We set out along with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) shortly before the appearance of the new moon (crescent) of the month of Dhi-l-Hijja and he said to us, "Whoever wants to assume Ihram for Hajj may do so; and whoever wants to assume Ihram for `Umra may do so. Hadn't I brought the Hadi (animal for sacrificing) (with me), I would have assumed Ihram for `Umra." (`Aisha added,): So some of us assumed Ihram for `Umra while the others for Hajj. I was amongst those who assumed Ihram for `Umra. The day of `Arafat approached and I was still menstruating. I complained to the Prophet (ﷺ) (about that) and he said, "Abandon your `Umra, undo and comb your hair, and assume Ihram for Hajj;." When it was the night of Hasba, he sent `Abdur Rahman with me to at-Tan`im and I assumed Ihram for `Umra (and performed it) in lieu of my missed `Umra.
`Umrah (Minor pilgrimage) - Sahih al-Bukhari 1783
This narration from the Mother of the Believers `Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) contains profound legal rulings concerning pilgrimage rituals. The Prophet's (ﷺ) statement demonstrates the flexibility in combining Hajj and `Umrah, known as Hajj al-Qiran and Hajj al-Tamattu`, where pilgrims have options in their ritual intentions.
Legal Rulings on Ihram Intentions
The Prophet's permission for companions to choose between Hajj and `Umrah intentions shows the Shari'ah accommodates individual circumstances. His statement "Hadn't I brought the Hadi..." indicates that those without sacrificial animals may perform `Umrah separately, which is the essence of Tamattu` Hajj.
The ruling concerning menstruating women is significant: `Aisha was instructed to transform her `Umrah into Hajj, demonstrating that menstrual bleeding doesn't prevent Hajj rites except Tawaf. This reflects the wisdom of Islamic law in accommodating natural female conditions.
Compensation for Missed `Umrah
The Prophet's command for `Aisha to perform a compensatory `Umrah from at-Tan`im establishes the principle of making up for missed rituals. This ruling applies to anyone who cannot complete their `Umrah due to legitimate impediments, ensuring the completeness of their worship.
The timing - after Hajj activities - shows the proper sequence for compensatory rituals. This incident forms the basis for the ruling that if someone's `Umrah becomes invalid, they must perform another to fulfill their religious obligation.