Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Please let me know where in the `Quran` (or may be in Hadith) it is either mentioned `Umrah` as `Hajj-e-Asghar` OR `Hajj` as `Hajj-e-Akbar`.

I have heard scholars on TV saying the above, therefore, I want to see it for myself. Up to now I have not been able to find it and it is a normal practice with me that I do not believe until I check and confirm myself.

Please do not mis-understand my question. I DO NOT mean to say that Hajj falling on `Friday` is `Hajj-e-Akbar`, I know it is not.

Thanks.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Hajj akbar

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: Please let me know where in the `Quran` (or may be in Hadith) it is either mentioned `Umrah` as `Hajj-e-Asghar` OR `Hajj` as `Hajj-e-Akbar`.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 3:

3 And an announcement from Allah and His Messenger to the people (assembled) on the day of the ‘Hajj-il-Akbar’ (Great Pilgrimage), that Allah and His Messenger dissolve (treaty) obligations with the pagans.

Although the term ‘Hajj-il-Akbar’ finds mention in the Glorious Quran, to the best of our knowledge we have not been able to find a mention of the term ‘Hajj-il-Asgar’ for the Umrah pilgrimage in either the Quran or the Sunnah.

There are ample historical records which state that amongst the Arabs at the time of the Prophet (saws), the smaller pilgrimage or what is known in Islamic Jurisprudence as the ‘Umrah’ was called the ‘Hajj-e-Asgar’ (Smaller Pilgrimage); and the actual Hajj during the prescribed days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah was known and recognized as the ‘Hajj-il-Akbar’ (Greater Pilgrimage). And Allah Alone Knows Best.

Your Statement: Please do not mis-understand my question. I DO NOT mean to say that Hajj falling on `Friday` is `Hajj-e-Akbar`, I know it is not.

Your statement and belief that when the day of Arafah happens to fall on a Friday does not mean ‘Hajj-Akbar’ is indeed accurate; and it is proven by the fact that the day of ‘Hajj-il-Akbar’ implied in the above quoted Verse of Surah Taubah was in fact a ‘Tuesday’, the 9^th day of the 12^th month of the lunar calendar, 9 years after Hijrah.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan