Question
With the spread of Swine Flu, are the children who are 4-8 years old required to perform Tawaaf (circumambulation of the Ka’bah) and Sa‘y (walking between Mounts As-Safa and Al-Marwah)?
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 is His Slave and Messenger.
In principle, a child is required to perform whatever he is able to do of the rituals of Hajj and ‘Umrah (lesser pilgrimage). Meanwhile, a child's guardian is to replace him in deeds which he is unable to do. It was narrated on the authority of Jaabir, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said "We went out with the Messenger of Allah and with us were women and children. We said the Talbiyah (Hajj-related chant) and threw the pebbles on behalf of the children." [Ahmad and Ibn Maajah]
What is propagated in media about the Swine Flu does not constitute a valid justification for absolving children of some of the rituals of Hajj or ‘Umrah, unless the concerned physicians and authorities decide that this is the case. If the concerned people decide that Tawaaf or Sa‘y may cause harm to children, in such a case they are absolved of liability. Meanwhile, children are not obliged to compensate because they are not competent for religious assignment and they are not required to complete the rituals of what they assumed Ihraam (ritual consecration) for. This is the view of some scholars, including Ibn ‘Uthaymeen .
Allah Knows best.