1. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, which Allah Most High has made obligatory upon those who are able. Allah Most High says,
﴿وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ حِجُّ ٱلۡبَيۡتِ مَنِ ٱسۡتَطَاعَ إِلَيۡهِ سَبِيلٗاۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٩٧ ﴾ [ال عمران: ٩٧]
‘And performing Hajj to the House for the sake of Allah is obligatory upon those who are able to undertake the journey. And whoever disbelieves, then surely Allah is free of need of all creation.’[1]
It is narrated from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
«بُنِيَ الإِسْلاَمُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللهِ ، وَإِقَامِ الصَّلاَةِ ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ وَالْحَجِّ ، وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ».
‘Islam is built upon five things: bearing witness that there is no deity except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; establishing Salah; paying Zakah; performing Hajj; and fasting Ramadan.’[2]
Thus, the obligation of Hajj is established by definitive evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah. All Muslims are unanimous on this matter.
2. Hajj is obligatory once in a lifetime upon a person who is able. It is narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said,
«خَطَبَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ : يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْحَجَّ.فَقَامَ الأَقْرَعُ بْنُ حَابِسٍ فَقَالَ : أَفِى كُلِّ عَامٍ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ : لَوْ قُلْتُهَا لَوَجَبَتْ ، وَلَوْ وَجَبَتْ لَمْ تَعْمَلُوا بِهَا ، وَلَمْ تَسْتَطِيعُوا أَنْ تَعْمَلُوا بِهَا. الْحَجُّ مَرَّةٌ فَمَنْ زَادَ فَتَطَوُّعٌ».
‘The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) addressed us and said, “O people, Allah Most High has made Hajj obligatory upon you.” Thereupon Aqra‘ ibn Habis (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and asked, “O Messenger of Allah, every year?” He replied, “Had I said so, it would certainly have become obligatory. And if it became obligatory, you would not act upon it, nor would you be able to do so. Hajj is obligatory once. Whoever performs more than that, it will be voluntary.”’[3]
3. A person who is able must perform Hajj without delay. It is not at all proper to procrastinate. This is merely negligence and a waste of time. It is narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
«تَعَجَّلُوا إِلَى الْحَجِّ - يَعْنِي : الْفَرِيضَةَ - فَإِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ لاَ يَدْرِي مَا يَعْرِضُ لَهُ».
‘Perform the obligatory Hajj without delay, for none of you knows what adversity may befall him.’[4] Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said,
لَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَبْعَثَ رِجَالًا إلَى هَذِهِ الْأَمْصَارِ فَيَنْظُرُوا كُلَّ مَنْ لَهُ جَدَةٌ وَلَمْ يَحُجَّ فَيَضْرِبُوا عَلَيْهِ الْجِزْيَةَ مَا هُمْ بِمُسْلِمِينَ مَا هُمْ بِمُسْلِمِينَ.
‘I feel inclined to send men to these cities to find out who, despite having the means, has not performed Hajj. Then they should impose Jizyah[5] upon him. For they are not Muslims; they are not Muslims.’[6] Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) also said:
لِيَمُتْ يَهُودِيًّا أَوْ نَصْرَانِيًّا- يَقُولُهَا ثَلَاثَ مَرَّات-ٍ رَجُلٌ مَاتَ وَلَمْ يَحُجَّ وَوَجَدَ لِذَلِكَ سَعَةً .
‘Let him die as a Jew or as a Christian’—he said this three times—‘the person who dies without performing Hajj despite having financial means.’[7]
[1]. Ali ‘Imran: 97.
[2]. Bukhari: 08; Muslim: 61.
[3]. Musnad Ahmad: 4022; Abu Dawud: 1271; Ibn Majah: 6882.
[4]. Musnad Ahmad: 7682; Ibn Majah: 3882.
[5]. A levy or tax.
[6]. Ibn Hajar, At-Talkhis al-Habir: 2/223.
[7]. Bayhaqi: 4/334.