The limit of ability stipulated for Hajj to be obligatory

16-9-2014 | IslamWeb

Question:

I have a piece of land, and I want to perform Hajj. Since (the value of) the piece of land is not enough for the whole family to perform Hajj, can I perform Hajj myself, without my wife and children? Taking into consideration that I performed ‘Umrah before along with my wife, mother and children, shall I leave the piece of land as inheritance for my children?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

If you have not yet performed the obligatory Hajj, then you are required to perform it whenever you are able to and have enough provision and means of transportation, even by hiring. This is required when the distance between the place where you live and Mecca allows shortening the prayer. If it is less than this, then having a means of transportation is not stipulated, as you are required to walk to Makkah, unless you are unable to do. It is also stipulated, for Hajj to be obligatory, that its expenditure is a surplus to that allocated to those whom you are required to provide for by sharia until you come back. When one is financially able, it is impermissible for you to abandon Hajj under the pretext of leaving inheritance for your children. Allah is the Provider of sustenance and livelihood. In the meantime, the believer's reliance upon the provision that is with Allah is greater than his reliance upon what he actually has.

On the other hand, a husband is not required to provide the expenses for his wife or children to perform Hajj.

Allah Knows best.