Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “An 'umra in Ramadan is equal to a hajja. ” (hajj is the word for the pilgrimage and hajja is a form indicating a single observance.)He told of the Prophet meeting some riders at ar-Rauha’ (A place between thirty and forty miles from Medina on the way to Mecca) and asking who they were. They replied that they were Muslims and asked who he was. When he said that he was God's messenger a woman lifted up a boy to him and asked whether the child could be credited with having performed the pilgrimage, to which he replied, “Yes, and you will have a reward.” Muslim transmitted it.
The Excellence of 'Umrah in Ramadan
The hadith from Ibn 'Abbas establishes the immense virtue of performing 'Umrah during the sacred month of Ramadan. The Prophet's statement that it equals a Hajj in reward does not mean it replaces the obligatory Hajj for those upon whom it is incumbent (fard al-'ayn). Rather, it signifies the tremendous spiritual recompense and the expiation of sins, akin to the merit of a completed Hajj. This is a manifestation of Allah's boundless mercy, facilitating great rewards for His servants.
Scholarly Interpretation of Equivalence
Scholars like Imam an-Nawawi clarify that the equivalence is in reward (thawab), not in the legal ruling. The 'Umrah does not discharge the obligation of Hajj. This ruling applies specifically to a voluntary 'Umrah performed in Ramadan. The wisdom behind this is that Ramadan is a time when righteous deeds are multiplied in merit, and combining the devotion of 'Umrah with the sanctity of fasting creates a unique spiritual state.
The Incident at Ar-Rauha'
The second part of the narration demonstrates the Prophet's accessibility and his concern for his Ummah. The woman's act of lifting her child signifies a desire to include the young in acts of worship and to seek blessings. The Prophet's affirmation that the child is credited with the Hajj establishes that a minor can validly perform Hajj and 'Umrah. The reward for the pilgrimage is recorded for the child, and the parent or guardian who facilitates it and bears the hardship also receives a separate, full reward from Allah, the Most Generous.