Hajj: Its obligation and conditions 

Allah enjoined Hajj to the Sacred House on His servants and gave good reward on that. Whoever performs Hajj to the House (i.e., Ka’bah) and does not approach his wife for sexual relations nor commits sins while performing Hajj, he will come out as sinless as a newly born child, just delivered by his mother. An accepted Hajj (i.e., Al-Hajj Al-Mabroor) will be rewarded with nothing but Paradise.

O people! Fear Allah and fulfill the obligation of Hajj, which Allah enjoined on you, as much as you can. Allah the Almighty says which translates as:  “In it are Signs manifest; (for example), the Station of Abraham; whoever enters it attains security; pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah, those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of His creatures.” (Aal-`Imraan: 97)

The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Islam is to testify that there is no deity but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish prayer, give Zakaah, observe fasting in Ramadhaan and make Hajj to the House if you can afford it.” The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said that Islam is founded on these five pillars, and that if any of these five is lacking Islam will be imperfect. ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab may Allah be pleased with him said: “I was about to send envoys to the towns to check on all those who have the means to make Hajj but do not perform it, in order to demand them to pay Jizyah; they are not Muslims, they are not Muslims”.

The obligation of Hajj is confirmed by the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, as well as the consensus agreement of the Muslim scholars. Whoever denies the obligation of Hajj will be regarded an infidel, and whoever abandons it because of his indifference to it, though he admits its obligation, he is on the verge of disbelief. After mentioning the obligation of Hajj, Allah says which translates as: “In it are Signs manifest; (for example), the Station of Abraham; whoever enters it attains security; pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah, those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of His creatures.” (Aal-`Imraan: 97).

How can a Muslim feel assured when he abandons Hajj while he is able to afford for it both financially and physically, though he is well aware that Hajj is an obligation and one of the pillars of Islam? How can a Muslim withhold money from spending it in Hajj, though he spends much of it in worldly pleasures? How can a Muslim save himself the fatigue of Hajj, while he exerts himself in the worldly endeavors? How can he slacken to perform Hajj, while it is enjoined to be performed once during one’s whole lifetime? How can he procrastinate in performing Hajj, while he does not know if his life will extend a day longer or not?

So, fear Allah, servants of Allah, and fulfill the obligation of Hajj enjoined on you by Allah, with sincere devotion to Him, complying with His commandments and stimulated by the desire to obey Him, if you are truly believers. Allah the Almighty said what means:  “It is not fitting for a Believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger, to have any option about their decision: if anyone disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong Path”(Al-Ahzab: 36).

If a believer performs Hajj for once after he attains puberty, it will be sufficient for him and will fulfill this essential cornerstone of Islam. He will not be demanded to perform either Hajj or ‘Umrah after that, unless he vows to make either of them, in which case he will be obliged to fulfill his vow. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Let whoever vows to obey Allah fulfill his vow.”