Wa`alaykum As-Salaamu Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear questioner! Thanks a lot for your question and the interest you show in having a clearer view of the true teachings of Islam. May Allah help you get the right understanding and stand firm on the Straight Path! Amen!
In fact, `Umrah enjoys great merits in Islam. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The performance of `Umrah is expiation for the sins committed between it and the previous ones. And the reward for Hajj Mabrur (pilgrimage accepted by Allah) is nothing butParadise." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 3, Book 27, hadith no. 1) Therefore, a person who is capable to perform it is highly encouraged to perform it.
In his response to your question, Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, President of the Fiqh Council of North America , states:
The word "`Umrah " means visiting or attending. `Umrah is an act of worship. Allah Almighty says: [Perform the Hajj and `Umrah for Allah…] (Al-Baqarah 2: 196)
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have performed the `Umrah after the treaty of Hudaybiyah and he explained to people how to do it.
The way one performs `Umrah is to enter the city of Makkah with ihram with the intention of `Umrah and then to perform circumambulation around the Ka`bah or Tawaf, and running or Sa`i between the mountains of Safa and Marwa, [and finally to shave or clip of one's hair].
This was the ancient practice from the time of Prophet Ibrahim (peace and blessings be upon him). Its purpose is to allow Muslims to visit the city of Makkah during the year whenever possible. It is to keep the Ka`bah visited not only during the Hajj but to keep it visited throughout the year by Muslims.
According to [some] Muslim jurists, those who can afford, it is obligatory upon them to make at least one `Umrah in their life, either with or before Hajj or at any other time during the year.
