Is it permissible for the pilgrim performing Tamattu‘ Hajj to make more than one ‘Umrah on the days preceding the 8th of Thul-Hijjah, i.e. before assuming Ihraam for Hajj? He wants to utilize these days in making several ‘Umrahs. If permissible, is it required to slaughter a Hady for each ‘Umrah, since Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Whoever performs ‘Umrah [during the Hajj months] followed by Hajj [offers] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals.} [Quran 196:2]?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

We previously clarified in many fatwas that there is no harm in performing more than one ‘Umrah in one travel, and many scholars considered it a recommended act. There is no difference in this ruling between the pilgrim who performs ‘Umrah during the months of Hajj and other pilgrims. Shaykh Ibn Baaz said:

There is no harm in this [performing more than one ‘Umrah during the months of Hajj]. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Performing two ‘Umrahs is an expiation for the sins committed in the interval between them, and the accepted Hajj commands no reward but Paradise.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] If the pilgrim performed three or four ‘Umrahs, there would be no harm on him, since ‘Aa’ishah performed two ‘Umrahs in less than twenty days at the time of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, during the Farewell Hajj.

The pilgrim who performs Tamattu’ Hajj is required to slaughter only one Hady, whether he ended his Ihraam between Hajj and ‘Umrah, or performed another or several ‘Umrahs. That is because he is considered performing Tamattu’ Hajj by assuming Ihraam for Hajj after the first ‘Umrah during the months of Hajj. Thus, there is no effect of his second ‘Umrah on increasing the number of Hady. To the best of our knowledge, there is no scholar who said that the pilgrim performing Tamattu’ Hajj is required to slaughter more than one Hady when he performs more than one ‘Umrah.

We advise the pilgrim performing Tamattu’ Hajj to perform one ‘Umrah only because it was not reported that any of the Companions of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, who assumed Ihraam from where they ended their Ihraam and were commanded to make Tamattu’ Hajj, had performed another ‘Umrah after the first one. Furthermore, performing only one ‘Umrah at that time involves an outweighing benefit, namely, giving the opportunity to those who have not performed ‘Umrah to do it and decreasing the crowd in the area of Tawaaf and Sa‘y. It is preferable for the pilgrim performing Tamattu’ Hajj to busy himself with Thikr and prayers in the Sacred Mosque. Nevertheless, many scholars said that it is recommended to perform another ‘Umrah as stated above.

Allaah Knows best.