Wants to perform Hajj, but fears for his kids during his absence
Fatwa No: 154569

Question

assalamualikum, i want to perform Haj or Umra whicever is possible, now the problem is that i have young family, my eldest girl is 7 and the other one is just 4. can i leave them alone and perform Haj or i have to postpone it till i find someone who can be there with my family? i have got no Mahram to stay with my family in the country i am living . what should i do? Jazakallahu khairan

Answer

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 is His slave and Messenger.

If you do not find someone to take care of your children, protect them and fulfill their needs during your absence and you cannot take them with you to Hajj and you fear that they will be harmed if you leave them, then you are not obligated to go to Hajj because, according to Sharee’ah, you are not able to do it. Hajj is only an obligation when one is able to do it after fulfilling his necessary needs. There is no doubt that protecting the children and fulfilling their needs are among the necessary needs which one cannot go to Hajj if they are lacking.

The jurists stated that if someone has children, he should go to Hajj and leave them unless he fears that they will be harmed, in which case, he should stay with them as there is hardship in leaving them, and in this case he becomes exempted from performing Hajj.

Indeed, this corresponds to what is mentioned in the Sharee’ah that Allaah does not burden a soul more than it can bear and a person cannot go to Hajj while leaving his young children without leaving anyone behind to take care of them.

Allaah Knows best.

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