Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “God has prescribed the pilgrimage for you people." Al-Aqra' b. Habis then got up and asked whether it was to be performed annually, to which God’s messenger replied that if he were to tell them that it was, it would become obligatory, and if it did they would not keep it nor be able to do so, adding, “The pilgrimage should be performed once, and if anyone does it oftener he performs supererogatory act."
‘All reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone possesses enough provision and a riding-beast to take him to God’s House and does not perform the pilgrimage, it does not matter whether he dies a Jew or Christian. That is because God who is blessed and exalted says, 'Pilgrimage to the House is a duty men owe to God, those who can afford the journey'. (Qur’an, 3:97). ”
Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition whose isnad is criticised, Hilal b. ‘Abdallah is unknown, and al- Harith is declared to be weak in tradition.
Anas said that God’s messenger performed the 'umra four times, each of them Dhul Qa'da except the one which was combined with his hajja, one from al-Hudaibiya in Dhul Qa'da, one in the following year in Dhul Qa'da, one from al-Ji'rana where he divided the spoils of Hunain (The battle in which the Prophet defeated Hawazin after the conquest of Mecca in 8 A.H) in Dhul Qa'da, and one along with his hajja.
