Obligation of Hajj and when it is due

18/10/2009| IslamWeb

Question: I am struggling to purchase a separate house in good locality to impart good deeds and provide good education (Islamic as well as other education) to my children. Currently I am living with my parents in on area that has many bad influences upon my family and is a fear living area. I have saved some money to purchase a house but I lack sufficient money to purchase a house. The funds I have one enough for travelling for living and food to perform Hajj. Is performing Hajj obligatory on me since I have funds for all expenses?  Is performing Hajj only obligatory to me or is it also obligatory for my wife? At what age Hajj obligatory for children? Does performing Hajj in childhood complete the obligation of Hajj on a person?

Fatwa:  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.

If you have not performed your obligatory Hajj (as an adult, i.e. when Hajj becomes obligatory on you), you have to make Hajj with this money that you have, because Hajj is an obligation that becomes obligatory as soon as the person gets enough means to cover its costs, according to the majority of scholars, and this is the preponderant opinion.

If you have already performed your obligatory Hajj, then we advise you to try and save the money that you need, and buy a new house in another area, free of all that you have mentioned.  There is no doubt that a person is likely to be influenced by the environment in which he lives, and by the people he mixes with, like neighbours.  If he remains safe from that; his wife and children may be affected and influenced.

Your wife does not have to perform Hajj unless she can afford it (by herself).  If you are asking whether it is an obligation on you to afford the money for your wife to make Hajj, the answer is no.

However, if you do that, it is something good and you will get the reward, Insha Allah.  Children have to perform Hajj when they reach the age of puberty.  If a child performs Hajj before the age of puberty and his Hajj is correct, he will get the reward, Insha Allah, but he still has to perform the obligatory Hajj as an adult.

Allah Knows best.