If one performed the Umrah, must he also perform Hajj? Is it true that if he does not, the Umrah will not be valid?
I must admit that I find this argument intriguing. Why should the delayed performance of one duty affect another duty which has already been performed?
Both Umrah and pilgrimage are duties applicable to all Muslims. The only condition which makes this requirement optional relates to the ability of the person to perform this duty. When a person meets the condition of ability, he should hasten to perform the pilgrimage and the Umrah as early as possible. If he delays its performance, he never knows whether he will be able to fulfill his duty the following year or later. With this possibility in view, the Prophet instruct us: "Offer your pilgrimage before you are unable to offer it." I realize that some people argue that it is better to offer the pilgrimage in old age, when one will have all his sins forgiven. This is a false argument. For one thing, a person is never sure that he will be able to offer the pilgrimage when he grows old. For another, the benefit of offering pilgrimage early in one's life is limitless.
Now, Umrah is a duty in the same way pilgrimage is one. Its fulfillment must be done as early as possible. Therefore, when you are able to go to Makkah to do the Umrah, you should do so. Whether this takes place at the same time that you do the pilgrimage or not is immaterial. If you have not done the pilgrimage yet but you are able to go and perform the Umrah, you should not hesitate to do so. There is nothing which will render your Umrah invalid after you have offered it. It is not right that its reward depends on whether or not you offered the pilgrimage.
Can one person perform a second Umrah immediately after he has finished the first one?
There is nothing to stop a person from offering another Umrah after he has finished one. However, when he finishes the Umrah, he has to release himself from Ihraam. For second one, he has to go to the nearest point of the "hill" area, i.e. outside the Haram area, to put on his Ihraam. and declare his intent there. He cannot do that in Makkah itself. Maybe it is convenient for him to put on his Ihraam. garments in Makkah, but he does not make the declaration of intent until he has gone out, at least to the nearest place outside the Haram area. The place most people prefer, is called Al-Taniem.
I think I have to explain that in normal cases, one Umrah a year is sufficient for any person. If one is visiting Makkah, whether he is coming from a far away place or from Jeddah, or Dhahran or even nearer, he needs to do only one Umrah. If he is staying in Makkah for several days, he can do the tawaf as frequently as he can. But you realize, that tawaf is considered in the same light as prayer. The only different is that it is permissible to talk during tawaf while ordinary talk in prayer invalidates it. You can do one tawaf after another, without any restrictions. Sa'ie , the other main feature of Umrah, is not something we are encouraged to do voluntarily. We do only one sa'ie for Umrah and one for pilgrimage and we are not encouraged to repeat that sa'ie. Therefore, when we do the tawaf voluntarily, we are doing the part of Umrah which can be offered in voluntary worship.
• Umrah: During the pilgrimage period
Can a pilgrim offer two or more Umrahs during the pilgrimage period?
As you are aware, the Umrah consists of tawaf; sa'ie and cutting your hair, in addition to being in consecration. It is a duty once in a lifetime and recommended after that. Most scholars suggest that one Umrah a year is sufficient, but if a person does more he will earn reward for that. If you have done the Umrah and are staying in Makkah, for pilgrimage or for worship in the Haram, you are not recommended to go out of Makkah for another consecration to do the Umrah again. That is because of all Umrah duties only the tawaf may be offered as a Sunnah act of worship. You do not need to do a fresh Umrah in order to do a voluntary tawaf. You may do that wearing your normal clothes. You may do it as often as you wish without the need to do another Umrah.