When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) performed the Farewell Pilgrimage, and we had a camel which Abu Ma'qil had dedicated in the cause of Allah, we suffered from a sickness and Abu Ma'qil died. The Prophet (ﷺ) set out, and when he finished his pilgrimage, I came to him. He said: "O Umm Ma'qil, what prevented you from going out with us?" She said: "We had prepared ourselves, but Abu Ma'qil died, and we had a camel which we used to perform pilgrimage upon, and Abu Ma'qil had bequeathed it in the cause of Allah." He said: "Why did you not ride out upon it? For pilgrimage is in the cause of Allah. But since you have missed this pilgrimage with us, perform 'Umrah in Ramadan, for it is equivalent to a pilgrimage." She used to say: "The pilgrimage is a pilgrimage, and the 'Umrah is an 'Umrah, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said this to me—I do not know whether it was exclusively for me or not."
The Rites of Hajj (Kitab Al-Manasik Wa'l-Hajj)
Sunan Abi Dawud - Hadith 1989
Hadith Commentary
This narration demonstrates the flexibility and wisdom of Islamic jurisprudence regarding religious obligations. When Abu Ma'qil dedicated his camel to Allah's cause before his death, his widow Umm Ma'qil understood this as preventing its use for Hajj.
The Prophet (ﷺ) clarified that performing Hajj itself is an act in Allah's cause, thus the dedication did not preclude its use for this sacred journey. This ruling reflects the principle that acts of worship should not be made unduly difficult.
Juridical Rulings
The Prophet's statement that Umrah in Ramadan equals Hajj in reward (though not in obligation) shows Allah's immense mercy. This is considered a special concession (khassah) for those unable to perform Hajj.
Scholars note this equivalence applies only to reward, not to fulfilling the obligatory Hajj. The distinction between Hajj and Umrah remains, as Umm Ma'qil correctly observed in her final remark.
Scholarly Insights
Classical commentators emphasize that dedicated property (sadaqah) may be used for purposes that serve Allah's cause, including Hajj for the poor. The Prophet's guidance prevented unnecessary hardship while honoring the deceased's intention.
This hadith also illustrates the importance of consulting scholars regarding religious matters, as Umm Ma'qil's initial understanding would have deprived her of performing Hajj unnecessarily.