Is it better to spend large sums on performing 'Umrah, or to spend them on acts of charity in one's home country where the need is great?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
He says: When a person goes to Makkah al-Mukarramah during the month of Ramadan and stays there for days with a specific intention, he incurs significant expenses. Is it better to limit himself to 'Umrah and then return to his country, spending the other financial costs on acts of charity, or is it better to stay there, given the need for spending on other acts of charity? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh:
There is no doubt that 'Umrah in Ramadan has a great virtue, and it is like Hajj with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), if the hadith is authentic. There is no doubt that a Muslim staying in Makkah during Ramadan, being a neighbor to the mosque, and performing i'tikaf (spiritual retreat) in the Sacred Mosque has a higher and more noble virtue. One prayer in the Sacred Mosque is better than 100,000 prayers in any other mosque, and there is no doubt about any of this.
But if there are people in need, meaning they need charity and assistance, then paying the costs of 'Umrah to the needy is better than going to Makkah for 'Umrah, because the reward for going to Makkah for 'Umrah is limited to him.
And its benefit is limited to him. As for feeding the needy and the hungry, its benefit extends to others. The deed whose benefit extends is better than the deed whose benefit does not extend. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good and do you good.
The questioner:
Is it even better than saying that one prayer is worth a hundred thousand prayers?
The Shaykh:
Yes. Allah multiplies charity when it meets a needy person with a good intention, multiplying it greatly. Like those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah.Sahih Ibn Hibban 23:182, so no one knows the reward of charity when it meets a needy person and is done with a good intention, and the one who gives charity does not know its reward except Allah, (Glorified and Exalted is He).
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good and do you well.
The questioner:
You find among people a desire—allow me to say, a strong desire—to stay in Makkah al-Mukarramah, in the House of Allah, and in the Sacred Mosque. It is a very great desire, Shaykh Salih. They do not overlook these matters. What is said to them? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh:
There is no doubt that going to Makkah, performing 'Umrah, and staying in Makkah have many virtues. But helping the needy, meeting the needs of the poor, and relieving the distress of the afflicted—this is the priority. The matter is one of weighing and preferring, and all of it is righteous deeds, but righteous deeds differ in degree and are weighed against each other. Yes.
He says: When a person goes to Makkah al-Mukarramah during the month of Ramadan and stays there for days with a specific intention, he incurs significant expenses. Is it better to limit himself to 'Umrah and then return to his country, spending the other financial costs on acts of charity, or is it better to stay there, given the need for spending on other acts of charity? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh:
There is no doubt that 'Umrah in Ramadan has a great virtue, and it is like Hajj with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), if the hadith is authentic. There is no doubt that a Muslim staying in Makkah during Ramadan, being a neighbor to the mosque, and performing i'tikaf (spiritual retreat) in the Sacred Mosque has a higher and more noble virtue. One prayer in the Sacred Mosque is better than 100,000 prayers in any other mosque, and there is no doubt about any of this.
But if there are people in need, meaning they need charity and assistance, then paying the costs of 'Umrah to the needy is better than going to Makkah for 'Umrah, because the reward for going to Makkah for 'Umrah is limited to him.
And its benefit is limited to him. As for feeding the needy and the hungry, its benefit extends to others. The deed whose benefit extends is better than the deed whose benefit does not extend. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good and do you good.
The questioner:
Is it even better than saying that one prayer is worth a hundred thousand prayers?
The Shaykh:
Yes. Allah multiplies charity when it meets a needy person with a good intention, multiplying it greatly. Like those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah.
Like a grain that grows seven ears, and in every ear is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies for whom He wills. And Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.
كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنْبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنْبُلَةٍ مِائَةُ حَبَّةٍ وَاللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌThe presenter:
May Allah reward you with good and do you well.
The questioner:
You find among people a desire—allow me to say, a strong desire—to stay in Makkah al-Mukarramah, in the House of Allah, and in the Sacred Mosque. It is a very great desire, Shaykh Salih. They do not overlook these matters. What is said to them? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh:
There is no doubt that going to Makkah, performing 'Umrah, and staying in Makkah have many virtues. But helping the needy, meeting the needs of the poor, and relieving the distress of the afflicted—this is the priority. The matter is one of weighing and preferring, and all of it is righteous deeds, but righteous deeds differ in degree and are weighed against each other. Yes.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، هل الأفضل صرف التكاليف الكبيرة لأداء العمرة أم صرفها في وجوه البر في بلده لكثرة الحاجة إليها؟ — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.