It is an indication of Allah’s Mercy and Wisdom that he specified certain limits for His obligations, in order to well define responsibilities. Allah made such obligations most fit the doer, the place and the time in which such obligations should be fulfilled. Like all other obligations, Hajj has certain limits and conditions that should first be fulfilled in order to demand a Muslim to perform Hajj. Among the conditions of the obligation of Hajj is to attain puberty, which is ascertained in males with one of three signs:

a. Ejaculation of semen,

b. Reaching the age of fifteen years old,

c. Growth of pubic hair.

Puberty is ascertained in females with the above three signs, in addition to their monthly period.

Anyone who has not attained puberty will not be required to make Hajj, even if he is financially able to do so. However, his Hajj will be valid and he will get reward on it. On attaining puberty he will be required to make the obligatory Hajj, since the Hajj he made before attaining puberty does not absolve him from the obligatory Hajj. Thus, if one accompanies his young children in Hajj, both he and his children will get reward for Hajj, and if he does not accompany them, neither he nor his children will incur sin.

One of the conditions of the obligation of Hajj is the ability, both financially and physically. Allah the Almighty said what means: “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 are capable and can afford the journey; but if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of His creatures” (Aal-`Imraan: 97).

Thus, if this condition is lacking, Hajj becomes not obligatory. Financial ability is realized when someone owns enough money to undertake the journey of Hajj after fulfilling his needs and the needs of his dependents including outlay, clothing and hire for his accommodation for one year, and after repaying the debts he owes to others, whose time of repayment is due. If someone owns money, but needs it to fulfill any of the above-mentioned obligations, he will not be obliged to make Hajj. The same applies in the case of the one who is in debt, until he repays it. The term ‘debt’ includes all credits owed by a person, including loans, purchase prices, hires, etc. Thus, one who owes, even one dollar, to another is considered a debtor and will not be obliged to make Hajj unless he repays the debt he owes. Islam attains so much importance to fulfilling debts that a martyr’s sins will be expiated except for the debts he owed. According to Islam, the soul of the deceased is suspended until his debt is repaid on his behalf.

The Hajj obligation does not fall on a man whose deferred debt is guaranteed by a pledge equal to its value, rather the debtor will be requested to perform Hajj if he has the means to do so. However, if the deferred debt is not guaranteed with a pledge that equals its value, the debtor will not be requested to perform Hajj, unless he absolves himself from this debt.