Imam Abu Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, says that this mawquf hadith of Sayyiduna Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, is evidence for the weakness of his following marfu’ hadith, which is narrated by Ibn al-Munkadir. It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked,“Is ‘Umrah obligatory?”He, peace and blessings be upon him, replied:“No, but if you perform ‘Umrah, it is a virtuous and superior act.”Imam Abu Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, says that if Sayyiduna Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, had heard from the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, that ‘Umrah is not obligatory, he would never have opposed the statement of the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him (and would not have given the fatwa of ‘Umrah being obligatory). In the story of Sayyiduna ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated from Dhammi bin Ma‘bad, there is evidence that Sayyiduna ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, also considered ‘Umrah to be obligatory. (That story is as follows.)