It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that people used to think that performing Umrah during the sacred months was the greatest sin committed on earth, and they would also make the month of Muharram into the month of Safar, and they used to say that when the back of the she-camel becomes healthy, the footprints of the pilgrims have disappeared, and the month of Safar has ended, then it becomes lawful for those who want to perform Umrah to do so. Coincidentally, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) reached Makkah with his companions (may Allah be pleased with them) in the state of Ihram for Hajj, it was the morning of the fourth of Dhul-Hijjah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered his companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to "make this Ihram the Ihram of Umrah." The people considered this a very great matter and said: O Messenger of Allah! What kind of becoming lawful is this? He said: "Completely lawful."