Al-Haafith Ibn Rajab (may Allah have mercy upon him) stated:

“The fulfillment of all of the obligations are better than making the supererogatory Hajj and ‘Umrah and other than it. Indeed there’s nothing more beloved to Allah that the servants do to get closer to Him than the fulfillment of that which He has made obligatory upon them. It is easy for many from amongst the people to perform the supererogatory acts by way of the Hajj and giving charity. However, it is not easy for them to fulfill the obligatory acts [such as] the paying of debts and returning the rights (of the people). Likewise it is difficult upon the people to keep away from the unlawful and doubtful earnings. At the same time, it is easy upon them to spend that wealth in making Hajj and giving charity. Restraining one’s body parts from that which is prohibited is better than performing the supererogatory Hajj and other than it (from the supererogatory acts). It is also more difficult upon the souls.”

Source: Lataa-if al-Ma’aarif  p. 442
Translated by: Abu Yusuf Khaleefah
4th of Dhul Hijjah, 1435 (9th of September, 2014)
Masjid Nur Allah, LeFrak City, Corona, NYC

                                   Original Arabic

[ أداءُ الواجبات أفضل من التنفل بالحج والعمرة]

قال الحافظ ابن رجب رحمه الله

“أداءُ الوجبات كلها أفضل من التنفل بالحج والعمرة وغيرها ، فإنه ما تقرب العبادُ إلى الله تعالى بأحب إليه من أداء ما افترض عليهم.

وكثير من الناس يهون عليه التنفل بالحج والصدقة ولا يهون أداء الواجبات من الديون ورد المظالم
وكذلك يثقل على النفوس التنزه عن كسب الحرام والشبهات
ويسهل عليها إنفاق ذلك في الحج والصدقة…

كف الجوارح عن المحرمات أفضل من التطوع بالحج وغيره، وهو أشق على النفوس ” انتهى
لطائف المعارف ص ٤٤٢