The Ruling on Repeating 'Umrah and Sa'y as a Voluntary Act

Question:
Is it permissible to repeat 'Umrah? And what is the ruling on performing sa'y (walking between al-Safa and al-Marwah) as a voluntary act?

Answer:
Repeating 'Umrah is permissible; there is no objection to it, because no prohibition against repeating it has been reported. Rather, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Follow up Hajj with 'Umrah." However, it should be that there is a time between the two 'Umrahs—a time in which the hair of the head grows, and in which something is shaved or shortened—so that the two 'Umrahs are not too close together. As for sa'y, it is never performed as a voluntary act; rather, tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka'bah) is performed for Hajj or 'Umrah, as it is a pillar of Hajj and a pillar of 'Umrah, and it is not performed as a voluntary act. This is regarding tawaf; tawaf is performed as a voluntary act.