⬆️President Bola Tinubu during Umrah.
’Umrah, otherwise called Lesser Hajj or Minor Pilgrimage, is the voluntary Islamic practice of visiting or retreating to the sacred mosque in Makkah as an act of worship, for spiritual renewal and to show gratitude to Allah for divine favours received and pray for new ones with minimal worldly distractions. Ihram, the two-piece unsewn white clothes which Muslim males wear during ’Umrah, and the modest dressing shorn of ornaments required of female pilgrims during the period, are part of the physical signs of repudiating those distractions.
’Umrah may be performed as a component of Hajj or as a stand-alone religious and spiritual exercise. Unlike the performance of Hajj which is restricted to specific days in the 12th lunar month of Dhul-Hijjah, which is the final month of the Islamic calendar, ’Umrah can be performed at any time of the year and for any number of hours or days as a pilgrim may determine. Moreover, unlike Hajj which is performed only once in a year, ’Umrah may be performed as many times in a year as the pilgrim may wish, depending on convenience and financial capability.
There are specific references to ’Umrah in the Qur’an. One is in Chapter 2, Verse 196 which enjoins: “And complete the Hajj and ’Umrah for Allah.” Another is in Chapter 2, Verse 158 which declares: “Indeed, as-Safa and al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever makes Hajj to the House or performs ’Umrah – there is no blame upon him for walking between them.” Performing ’Umrah therefore constitutes acting in consonance with the injunction or seeking the pleasure of Allah.
On 29 October, 2026, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu left Nigeria for Saudi Arabia to perform ’Umrah in the company of various categories of politicians, captains of industry and associates. The next day, he and his delegation performed the ’Umrah rites at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. On 1 November, 2026, he was given the special privilege of entering the Ka’abah, the black cube-shaped structure in the middle of the mosque and towards which Muslims all over the world turn at least five times in a day when they observe the usually-congregational prayers.
In a Nigerian Television Authority interview conducted by state house correspondent Musbau Dan-Wahab shortly after the epoch-making opportunity to enter and pray in the Ka’abah, President Tinubu demonstrated his understanding of and subscription to fundamental principles of Islam. About his feeling after performing the historic ’Umrah, the President said: “I feel fulfilled and grateful to Almighty Allah for giving us the opportunity, the health and the day that went very well.”
He also noted about his earlier ’Umrah: “Prior to the 2023 election, I did the same thing. I asked Allah to bless my ’Umrah then. He did, and I promised that I would come back to thank him.” In other words, in fulfilling his promise to Allah by performing the 2026 ’Umrah, President Tinubu was striving to model his life in accordance with one of the attributes of Allah. Regarding this attribute, Chapter 35, Verse 5 of the Qur’an assures: “O humanity! Indeed, Allah’s promise is true.”
Moreover, President Tinubu’s expression of gratitude to Allah reflects obedience to the following Qur’anic injunction in Chapter 14, Verse 7: “And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more. But if you are ungrateful, surely My punishment is severe.’” In Chapter 2, Verse 152, the Qur’an correlates gratitude with the remembrance of Allah thus: “So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.”
Furthermore, Chapter 13, Verse 28 specifies the value of the remembrance of Allah as follows: “Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest;” and Chapter 62, Verse 10 exhorts the believers: “And remember Allah often that you may succeed.” The Qur’an further enjoins in Chapter 33, Verse 41-42: “O believers! Always remember Allah often, and glorify Him morning and evening.”
’Umrah facilitates obedience to this injunction, because of the remarkable shedding of worldly distractions which occurs during the religious exercise, as President Tinubu may have personally experienced. This awareness is related to the belief that Allah has power over all things and people. President Tinubu manifested this belief when he said in his post-’Umrah interview: “Almighty Allah – there’s no God but him. He’s The Giver and The Taker. He owns the power. He said, ‘Use it well. If you don’t use it in accordance with my dictates, I can take it from you and give it to another person. I am the only God who has that authority.’ I have faith in that, and I believe extremely well that he has done me and my country a great favour.”
President Tinubu’s declaration of faith here is a manifestation of Chapter 3, Verse 18 of the Qur’an which states: “Allah [Himself] is a Witness that there is no god [worthy of worship] except Him – and so are the angels and people of knowledge. He is the Maintainer of justice. There is no god [worthy of worship] except Him – the Almighty, All-Wise.” It also coheres with Chapter 64, Verse 13 which enjoins: “Allah – there is no god [worthy of worship] except Him. So, in Allah let the believers put their trust.”
Moreover, President Tinubu’s description of Allah as “The Giver and The Taker” and The Supreme Authority is in consonance with Chapter 3, Verse 26 of the Qur’an which declares: “Say (O Muhammad SAW): ‘O Allah! Possessor of the kingdom, You give the kingdom to whom You will, and You take the kingdom from whom You will, and You endue with honour whom You will, and You humiliate whom You will. In Your Hand is the good. Verily, You are Able to do all things.’” This conception of Allah is also found in Chapter 10, Verse 107: “And ‘If Allah touches you with harm, none can undo it except Him. And if He intends good for you, none can withhold His bounty. He grants it to whoever He wills of His servants. And He is the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’”
Substantiating Allah’s benevolence to him and Nigeria, President Tinubu declared: “Out of millions of people, to be the President and Commander-in-Chief is a favour from God Almighty.” Considering the seemingly insurmountable obstacles placed in his way as he was striving to be President in 2023, Chapter 3, Verse 160 of the Qur’an is especially relevant: “If Allah helps you, none can defeat you. But if He denies you help, then who else can help you? So, in Allah let the believers put their trust.” This divine assurance is complemented by Chapter 3, Verse 173: “Allah is Sufficient for us, and is the Best Disposer of Affairs.” These Quranic messages are particularly significant considering the unrelenting attack President Tinubu has been receiving from political opponents and others who disfavour his winning a second term in office in 2027.
To the question on how his 2026 ’Umrah would keep him going for the task ahead of him, President Tinubu replied: “I asked for wisdom and resilience to continue to serve the people. I know that has been granted.” With respect to his supplication for Nigeria as a whole, the President said: “The prayer is for Allah Subhana wa ta’ala to convert our diversity. Nigeria is full of diverse people. It’s made up of all the faiths. May Allah convert our diversity to prosperity for the entire country.”
This view coheres with Chapter 49, Verse 13 of the Qur’an which says as follows about diversity as a divine design and not as a cause of disunity: “O people, We have created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes so that you may recognize one another. Indeed, the most noble of you before Allah is the most righteous among you. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.”
On his commitment to Project Nigeria, President Tinubu said: “My commitment is higher, determined to bring prosperity, to develop the country consistent with the wish of Allah and the support of the people. It is important to put Allah first, then move on. Follow your conscience. Follow the right path that will lead Nigeria to that greatness. The foundation is solid. The economy has come out of the dark tunnel. It’s inspiring. We need to build a future for our youth. If we don’t invest in their future, in fifty years from now, how do we want to be remembered as leaders? That’s the main thing. I’m not looking for anything else.”
In a way relatable to the President’s hope in Nigeria’s greatness in spite of the country’s seemingly intractable problems, Chapter 12, Verse 87 of the Qur’an assures: “And do not lose hope in the mercy of Allah, for no one loses hope in Allah’s mercy except those with no faith.” In a reiteration of the assurance of this divine mercy, Chapter 39, Verse 53 says: “Say, “O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls! Do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy, for Allah certainly forgives all sins. He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” Chapter 39, Verse 54 specifies the condition for the divine mercy: “Turn to your Lord [in repentance], and [fully] submit to Him before the punishment reaches you, [for] then you will not be helped.”
Noting that today’s socio-political problems are not restricted to Nigeria, President Tinubu said: “We’re all facing challenges and hostility around us. We will overcome it with faith in God Almighty.” This optimism correlates with the hope-inspiring declaration in Chapter 94, Verse 5 of the Qur’an: “Surely, with hardship comes ease.”
President Tinubu ended his interview by profusely thanking his royal hosts as follows: “I want to say a big thank you for the faith, for the recognition. I can’t believe the fencing of Ka’abah was in green-white-green [the colours of the Nigerian flag]. I thank them for the hospitality and recognition given to me as the leader of the delegation and the country. … I am grateful forever. I thank the King and the Royal Crown Prince. It is their honour that I enjoyed and it’s gracious for them to have allowed me to enter inside Ka’abah. It’s history.”
Courtesy of technological advancement, Nigerians back home were able to see President Tinubu as he was performing the different rituals of the ’Umrah. He was in his Ihram, walked between the hills of Safa and Marwa, performed his circumambulation round the Ka’abah, kissed the black stone, and prayed for good in this world and the hereafter, among other activities. After performing the 2026 ’Umrah, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu returned to Nigeria, spiritually reinforced to face the different challenges which being the President of this amazing nation entails.