Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) performed Umrah for the first time in the Islamic year 6AH, along with 2,000 of his followers. It followed a period of intense struggles and sacrifices by the Muslims.

After the Hijra Sharif in which Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) migrated to Madinah in order to escape persecution by the disbelievers in Makkah, tensions between the Muslims and disbelievers of Makkah were still high.

A few years after Hijra Sharif, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had a dream where he was undertaking the rituals of Umrah. The Prophet (PBUH) and his companions then returned to Makkah with the intention of performing Umrah.

When the disbelievers of Makkah heard about the huge number of Muslims approaching Makkah, they were concerned that the Muslims intended to attack the people of Makkah.

Prophet Muhammad sent an emissary to the people of Makkah on reaching the outskirts of Makkah to address their fears and explained that he only intended to perform Umrah. However, they were stopped at Hudaybiyyah where Qurayshites refused to let them enter the city, and were asked to come the following year for performing Umrah.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) refused to enter Makkah by force out of respect to the holy Ka’aba. Diplomatic negotiations took place, which resulted in The Treaty of Hudaibiyyah that stipulated a 10-year period, during which there would be no hostilities and the Muslims would be granted access to the holy site of the Ka’aba for three days per year.