The Meaning of the Hadith: An 'Umrah in Ramadan Is Like a Hajj with Me

Question:
The questioner says: The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: with me. Is this hadith authentic? And what is the meaning of "a Hajj with me"?

Answer:
The hadith is authentic, and it has a cause. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed the Farewell Pilgrimage, a woman did not perform Hajj with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) because of an excuse that occurred for her. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked her, and she stated her excuse. He then said to her: with me.
This was to compensate her for what she missed. However, the consideration is the generality of the wording, not the specificity of the cause. An 'Umrah in Ramadan has virtue and is better than an 'Umrah in other months. But we observe that in our present time, when the crowds have increased and become severe, and a person cannot perform tawaf and sa'y except with expense, hardship, and harm to people, and cannot also pray in the Sacred Mosque due to the narrowness and crowds, then it is better for him not to perform 'Umrah in Ramadan. It is better for him not to perform 'Umrah and not to burden himself with these crowds than to perform 'Umrah in Ramadan. And the door of 'Umrah, praise be to Allah, is open throughout the year. It is not like Hajj, which is on known days, as Allah the Exalted said. 'Umrah is in every month of the year. But if it is facilitated in Ramadan without severe hardship, then it has virtue over others. And if it is not facilitated except with great hardship and expense, then leaving it is better. Yes.