Some people say that the lesser pilgrimage is not obligatory, and that is because Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: “And the pilgrimage to the House is a duty that Allah has imposed on people for those who are able to undertake it,” and He did not say this regarding the lesser pilgrimage, and in

The questioner : May Allah reward you. Some people say that the lesser pilgrimage is not obligatory for a person, and that is because Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: And in the hadith: the major pilgrimage was mentioned but the lesser pilgrimage was not. And no explicit evidence from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) or from a verse regarding its obligation has come. So how do we answer this?

The Shaykh : We answer them with several things. First: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) called the lesser pilgrimage a minor pilgrimage, so it falls under the general term of pilgrimage. Second: Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family): “Do women have a duty to fight in the way of Allah?” He said: The word “upon” indicates obligation. Third: Allah said: Thus He made the ruling for the major and lesser pilgrimages the same regarding the circumambulation. And whoever says that it is a recommended practice, well, he has a point of view, but the stronger position is that it is obligatory, except that it is not like the obligation of the major pilgrimage, meaning it is not one of the pillars of Islam.