A sister wants some explanation on an issue related to Hajj. In our country, some people travel to Hajj as organized by the state which may take years of waiting. Other people travel for Hajj through travel agencies that charge them very high costs compared to the state-sponsored method. Someone told her that paying such high costs is extravagance and that she should wait for her turn even if she has to wait for a long time. What is the Sharee‘ah ruling on that?

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

If a person can afford to pay such high costs and it will not result in him failing to fulfill any rights that are due on him, then there is no harm to pay them. This is not extravagance, and he will gain a great reward for this Hajj, if Allaah wills. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was reported to have said to ‘Aa’ishah : “Your reward will be proportionate to your expense.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim. This is Al-Bukhari’s version]

Allaah Knows best.