Section: Umrah is obligatory upon those for whom Hajj is obligatory, according to one of the two narrations. This has been narrated from Umar, Ibn Abbas, Zayd ibn Thabit, Ibn Umar, Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab, Sa'id ibn Jubayr, Ata', Tawus, Mujahid, al-Hasan, Ibn Sirin, and al-Sha'bi. This is also the view of al-Thawri, Ishaq, and al-Shafi'i in one of his two opinions. The second narration states that it is not obligatory, and this is narrated from Ibn Mas'ud. This is also the view of Malik, Abu Thawr, and the People of Opinion (Ashab al-Ra'y). This is based on what Jabir narrated, that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked about Umrah: Is it obligatory? He said: "No, and that you perform Umrah is better." It was reported by al-Tirmidhi (21), who said: This is a Hasan Sahih hadith. Also from Talha, that he heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: "Hajj is jihad, and Umrah is voluntary (tatawwu')." Narrated by Ibn Majah (22). Furthermore, it is a rite of worship not restricted to a specific time, so it is not obligatory, like supererogatory circumambulation (tawaf). Our evidence is the statement of Allah Almighty: "And complete the Hajj and 'Umrah for Allah" (23). The requirement of the command implies obligation, and then it is conjoined with Hajj, and the fundamental principle is equality between the conjoined and the one to whom it is conjoined. Ibn Abbas said: "It is the equivalent of Hajj in the Book of Allah." From al-Dabbi ibn Ma'bad, who said: I came to Umar and said: O Commander of the Faithful, I have accepted Islam and I found Hajj and Umrah written upon me, so I entered into ihram for both. Umar said: "You have been guided to the sunnah of your Prophet (peace be upon him)." Narrated by Abu Dawud and al-Nasa'i (24). And from Abu Razin, that he came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah, my father is an old man, he cannot perform Hajj, nor Umrah, nor