Does he have to do ‘umrah if he has money but he needs to complete his studies?
Question

                I saved some money and set it aside for doing ‘umrah, then I decided to study for a certificate in my field so that I can improve my income and get married, and its cost is equivalent to the cost of doing ‘umrah three times. Can I postpone ‘umrah and pay the costs of that study, from these savings? Or will I be breaking a covenant by doing that?
Praise be to Allah.
	Firstly: 

	The correct view is that it is obligatory to do ‘umrah once 
	in one’s lifetime if one is able to do so. 

	This has been explained in the answer to question no.
	39524 

	If you have fulfilled the conditions of it being obligatory 
	(being able to afford it financially and being physically able to do it), 
	then you must do ‘umrah right away, and it is not permissible for you to 
	delay it without an excuse. 

	Al-Hajaawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Hajj and 
	‘umrah are obligatory for a Muslim who is free, accountable and able to do 
	them, once in a lifetime, to be done without delay. 

	Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

	The phrase “without delay” means: it is obligatory to do them 
	immediately, once the conditions of it being obligatory are met. 

	The evidence for that is as follows: 

	(i)
	The verse in which Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the 
	meaning): “And 
	Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka‘bah) is a duty that mankind 
	owes to Allah” [Aal ‘Imraan 
	3:97].

	(ii)
	The hadith of Abu Hurayrah: “O people, Allah has ordained 
	Hajj for you, so perform Hajj.” The basic principle is that a command is to 
	be done immediately, hence the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon 
	him) got angry during the campaign to al-Hudaybiyah when he instructed the 
	people to exit ihram and the people were slow to respond.

	(iii)
	The individual does not know what will happen to him. He 
	may be able at present to obey the command of Allah, may He be glorified and 
	exalted, but in the future he may be unable to do so.

	(iv)
	Allah has commanded us to hasten towards all that is 
	good, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): “So 
	hasten towards all that is good” 
	[al-Baqarah 2:148]. 
	Delaying is contrary to what Allah has enjoined. This is the right view, 
	that it is obligatory to comply with Allah’s commands immediately. 

	End quote from ash-Sharh al-Mumti‘ (7/13) 

	Secondly: 

	If a person has money but he needs it to buy a house or to 
	get married or complete his studies, then in that case there is nothing 
	wrong with him delaying ‘umrah until he is able to do it, because in this 
	situation he is not regarded as being able to do Hajj and ‘umrah; rather 
	they are obligatory for the one who is able to do them. 

	A l-Hajaawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in Zaad al-Mustaqni‘: 

	The one who is able (to do Hajj and ‘umrah) is the one who is 
	able to travel, and has sufficient provisions and means of transportation 
	that are fit for ones such as him, after covering obligatory expenses as 
	prescribed in Islamic teaching and his family’s basic needs. 

	The phrase basic needs means that he must have wealth surplus 
	to what is required to meet basic needs, and they are things that people 
	often need, because there are both basic needs and minor needs. 

	Basic needs include things like books, pens, a means of 
	transportation, and other things which are not absolutely essential, but 
	people need them. If a seeker of knowledge has books that he needs to refer 
	to and read, we do not tell him: Sell your books and go for Hajj.

	End quote from ash-Sharh al-Mumti‘ (7/29)

	For more information please see the answer to question no.
	11534

	And Allah knows best.