Obligation on the financially and physically able person to hasten to perform Hajj and ‘Umrah

All praises be to Allah, the Lord of Existence, and peace and blessings be upon the Noblest of the Prophets and Messengers.

I advise any Muslim who did not perform Hajj to hurry to perform the obligatory Hajj in Islam as it is obligatory on all Muslims who are able to do so. Allah (Glorified be He) says: And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka‘bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allâh, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence) The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Islam is based on five (pillars): the testimony that there is no deity but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; performing Salah (Prayers) regularly, giving Zakah (obligatory charity); fasting Ramadan; and going on Hajj to the Bayt (the Ka‘bah). The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: Allah has enjoined Hajj upon you, so perform Hajj.

(Part No. 16; Page No. 348)

Therefore, any Muslim man and woman who is able to bear the costs of Hajj and is Mukallaf (person meeting the conditions to be held legally accountable for their actions) should hasten to do that and should not delay it. This is because Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) made it obligatory immediately and any Muslim who is Mukallaf and who is able to perform Hajj must not delay it but should hasten to attain this great good. The Messenger (peace be upon him) said in a Sahih (authentic) Hadith: Anyone who performs Hajj and does not have conjugal relations nor commits sin will return (as pure and sinless) as on the day his mother gave birth to him. The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said in another Hadith: From one ‘Umrah to the next is a Kaffarah (expiation) for whatever (sins) committed between them. And the reward for Hajj Mabrur (Hajj sincerely done, not mixed with any sin, and is accepted by Allah) is nothing other than Paradise. So, this is a great blessing and goodness that Muslims have to hold fast to. In this way, a Muslim should also search for good deeds and should seek to do them in the way to, and at, Makkah like giving alms to the needy and the poor, reading Qur’an as much as possible, remembering Allah (Exalted be He), pronouncing Tasbih (saying: "Subhan Allah [Glory be to Allah]"), Tahlil (saying: "La ilaha illa Allah [There is no god except Allah]", Tahmid (saying: "Al-hamdu lillah [All praise is due to Allah]"), Takbir (saying: "Allahu Akbar [Allah is the Greatest]") and offering Salah (Prayer) as much as possible in Al-Masjid Al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque in Makkah) and to make Tawaf (circumambulation around the Ka‘bah) if possible to seize the chance of time and place as Salah

(Part No. 16; Page No. 349)

in Al-Masjid Al-Haram equals one hundred thousand Salahs in other places, and any Faridah (obligatory act of worship) performed there is better than one hundred thousand Faridahs performed in another place, alms there are doubled and Tasbih, Tahlil, Tahmid, Takbir, reciting the Qur’an, enjoining to do good and forbidding evil, inviting to Allah, educating those who perform Hajj and telling them what they do not know. All these deeds are advisable for the Muslim. It is also desirable to educate one’s fellow pilgrims if one has knowledge, but one must do that with gentleness, patience and good manners in order to seize the chance of being in Makkah to do all kinds of good deeds as mentioned before such as Salah, Tawaf (circumambulation around the Ka‘bah), Da‘wah (calling people to Allah), propagation of virtue and prevention of vice with good manners, gentleness and kindness.

I also advise those in charge of Muslims in every place to make Hajj easy for their subjects and to help them in this regard as that would be considered cooperation in doing good and piety. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwâ (virtue, righteousness and piety) So, helping them to perform Hajj and making it easy is considered cooperation in doing good and is mutual exhortation to truth and patience and entails a great reward. I also advise those in charge to judge by Allah’s Shar‘ (Law) in all matters and to make Allah’s Religion dominant in all matters. May Allah guide those in charge of Muslims to everything that is good, to improve their conditions and to guide them and grant them success.

(Part No. 16; Page No. 350)

I also advise those in charge of pilgrims’ affairs to fear Allah (Exalted be He), to be gentle with pilgrims, help them to do every good thing and to hope for reward from Allah (Exalted be He). If they help the pilgrims and make their matters easy, they will have a great reward. May Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) accept from all, guide Muslims every where to what pleases Him, make them comprehend His Religion, make them rightly-guided and guiding people, help our fellow pilgrims to perform Hajj rituals in the way that pleases Him, and improve the conditions of Muslims every where. Indeed, Allah is the All-Hearer, the Ever-Near, and peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions!

Source: Fatwas of Ibn Baz