I have not read much about Hajj as yet, and intend to go this year insha Allah. Many people tell us that in order to perform Hajj, we must read 40 Salaah in MAsjid al Haram. Is this true. I have 3 children and donot have anyone to tend to them for such a long time. Allah (SWT), is the best of planners but we would like to know if this is only traditional or comulsary. Jazakallahu Khairun

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.

A person who performs Hajj or 'Umrah is not obliged to perform forty prayers in Al-Haraam mosque in Makkah or in Madeenah, and there is no authentic narration, as far as we know, in this regard, and no scholar has ever stated that it is an obligation to do so. On the contrary, there is evidence in the Sunnah that the prayer of a woman in her own home was better than her praying behind the Prophet in the Prophet's mosque in Madeenah.

For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 86597 and 92531.

Allaah Knows best.