The people (of the Pre-Islamic Period) used to think that to perform ʿUmra during the months of Hajj was one of the major sins on earth. And also used to consider the month of Safar as a forbidden (i.e. sacred) month and they used to say, "When the wounds of the camel's back heal up (after they return from Hajj) and the signs of those wounds vanish and the month of Safar passes away then (at that time) ʿUmra is permissible for the one who wishes to perform it." In the morning of the 4th of Dhul- Hijja, the Prophet ﷺ and his companions reached Mecca, assuming Ihram for Hajj and he ordered his companions to make their intentions of the Ihram for ʿUmra only (instead of Hajj) so they considered his order as something great and were puzzled, and said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! What kind (of finishing) of Ihram is allowed?" The Prophet ﷺ replied, "Finish the Ihram completely like a non-Muhrim (you are allowed everything)." (Using translation from Bukhārī 1564)
كَانُوا يَرَوْنَ الْعُمْرَةَ فِي أَشْهُرِ الْحَجِّ مِنْ أَفْجَرِ الْفُجُورِ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَيَجْعَلُونَ الْمُحَرَّمَ صَفَرًا وَيَقُولُونَ إِذَا بَرَأَ الدَّبَرْ وَعَفَا الْأَثَرْ وَانْسَلَخَ صَفَرْ حَلَّتِ الْعُمْرَةُ لِمَنِ اعْتَمَرْ فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَأَصْحَابُهُ لِصَبِيحَةِ رَابِعَةٍ مُهِلِّينَ بِالْحَجِّ فَأَمَرَهُمْ أْنْ يَجْعَلُوهَا عُمْرَةً فَتَعَاظَمَ ذَلِكَ عِنْدَهُمْ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ الْحِلِّ؟ قَالَ الْحِلُّ كُلُّهُ وَفِي كِتَابِهِ لِصُبْحٍ