The Status Of Hajj (Pilgrimage) In Islam, And The Conditions Of It Being Obligatory
Islamic Rulings -
Living Shariah Verdicts
Islamic Questions & AnswersWhat is the status of Hajj
in Islam? And for whom is it obligatory?.
By
Sheikh Muhammad Salih Al-Munajjid
Praise be to Allaah.
Hajj to the sacred House of Allaah is one of the
pillars of Islam and one of its most important
fundamentals, because the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: "Islam is built on five
(pillars): the testimony that there is no god but
Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah,
establishing regular prayer, paying zakaah, fasting
Ramadaan and performing pilgrimage to the sacred House
of Allaah."
It is obligatory according to the Book of Allaah and
the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him), and according to the consensus of
the Muslims. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka‘bah)
is a duty that mankind owes to Allaah, those who can
afford the expenses (for one's conveyance, provision
and residence) ; and whoever disbelieves [i.e. denies
Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah), then he is a disbeliever
of Allaah], then Allaah stands not in need of any of
the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists)"
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:97]
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: "Allaah has enjoined the Hajj upon you, so
perform Hajj." And the Muslims are unanimously agreed
upon that. It is something that no Muslim has any
excuse for not knowing. Whoever denies that it is
obligatory and he is one of those who live among the
Muslims, is a kaafir. A person who fails to do it out
of negligence is in grave danger, because some of the
scholars said that such a person is a kaafir. This
view is narrated in one report from Ahmad, but the
correct view is that neglecting deeds does not make a
person kaafir except in the case of prayer.
‘Abd-Allaah ibn Shaqeeq (may Allaah have mercy on him)
– who was one of the Taabi'een – said: "The companions
of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) did not regard omitting any action
as kufr except prayer." The one who neglects to do
Hajj until he dies is not a kaafir according to the
correct view, but he is in grave danger.
The Muslim has to fear Allaah and hasten to perform
Hajj once he meets the conditions of it being
obligatory, because we must hasten to perform all
obligatory duties unless there is evidence to the
contrary. How can a Muslim accept to forsake going to
Hajj to the sacred House of Allaah when he is able to
do it and it is easy for him to get there? How can he
delay it when he does not know whether he will be able
to get there after this year? He may become unable to
go after he was able, or he may become poor after
being rich, or he may die when Hajj was obligatory for
him, then his heirs may neglect to make it up on his
behalf.
The conditions of Hajj being obligatory are five:
1 – Being Muslim, the opposite of which is being a
kaafir. The kaafir is not obliged to do Hajj, rather
if a kaafir were to do Hajj, it would not be accepted
from him.
2 – Being an adult. If a person has not yet reached
the age of puberty, Hajj is not obligatory for him. If
he does Hajj it is valid and counts as a voluntary
Hajj, and when he reaches adulthood he must do the
obligatory Hajj, because Hajj before puberty does not
fulfil the obligation.
3 – Being of sound mind, the opposite of which is
insanity. The one who is insane is not obliged to do
Hajj, and Hajj cannot be done on his behalf.
4 – Being free. A slave is not obliged to perform
Hajj, but if he does Hajj it is valid and counts as a
voluntary Hajj. If he is set free, it is obligatory
for him to perform the obligatory Hajj, because Hajj
done before being set free does not fulfil the
obligation. Some of the scholars said that if a slave
performs Hajj with the permission of his master, this
is valid and he does not have to repeat it. This view
is more correct.
5 – Being able, financially and physically. In the
case of a woman, this includes having a mahram. If she
does not have a mahram, then she is not obliged to do
Hajj. End quote.
Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 21/9-11.
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