Short answer
Yes, umrah wipes away sins: the Prophet ﷺ said one umrah to the next is an expiation for what lies between them. Scholars understand this as minor sins; major sins need sincere repentance, and debts and missed prayers must still be paid. He also said following Hajj with umrah removes poverty and sins.
Umrah is a sunnah mu'akkadah once in a lifetime, and doing more is rewarding. Its expiation covers sins between a person and Allah; owed duties such as missed prayers, fasts, zakat and debts remain, and the four schools agree on that.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i and Hanbali
- Umrah itself is obligatory once in a lifetime, like Hajj. What it expiates is understood the same way.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ said: "One umrah to the next is an expiation for what is between them, and an accepted Hajj has no reward but Paradise." In another hadith he said to follow Hajj and umrah one after the other, because they remove poverty and sins as the bellows remove impurity from iron, gold and silver.
- Which sins: scholars explain the expiation as minor sins, as with prayer and fasting. Major sins need tawbah, which a sincere umrah encourages (see does Hajj erase all sins).
- Rights of people: not cancelled. Repay debts and seek pardon from those you wronged.
- Missed prayers: still owed (see Hajj and missed prayers).
- Poverty: the hadith promises barakah (blessing), not a business plan. Do not borrow beyond your means for umrah expecting money in return.
Is umrah a small Hajj? No. Umrah never replaces the fard Hajj, though an umrah in Ramadan equals a Hajj in reward (see umrah in Ramadan). For whether umrah is required, see is umrah fard or sunnah, and for the steps, our umrah guide.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:196
وَأَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلْحَجَّ وَٱلْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ فَإِنْ أُحْصِرْتُمْ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِ ۖ وَلَا تَحْلِقُوا۟ رُءُوسَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ ٱلْهَدْىُ مَحِلَّهُۥ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ بِهِۦٓ أَذًۭى مِّن رَّأْسِهِۦ فَفِدْيَةٌۭ مِّن صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍۢ ۚ فَإِذَآ أَمِنتُمْ فَمَن تَمَتَّعَ بِٱلْعُمْرَةِ إِلَى ٱلْحَجِّ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِ ۚ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَٰثَةِ أَيَّامٍۢ فِى ٱلْحَجِّ وَسَبْعَةٍ إِذَا رَجَعْتُمْ ۗ تِلْكَ عَشَرَةٌۭ كَامِلَةٌۭ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن لَّمْ يَكُنْ أَهْلُهُۥ حَاضِرِى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ ﴿١٩٦﴾
And complete the Hajj and 'umrah for Allah. But if you are prevented, then [offer] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter. And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice. And when you are secure, then whoever performs 'umrah [during the Hajj months] followed by Hajj [offers] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And whoever cannot find [or afford such an animal] - then a fast of three days during Hajj and of seven when you have returned [home]. Those are ten complete [days]. This is for those whose family is not in the area of al-Masjid al-Haram. And fear Allah and know that Allah is severe in penalty.
Umrah is worship done for Allah.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1773
Sahih... العمرة إلى العمرة كفارة لما بينهما ...
"One umrah to the next is an expiation for what is between them."
Umrah wipes away sins.
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 810
Grading to be checked... تابعوا بين الحج والعمرة فإنهما ينفيان الفقر والذنوب ...
"Follow Hajj with umrah, for they remove poverty and sins as the bellows remove impurity from iron, gold and silver."
Repeated Hajj and umrah remove sins and poverty.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Hajj, chapter on umrah. Umrah is a stressed sunnah; repeating it is recommended.
- al-Majmu' (Nawawi), Kitab al-Hajj, on the virtue of umrah. Expiation by acts of worship covers minor sins.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.