Fiqh-us-Sunnah Volume 5, Hajj and ‘Umrah, Fiqh 5.122A.

According to the Hanafi school and Malik, ‘Umrah is a sunnah, as described in this hadith reported from Jabir who said, “The Prophet (peace be upon him) was once asked about ‘Umrah, and whether it was obligatory (wajib), to which he replied, ‘No, it is not, but it is better if you perform it.”‘ This was reported by Ahmad and Tirmizhi who consider this a sound hadith.

The Shafi’i school, and Ahmad hold it to be obligatory (fard) in the light of the words of Allah (Qur’an 2.196) “And complete the Hajj and ‘Umrah in the service of Allah.” In the above verse ‘Umrah is mentioned along with Hajj, which is obligatory, which means ‘Umrah must likewise be obligatory, even though the former is preferable.

The author of Fath ul ‘Alam says, “On this subject no decision can be made on the basis of ahadith.” Tirmizhi has reported that Ash-Shafi’i said, “There is no evidence concerning ‘Umrah; it is only a supererogatory act of worship.”