What is the ruling on performing the lesser pilgrimage specifically in the month of Rajab?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh: What is the ruling on performing the lesser pilgrimage specifically in this month?
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : What is the ruling on performing the lesser pilgrimage specifically in this month?
The Shaykh : The lesser pilgrimage, yes.
The questioner : And are religious innovations greater than major sins?
The Shaykh : And is it?
The questioner : And are religious innovations greater than major sins?
The Shaykh : Yes, these are two questions placed in one envelope, which is a sign of this questioner's intelligence, because in this situation we do not accept anything but one question. Which one do you prefer, the first or the second?
The questioner : The first.
The Shaykh : The first. Good. Rajab is one of the four sacred months. Do you know the sacred months? Do you know them?
The questioner : Shawwal.
The Shaykh : No.
The questioner : Dhu al-Qa'dah.
The Shaykh : Dhu al-Qa'dah, Dhu al-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab. These are four sacred months, and Rajab is among them without a doubt. Allah has forbidden fighting in them. As for the three—Dhu al-Qa'dah, Dhu al-Hijjah, and Muharram—it is because they are the months of Hajj: Dhu al-Qa'dah for those coming to Makkah, Dhu al-Hijjah for those in Makkah, and Muharram for those returning from Makkah. Allah made these sacred months such that fighting is forbidden in them so that people who come to... to Hajj... would feel safe. In the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, they used to revere Rajab and perform the lesser pilgrimage in it, so Allah made it forbidden. The Salaf (may Allah have mercy on them) differed on whether the lesser pilgrimage in it is a recommended practice or not. Some said: It is a recommended practice. Others said: No, because if it were a recommended practice, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would have clarified it, either by his saying or by his doing. The lesser pilgrimage in the months of Hajj is better than the lesser pilgrimage in Rajab, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed the lesser pilgrimage in the months of Hajj. When Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and her) mentioned that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed the lesser pilgrimage in Rajab, Aishah said: Abu 'Abd al-Rahman has erred. She said this to him while he was listening, and he remained silent. In any case, I do not see clear evidence for the recommendation of the lesser pilgrimage in Rajab.
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : What is the ruling on performing the lesser pilgrimage specifically in this month?
The Shaykh : The lesser pilgrimage, yes.
The questioner : And are religious innovations greater than major sins?
The Shaykh : And is it?
The questioner : And are religious innovations greater than major sins?
The Shaykh : Yes, these are two questions placed in one envelope, which is a sign of this questioner's intelligence, because in this situation we do not accept anything but one question. Which one do you prefer, the first or the second?
The questioner : The first.
The Shaykh : The first. Good. Rajab is one of the four sacred months. Do you know the sacred months? Do you know them?
The questioner : Shawwal.
The Shaykh : No.
The questioner : Dhu al-Qa'dah.
The Shaykh : Dhu al-Qa'dah, Dhu al-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab. These are four sacred months, and Rajab is among them without a doubt. Allah has forbidden fighting in them. As for the three—Dhu al-Qa'dah, Dhu al-Hijjah, and Muharram—it is because they are the months of Hajj: Dhu al-Qa'dah for those coming to Makkah, Dhu al-Hijjah for those in Makkah, and Muharram for those returning from Makkah. Allah made these sacred months such that fighting is forbidden in them so that people who come to... to Hajj... would feel safe. In the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, they used to revere Rajab and perform the lesser pilgrimage in it, so Allah made it forbidden. The Salaf (may Allah have mercy on them) differed on whether the lesser pilgrimage in it is a recommended practice or not. Some said: It is a recommended practice. Others said: No, because if it were a recommended practice, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would have clarified it, either by his saying or by his doing. The lesser pilgrimage in the months of Hajj is better than the lesser pilgrimage in Rajab, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed the lesser pilgrimage in the months of Hajj. When Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and her) mentioned that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed the lesser pilgrimage in Rajab, Aishah said: Abu 'Abd al-Rahman has erred. She said this to him while he was listening, and he remained silent. In any case, I do not see clear evidence for the recommendation of the lesser pilgrimage in Rajab.