What is the ruling on performing 'Umrah specifically in Rajab?

Question:
In the lecture held at King Saud Mosque last week, you answered—may Allah bless you and reward you with good—a question about the acts of worship reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the month of Rajab. You mentioned—or we understood—that nothing was reported except for 'Umrah. Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) refuted the hadith of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with both of them) in his book *Zad al-Ma'ad*, in which Ibn 'Umar stated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) performed 'Umrah in the month of Rajab, by citing the hadith of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), in which she said: "May Allah have mercy on Abu 'Abd al-Rahman; the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not perform 'Umrah except when he was present." I ask your eminence to clarify this matter. May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
We have previously explained that Ibn 'Umar narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) performed 'Umrah in Rajab, and this is recorded in *al-Sahihayn* (the two authentic collections). 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) and a group of others denied this, saying: He (peace and blessings be upon him) did not perform 'Umrah except in Dhul-Qa'dah. These were four 'Umrahs, all of them in Dhul-Qa'dah.
The principle among the scholars of knowledge is that the one who affirms is given precedence over the one who denies, and that one who affirms something while being trustworthy is given precedence over one who denies it.
Therefore, it is reported from 'Umar and others: 'Umrah in Rajab. Ibn Rajab said: "The Salaf used to perform 'Umrah in Rajab." So, 'Umrah in Rajab is permissible, and it is a prescribed 'Umrah at all times: in Rajab, and in other months. However, in Rajab specifically, it is a sacred month, and the Salaf used to perform 'Umrah in it, including 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him).
And in the hadith of Ibn 'Umar in *al-Sahihayn*: that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed 'Umrah in Rajab. So, the matter is broad in this regard: in Rajab, or in Jumada, or in Sha'ban, or at any time one performs 'Umrah, the matter is broad. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: , and he did not specify a time for it. So, if one performs 'Umrah in Rajab, or in Sha'ban, or in Ramadan, or in any other time, it is all good. And the best 'Umrah is in Ramadan; due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): , or he said: (peace and blessings be upon him).
As for 'A'ishah and others denying it to Ibn 'Umar: this is sufficient; because Ibn 'Umar is trustworthy, a noble Companion, and he affirmed 'Umrah in Rajab. There is no obstacle; there is no barrier to the fact that he (peace and blessings be upon him) performed 'Umrah in Rajab, and it was hidden from 'A'ishah, just as other things from his (peace and blessings be upon him) Sunnah were hidden from her, and others knew of them (peace and blessings be upon him).