Do they have an agreement with the angel of death to delay their time until they perform it?

What are they waiting for?

Our Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said as narrated by Ibn ’Abbaas: “Take advantage of five things before five other things occur, your youth before you become old, your health before you become sick, you wealth before you become poor, your spare time before you become busy, and your life before death” (Al-Haakim, Ibn Al-Mubaarak, and others).

O Muslims! Our religion warns those who did not perform Hajj although they are capable; Hilaal Ibn ‘Abdullaah narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “He who possess enough food for the trip, a means of transportation to reach to Makkah, and yet does not perform Hajj, then he dies, he would then die as a Jew or a Christian” (At-Tirmithi, Al-Bazzaar, and others).

Abu Umaamah narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “He who was not prevented by a valid excuse, sickness, or an oppressive ruler, yet did not perform Hajj, will die as a Jew or a Christian” (Ad-Daarimi, AlBayhaqi, and others).

‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab once said, “I was on the verge of sending a group of men to the different Muslim states, in order to find out those who can afford Hajj yet do not perform it, so they would impose Jiziah (tax paid by none Muslims) upon them, because they are not Muslims, they are not Muslims” (Sa’eed Ibn Mansoor).[1]

O Muslims! One might ask about the circumstances under which to perform Hajj. It might be that somebody was intending to perform Hajj for the first time, yet due to the quota restricting the number of people who can perform Hajj, or because they were prevented by the Israelis from leaving the country, or perhaps their city or village was militarily surrounded, or maybe there was another valid reason. What should a person do?

The answer is that one must always have a firm intention[2] to perform Hajj, and as soon as a real chance materialises, then it must be taken. If there was a person preventing them, then the sin and subsequent consequence would be on those who prevented and deprived them. If such a person was to die that year they would not be considered sinful, yet their inheritors must deduct a sufficient portion of the deceased bequest before distribution in order to use for the expenses of someone performing Hajj on their behalf. If the inheritors fail to do so, then they will all be considered sinful. Again, one must have a firm intention to perform Hajj every year until they are allowed to do so, or until there is nothing preventing them from performing it.

O Muslims! Those who have already performed Hajj must give a chance to others who did not, because they are taking their place and depriving them. It is a great sin to deprive another person from performing their first Hajj, but if one is sure that he is not taking someone else’s place then there would be no sin incurred.

Those who intend to perform Hajj need to be familiar with the rules and regulations of Hajj. It is an obligation upon you all to learn and understand it before going. You must implement these rulings and adhere to them, so that Allaah would accept your Hajj, this is especially so because you are responding to the call of Allaah, and announcing your love and loyalty to Allaah alone.

You will all be unified in your exclamation - a divine exclamation crying: “Labbayka Allaahumma Labbayka, Labbayka Laa Shareeka Laka Labbayka, Innal-Hamda Wan-Ni’mata Laka Wal-Mulk Laa Shareeka Lak”  (I respond to Your call O Allah, I respond to Your call, and I am obedient to Your orders, You have no partner, I respond to Your call).