Allah Almighty says: {And [due] to Allah upon the people is Hajj to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way. But whoever disbelieves - then indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds.} [Surat Āl ‘Imrān: 97]
This verse was revealed in the ninth Hijri year, the year of delegations. In it Hajj was ordained upon all people, believers and non-believers. However, we should call non-believers to Islam first and then to Hajj. The requirement for Hajj being obligatory for a person is that he can make the journey to the Sacred House (in Makkah), which differs according to the time and place.
1271/1 - Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Islam was built on five pillars: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing prayer, giving Zakah, performing Hajj to the House, and fasting Ramadan.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1272/2 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) delivered a speech to us wherein he said: “O people, Allah has ordained Hajj upon you; so perform Hajj.” A man said: “Every year, O Messenger of Allah?” He remained silent until the man had repeated the question three times. Then, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If I said yes, this would be obligatory, and you would not have the ability for that.” Then, he said: “Leave me with what I have left you, for those who came before you were doomed because of their questions and differences with their prophets. If I commanded you to do something, do as much of it as you can; and if I forbid you from doing something, refrain from it.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, without which a person’s religion is incomplete.
2) Hajj is obligatory only once in a lifetime. This stems from Allah’s mercy towards His servants, as He does not burden them with anything beyond their capacity and does not put them into hardships. {And He has not placed upon you in the religion any hardship.}
3) Frequent questioning and differing is one of the causes of ruin.
4) A person is required to fulfill the Shariah commands as much as he can. The prohibitions, on the other hand, should be avoided completely. He may not take them lightly.
1273/3 - He also reported: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was asked: “Which deed is the best?” He replied: “Belief in Allah and His Messenger.” It was asked: “Then what?” He said: “Jihad in the cause of Allah.” It was asked: “Then what?” He said: “A righteous Hajj.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
An accepted Hajj: It is Hajj in which the pilgrim commits no sin.
1) Acts of worship and piety differ in their merit in accordance with the performer’s ability. Each person should be addressed in a way that befits his condition.
2) An accepted Hajj is one which the pilgrim performs sincerely for the sake of Allah and in which he follows the Prophet’s guidance and avoids foul language, immorality, and argument. Such a Hajj is one of the most virtuous acts in the sight of Allah Almighty.
1274/4 - He also reported: I heard the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: “Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit obscenity or commit any evil therein will go back (free of sin) like the day he was born.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1) Hajj is a reason for the expiation of all sins.
2) Allah is merciful towards His servants as He prescribed for them such acts of worship that expiate their sins and misdeeds.
1275/5 - He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “From ‘Umrah to ‘Umrah expiates what is between them. And there is no reward for an accepted Hajj except Paradise.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1276/6 - ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: I said: “O Messenger of Allah, we consider Jihad as the best deed. Should we not perform Jihad?” He said: “The best Jihad for you (women) is an accepted Hajj.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
1) Hajj is one of the kinds of Jihad in the cause of Allah, for those who have missed the honor of traditional Jihad for a valid excuse.
2) The pilgrim gets a great reward for his performance of Hajj in accordance with the Shariah, inwardly and outwardly.
3) The Prophet’s statement “the best Jihad for you...” is addressed to women. Hajj is the Jihad for women, which involves no fighting.
1277/7 - She also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “There is no day on which Allah sets free more of His servants from Hellfire than the day of ‘Arafah.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) It shows the merit of the day of ‘Arafah, given the plenty of people saved from Hellfire on it.
2) Allah is merciful towards the believers, as He has provided them with special occasions on which they can attain goodness and forgiveness.
1278/8/ - Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “‘Umrah in Ramadan is equivalent to Hajj – or Hajj with me.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1) ‘Umrah in Ramadan equals to Hajj in terms of reward, yet it does not suffice instead of the obligatory Hajj.
2) The reward for a good deed increases when it is done at a virtuous time. That is why ‘Umrah increases in reward when it is performed in Ramadan.
1279/9 - He also reported: A woman said: “O Messenger of Allah, Allah made Hajj obligatory on His servants while my father was very old and could not sit steadily on the mount. Shall I perform Hajj on his behalf?” He said: “Yes.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1280/10 - Laqīt ibn ‘Āmir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he went to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and said: “My father is a very old man who cannot perform Hajj or ‘Umrah or undertake a journey.” He said: “Perform Hajj and ‘Umrah on behalf of your father.”
[Narrated by Abu Dāwūd and Al-Tirmidhi, who classified it as Hasan Sahīh (sound and authentic)]
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1) If a person is unable to perform Hajj, and his inability is not likely to go away, such as chronic disease or old age, then another person may perform Hajj on his behalf.
2) A woman may perform Hajj on behalf of a man, and vice versa.
1281/11 - Al-Sā’ib ibn Yazīd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “I was taken to perform Hajj with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) in the Farewell Hajj, when I was seven years old.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
1282/12 - Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) came across a caravan at Al-Rawhā’ and asked who the people in the caravan were. They replied that they were Muslims. They asked: “Who are you?” He said: “The Messenger of Allah.” Then, a woman lifted up a boy to him and asked: “Is there Hajj for this one?” He said: “Yes, and you will have a reward.” [Narrated by Muslim]
Al-Rawhā’: a place between Makkah and Madīnah.
1) Hajj performed by children is valid, even if they are below the age of discernment.
2) A child will get a reward for performing Hajj, and his guardian shall have a similar reward, for he has enabled him to perform it. A person who guides others to something good shall have a reward similar to theirs.
When a child performs Hajj, he should imitate the adult. If he cannot do certain things due to his young age, like infants for example, here are two cases:
1) The acts that one can do on behalf of someone else, his guardian can perform them on his behalf.
2) The acts which none can perform on behalf of others, and the child can do them, like Tawāf and Sa‘i, the adult can carry him as he performs such rituals.
1283/13 - Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) performed Hajj on the back of a camel, and the same mount was carrying his baggage as well. [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
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1) It shows the simple and poor life led by the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). His provision and luggage were carried on his mount. Nonetheless, he was the most forbearing and patient among people. Blissful are those who follow his example and imitate his manners.
2) It is permissible to use a means of transport to move between the places of Hajj. This does not diminish the reward.
1284/14 - Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: “Ukāzh, Majannah, and Dhul-Majāz were seasonal markets during the pre-Islamic period. They (i.e. Muslims) feared that it might be a sin to trade there during the Hajj season. So this verse was revealed: {There is no blame upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord.} [Surat Al-Baqarah: 198] It refers to the Hajj season. [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
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1) Trading during Hajj falls under the benefits which a pilgrim can take, provided that his main objective is to perform Hajj.
2) It points out the merit of the Prophet’s Companions and their restraint from doing anything, albeit beneficial, before knowing the Shariah ruling regarding it.