‘Umrah in the Month of Ramaḍān

A woman named Umm Sinān al‑Anṣāriyyah (raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhā) could not join Rasūlullāh ﷺ on the Farewell Hajj. She explained that her husband had only two camels. One he took for his own Hajj, the other was needed for their land. Rasūlullāh ﷺ gave her a lasting gift.

“When Ramaḍān comes, perform ‘Umrah, for ‘Umrah in Ramaḍān is equivalent to Hajj.”
— Ṣaḥīḥ al‑Bukhārī (1863)

And in another narration:

“Performing ‘Umrah in Ramaḍān is equivalent to Hajj with me.”
— Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (1256), Jāmi‘ at‑Tirmidhī (939), Sunan Abī Dāwūd (1990)

The scholars explain that this refers to the reward, not that it substitutes for the obligatory Hajj. Whoever performs ‘Umrah in Ramaḍān with sincere intention receives the reward of Hajj. And when Rasūlullāh ﷺ said “Hajj with me,” he indicated a reward that brings the one who performs it into his company in terms of its recompense.

Fajr in Congregation, Dhikr Until Sunrise, and Duḥā

Rasūlullāh ﷺ said:

“Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then sits remembering Allāh until the sun has risen, then prays two rak‘ahs, will have a reward like that of a Hajj and ‘Umrah. Complete, complete, complete.”
— Jāmi‘ at‑Tirmidhī (586), classed as ḥasan by Imām at‑Tirmidhī and ḥasan by Shaykh al‑Albānī

The repetition of tāmmah, tāmmah, tāmmah – “complete, complete, complete” – removes any doubt about the fullness of the reward.

Walking to the Mosque for Obligatory and Voluntary Prayers

Rasūlullāh ﷺ said:

“Whoever goes out from his house after performing ablution for saying the prescribed prayer in congregation, his reward will be like that of one who goes for Hajj pilgrimage after wearing iḥrām. And he who goes out to say the mid‑morning (Duḥā) prayer, and takes the trouble for this purpose, will take the reward like that of a person who performs ‘Umrah.”
— Sunan Abī Dāwūd (558), classed as ḥasan by Shaykh al‑Albānī

Every journey after performing ablution toward an obligatory prayer in the masjid carries the reward similar to Hajj, and walking to the masjid for Duḥā carries the reward similar to ‘Umrah.

Going to the Masjid to Learn or Teach Something Good

Rasūlullāh ﷺ said:

“Whoever goes to the masjid for the purpose of learning or teaching knowledge, he receives the reward of a Hājj whose Hajj was perfect.”
— Al‑Mu‘jam al‑Kabīr (7473) (al‑Ṭabarānī), classed as Ṣaḥīḥ by ‘Shaykh al‑Albānī

Attending a circle of knowledge with sincere intention brings the reward of a complete, perfect Hajj.

When Rasūlullāh ﷺ spoke about these deeds, he did not want to restrict our Islām to a single journey. Hajj is once a year, but these deeds can be performed daily, weekly, and throughout the year. Also, notice how Rasūlullāh ﷺ emphasized in immense rewards for things that are directly related to the masjid? That is from the immense mercy that Allāh ʿazza wa jall bestowed upon His houses. So, let us take advantage of these great rewards from His infinite generosity.

And remember, Rasūlullāh ﷺ said:

“Actions are but by intentions.”
— Ṣaḥīḥ al‑Bukhārī (1), Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (1907)

Sincerity transforms a small deed into a mountain of reward. And none of us truly knows how many Hajj and Umrah Allāh ʿazza wa jall may grant us from these consistent and small daily habits on the Day of Judgement. For His sincere servants, the number may be truly surprising. And we ask Allāh ʿazza wa jall to make us among His sincere servants.

Yā Hādī, Yā Mu‘īn, grant us tawfīq to perform an accepted obligatory Hajj and ‘Umrah before we die. Make us of those who stand on ‘Arafah, begging like the beggars we truly are, asking for Your mercy and forgiveness.

Yā Karīm, Yā Jawād, do not deprive us of the reward of these small deeds. Accept them from us as if we had performed Hajj and ‘Umrah. And when the Day of Judgment comes, do not enter us into Jannah by our deeds, for none will enter it through their deeds. Enter us by Your mercy, Yā Arḥam ar‑Rāḥimīn.

Yā Ghafūr, forgive us and conceal our sins. Yā Raḥīm, have mercy on us. Yā Wadūd, love us despite our shortcomings and failures. And grant us ikhlāṣ and taqwā in every act of worship.

Āmīn yā Rabb al‑‘Ālamīn.

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“The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve… four of them are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves therein.”
— Sūrah al‑Tawbah (9:36)

The Heavier Burden of Sin

The great scholar of the Salaf, Qatādah (rahimahullāh), explained that wrongdoing during these sacred months is more serious and sinful than at any other time. Within this honoured month, the first ten days stand as the pinnacle.

If good deeds are amplified, then sins are equally magnified in their gravity. A wrong action committed now carries a weight far greater than at other times. The very verse that honours these months commands: “Do not wrong yourselves therein.”

This magnification of sin is not meant to push you away from Allāh. Rather, it forces you to confront your own weakness and your need for His mercy.

The Unmatched Mercy of the Day of ‘Arafah

The ninth day of Dhul Hijjah, the Day of ‘Arafah, stands as the pinnacle of these blessed days. For the one not standing on the plain of ‘Arafah, fasting this day is a confirmed Sunnah.

“Fasting the Day of ‘Arafah expiates the sins of two years: the preceding year and the coming year.”
— Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (1162)

The mercy of Allāh on this day is beyond measure. Rasūlullāh ﷺ said:

“There is no day when Allah sets free more servants from Hell than the Day of ‘Arafah. He draws near, then praises them to the angels, saying: What do these want?”
— Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (1348)

This is the ultimate gift to the one who turns to Allāh on this day. The sin you abandon for His sake is not just an act of abstinence. By leaving it, you give sadaqah – charity – to your own soul. You purify it. You protect it.

“Verily, you will never leave anything for the sake of Allāh Almighty but that Allāh will replace it with something better for you.”
— Musnad Aḥmad 23074 (classed as ṣaḥīḥ by al‑Albānī)

The gravity of the sin, if committed, is immense. But the reward for abandoning it for His sake is even greater. This is the wisdom of the sacred season: it magnifies your choice, making the contrast between profit and loss starkly visible.

The Multiplication of Rewards

Rasūlullāh ﷺ declared:

“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.”
— Ṣaḥīḥ al‑Bukhārī (969)

He was asked: “Not even jihād in the Cause of Allah?” He replied:

“Not even jihād, except for a man who goes out with his life and wealth and does not return with any of it.”
— Ṣaḥīḥ al‑Bukhārī (969)

A voluntary prayer or a simple act of charity performed now carries a weight that surpasses even the struggle of jihād, save the most extreme. The small good deed you do in these days is multiplied.

The Most Valuable Dhikr for These Ten Days

Rasūlullāh ﷺ instructed the believers to fill these days with a specific kind of remembrance. He said:

“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days, so you should recite a lot of Tasbīḥ (Subḥānallāh), Taḥmīd (Alḥamdulillāh), Tahlīl (Lā ilāha illallāh) and Takbīr (Allāhu Akbar) therein.”
— Musnad Aḥmad

The Ṣaḥābah (raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhum) would take this instruction literally. Mujāhid narrated that Ibn ‘Umar and Abū Hurayrah (raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhum) used to go out to the marketplace during the first ten days of Dhul‑Hijjah reciting Takbīr, and the people would recite Takbīr along with them. They went to the market only for that purpose. This combination is the most beloved speech to Allāh, words that were recited by Rasūlullāh ﷺ himself and the righteous before us.

The world deceives with its glitter, but these days reveal the truth. The one who truly believes seizes this season to invest in his eternal Hereafter. The one who is heedless delays and says, “Later.” But the angel of death does not wait for the end of the season. Your opportunity is now.

Do not let your own soul be the deceived customer. Give sadaqah to yourself: fast, pray, give charity, remember Allāh abundantly, and above all, abandon every sin for His sake. This is the path that never leads to loss. This is the profit that never ends.

And remember, Rasūlullāh ﷺ said,

“Your Lord is shy and generous, and when His servant raises his hands to Him in du’a (supplication), He is too shy to send them back empty.”
— Sunan Abi Dawud 1488, Sunan at-Tirmidhi 3556 (classed as ṣaḥīḥ by al‑Albānī)

Yā Ghafūr, Yā Raḥīm, forgive us for our sins that are magnified in these sacred days. Yā Nāṣir, Yā Mawlā, Yā Dhā’l-Jalāli wal-Ikrām, grant us the strength to abandon what displeases You and to fill these ten days with deeds beloved to You.

Yā Karīm, accept our small efforts and multiply them. Yā Wadūd, love us despite our weakness, and do not let us leave this season empty‑handed. Make us among those You free from the Fire on the Day of ‘Arafah, and enter us into Your Paradise by Your mercy.

Āmīn yā Rabb al‑‘Ālamīn, bi rahmatika yā Arḥam ar‑Rāḥimīn.