Ḥajj or Umrah?

Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm

وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا

(Qur’ān 03:97)

“Wa li-Llāhi a’la n-nāsi hijju l-bayti man i-statā’a ‘ilayhi sabīla”

“And [due] to Allāh from the people is a pilgrimage to the House (Ka’bah) – those who can afford the journey.” Ṣadaqa Llāhu l-‘Aẓīm.

Ḥajj is one of the pillars of Islām. Therefore, it is obligatory for those who have the means, the money, and the health to perform it. People are going for Umrah now; the three holy months are approaching. Even before the start of the three holy months, since there are vacations and so on. People say they couldn’t go for ḥajj, so they go for Umrah. Go ahead, may Allāh ﷻ accept it, may it be blessed.

But ḥajj is the obligatory, not Umrah. Umrah should be performed after ḥajj. Now they say, “We registered, but it didn’t come out for us. It hasn’t worked out yet, so we’ll for to Umrah.” Then, if you get your turn for ḥajj next year, you will have used your money for Umrah. At that time, you won’t be able to go for ḥajj.

Therefore, the first thing people should do is save up for ḥajj money, set it aside. They should convert it to gold, not leave it as paper money and so. They should set it aside. If you get your turn for ḥajj, you go. If not, then you can go on Umrah but not with that money. That money must remain separate, you won’t touch it.

It must stay aside, it’s your ḥajj money. Allāh ﷻ will accept your ḥajj. Even if you can’t go – may Allāh ﷻ grant you a long life – and you pass away, they can send someone else in your place with that money, and you will be considered a ḥajji. If you could go, if you are destined, you will go with that money.

But nowadays, people’s minds aren’t working properly anymore. Now, they talk about intelligence and such, but they don’t even use their own intelligence anymore. They’ve left their intelligence to the machines. So what are you going to do now? This is what you’ll do.

You’ll set aside your ḥajj money. If you have extra money, then go on Umrah. If you don’t have money, save it, and when the time comes, with Allāh’s ﷻ permission, you can go. That’s how you’ll fulfill this obligation.

Even if you don’t complete the money, even if you couldn’t go, even if the path isn’t opened, your intention is pure, everything is ready. It wasn’t destined to be, it didn’t happen this year, it will happen next year. If it didn’t happen next year, it will happen in five years.

Some people, after sixteen years, receive their ḥajj opportunity, but they don’t have the money, so they wonder what to do. You went to Umrah ten times with that money. If you had saved that money, you could have easily gone to ḥajj without needing or relying on anyone.

You need to use your brain a little. Allāh ﷻ has given you mind and understanding. Moreover, you should consult with others, “Should I go or not? How should I do it?” They say, “Our ḥajj didn’t work out, let’s go to Umrah instead.” Umrah, as we said, isn’t obligatory. Prepare for your obligatory duties, and then, in shā’a Llāh, may Allāh ﷻ grant you the opportunity.

May Allāh ﷻ grant it to those who didn’t go yet. May you go and return comfortably, in shā’a Llāh. Wa min Allāh at-Tawfiq.

Al-Fatiha.

•⁠ ⁠Mawlana Sheikh Muhammad Adil ar-Rabbaniق

11 December 2025/ 20 Jumada Al-Thani 1447

Fajr Prayer – Akbaba Dergah, Istanbul

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