Is Umre farz in Islam?

The obligation of Umre 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 Umre is farz (fard or wajib) once in a lifetime for every Muslim who meets the conditions of ability, similar to Hac. Their primary evidence is Kur'an-i Kerimic verse: 'And complete the Hac and Umre for Allah' (2:196), which they interpret as a command to perform both Hac and Umre. They also cite the hadith in which Hz. Peygamber was asked about Umre: 'Is it farz?' and he replied, 'No, but if you perform Umre 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 Umre is a strongly sunnet Sunnah (sunnah mu'akkadah) but not farz. Imam Abu Hanifah and Imam Malik both interpreted Kur'an-i Kerimic verse 'Complete the Hac and Umre for Allah' as referring to completing the rites once you have begun them (i.e., if you start Hac or Umre, you must finish them), rather than as a command to initiate both. They also cite the hadith of Jabir in which Hz. Peygamber was asked whether Umre is farz and he said it is not (reported by al-Tirmidhi), along with the fact that Hz. Peygamber only performed Umre when it coincided with his travels for Hac or other purposes, never making a journey solely for Umre as a standalone obligation.

In practical terms, this scholarly difference has limited real-world impact because all four schools agree that performing Umre is highly meritorious and strongly encouraged. Hz. Peygamber (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem) said, 'Umre to Umre 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 sunnet acts of worship in Islam. Whether one follows the view that it is farz or the view that it is Sunnah, the recommendation is the same: if you have the means and ability, you should perform Umre at least once in your lifetime, and repeating it is a source of great reward.