Why Do Some Muslims Perform Umrah Multiple Times in One Journey?

Umrah is one of the most beloved acts of worship in Islam. It is not obligatory like Hajj, but it carries immense spiritual value and remains a deeply cherished Sunnah. For many Muslims, reaching Makkah is an emotional moment they may have dreamed of for years. That is why some pilgrims, once they arrive, feel a strong desire to perform Umrah more than once during the same visit.

This practice is well known, but it has also prompted scholars to discuss important distinctions. The question is not simply whether repeating Umrah is possible. The more careful question is whether it is recommended, merely permissible, or less preferable than spending that time on other acts of worship, such as Tawaf, salah, dhikr, and Qur’an. The answer is not the same in every scholarly discussion. The hadith of Aishah رضي الله عنها going to Tan‘im after Hajj is one of the key proofs in this issue, and it shows that a second Umrah in the same journey did occur by the Prophet’s permission in her special case. (Sunnah)

So the best way to explain this topic is with balance. Some Muslims repeat Umrah out of love, longing, and hope for reward. Many scholars allow it. At the same time, some scholars discouraged frequent repetition on a single trip, especially if it became a routine that the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions did not commonly practice. (Islam-QA)

The Basic Idea Behind Repeating Umrah

For many pilgrims, repeating Umrah comes from a very simple feeling: “I may not come here again soon.” A Muslim may have traveled from Bangladesh, the UK, Africa, or another distant country after years of saving money and waiting for the opportunity. Once they stand before the Ka‘bah, they naturally want to increase their worship as much as possible.

That emotional and spiritual longing is real. It is not difficult to understand why someone would want to repeat Tawaf, Sa‘i, dua, and the state of humility that Umrah brings. Many also remember the hadith that one Umrah to the next expiates the sins committed between them, which encourages repeated Umrahs in general, even though that hadith does not specifically command multiple Umrahs within the same trip. (Islam-QA)

What Happened With Aishah رضي الله عنها

One of the most important pieces of evidence in this discussion is the well-known hadith of Aishah رضي الله عنها. She had intended to perform Umrah, but menstruation prevented her from completing it before Hajj. After Hajj, the Prophet ﷺ told her brother ‘Abdur-Rahman to take her to Tan‘im so she could enter Ihram and perform Umrah. This is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari. (Sunnah)

This hadith shows an important point: a person already in Makkah may leave the Haram, re-enter Ihram, and perform another Umrah. That is why Tan‘im became widely known as a place from which people renew Ihram for another Umrah. But scholars then discussed a further question: was this meant as a general recommendation for everyone, or was it primarily a concession linked to Aishah’s special circumstance because she had missed her original Umrah? That is where the disagreement begins. (Sunnah)

Historical and Prophetic Perspective

The Prophet ﷺ performed several Umrahs in his lifetime, but they were on separate journeys rather than repeated back-to-back in one short stay in Makkah. Some scholars used that as evidence to argue that frequent repetition on a single trip was not his regular Sunnah. Others replied that the absence of frequent repetition does not itself prove prohibition, especially when the case of Aishah رضي الله عنها shows permissibility. (Islam-QA)

This is why careful wording matters. It is more accurate to say:

• Repeating Umrah in one journey is allowed according to many scholars
• Some scholars discouraged making it a repeated habit
• The issue is one of scholarly difference, not a simple yes-or-no question

Why Some Muslims Perform Umrah Multiple Times

A rare once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

For many pilgrims, visiting Makkah is not easy. They may not know when, or if, they will return. So they try to increase acts of worship while they are there. Repeating Umrah can feel like making the most of a rare and blessed opportunity.

Desire for forgiveness and spiritual renewal

Umrah softens the heart. It brings tears, reflection, repentance, and nearness to Allah. After completing one Umrah, some pilgrims feel spiritually awakened and want to repeat the experience. They are not treating it like a checklist. They are seeking another moment of repentance and closeness.

Performing Umrah on behalf of someone else

Some people perform one Umrah for themselves and then wish to perform another for a deceased parent or for someone unable to travel due to illness or old age. This is one of the practical reasons pilgrims often ask about performing Umrah again during the same journey. Scholars who allow repetition often mention it in their discussion. (Islam-QA)

Emotional attachment to Makkah

There is also the simple reality of love. A believer standing in Masjid al-Haram often feels an indescribable peace. Repeating Umrah becomes, for some, an expression of love for the House of Allah and reluctance to leave such a sacred state of worship.

What Scholars Differed About

View one: permissible.

Many scholars allowed repeating Umrah in one trip, especially for those who had traveled long distances. They said that Umrah is a voluntary act of worship, and there is no clear text limiting how often it may be done. They also relied on the case of Aishah رضي الله عنها and said that a pilgrim may leave the Haram boundary, such as going to Tan‘im, then enter Ihram again for a new Umrah. (Islam-QA)

View two: permissible but not the best use of time.

Some scholars said that while it is valid, it is still better to remain in Makkah and spend that time in Tawaf, prayer, Qur’an, and dhikr rather than going out repeatedly for another Umrah. IslamWeb’s fatwa clearly presents this view: repeated Umrah is permissible, but the practice of the early generations focused more on other forms of worship, and they did not commonly perform multiple Umrahs in quick succession during one stay. (IslamWeb)

View three: not prescribed in one single journey.

A stricter view held that it is not prescribed to repeat Umrah several times during one stay in Makkah, and that the case of Aishah رضي الله عنها was a special exception tied to her missed Umrah. IslamQA presents this stronger position in one of its answers, even though it also has other answers citing the permissive majority view. (Islam-QA)

This difference itself is important. It shows why bloggers should avoid speaking too absolutely on this issue.

A Balanced Practical Understanding

A careful and balanced conclusion is this:

Performing Umrah more than once in one journey is regarded as permissible by many scholars, especially if the pilgrim goes outside the Haram boundary and re-enters in Ihram. However, some scholars considered repeated Umrahs in one short stay less preferable than devoting that time to Tawaf and other worship, and some treated the Aishah رضي الله عنها case as a special allowance rather than a general pattern. (Islam-QA)

So the issue is not one in which every Muslim must perform multiple Umrahs, nor one in which every repetition should be criticized. Intention, knowledge, and respect for valid scholarly difference all matter.

What Usually Happens in Practice

In practice, many pilgrims who repeat Umrah during the same visit go to Tan‘im, enter Ihram there, and return for another Umrah. This has become common because Tan‘im is close and directly linked to the hadith of Aishah رضي الله عنها. (Sunnah)

But common practice should still be guided by knowledge. A pilgrim should not assume that “more” always means “better” in every situation. Sometimes, a slower, deeper stay in the Haram with more Tawaf, more Salah, and more heartfelt dua may be spiritually more beneficial than repeatedly going out and back.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it permissible to perform multiple Umrahs in one journey?

Many scholars say yes, especially if the pilgrim leaves the Haram boundary and re-enters Ihram. But scholars differed on whether this is preferred, merely permissible, or not generally prescribed. (Islam-QA)

Why do people usually go to Tan‘im for a second Umrah?

Because the Prophet ﷺ instructed that Aishah رضي الله عنها be taken to Tan‘im so she could enter Ihram and perform Umrah after Hajj. (Sunnah)

Did the Prophet ﷺ regularly perform multiple Umrahs in one trip?

No. His Umrahs were on separate journeys. This is one of the main reasons some scholars discouraged turning repeated Umrahs into a single stay into a routine practice. (Islam-QA)

Is doing another Umrah always better than staying in the Haram for worship?

Not necessarily. Some scholars explicitly said that spending that time in Tawaf, Salah, Dhikr, and Qur’an may be better than repeated extra Umrahs during the same stay. (IslamWeb)

A Journey of Love, Longing, and Worship

The reason some Muslims perform Umrah multiple times during a single journey is often simple and sincere. They have reached a place they love, a place they may not revisit soon, and they want to fill their days with as much worship as possible. That longing is understandable and beautiful.

At the same time, this is a topic where knowledge matters. The strongest approach is not to mock the practice, and not to present it as the only ideal either. Rather, it should be understood with balance. There is room here for valid scholarly differences, and for sincere Muslims to act according to trusted scholarship while keeping their intention pure.

May Allah accept every sincere Umrah, reward every pilgrim for their longing for His House, and grant all of us worship that is sound, humble, and beloved to Him.