাহ as a standalone obligation.

In practical terms, this scholarly difference has limited real-world impact because all four schools agree that performing উমরাহ is highly meritorious and strongly encouraged. নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) said, 'উমরাহ to উমরাহ is an expiation for the sins between them.' Even the Hanafi and Maliki scholars who classify it as Sunnah consider it one of the most highly মুস্তাহাব acts of worship in Islam. Whether one follows the view that it is ওয়াজিব or the view that it is Sunnah, the recommendation is the same: if you have the means and ability, you should perform উমরাহ at least once in your lifetime, and repeating it is a source of great reward.