Obligation of performing Hajj straightaway
Is it permissible for a
person who is able to do Hajj to delay Hajj for a number of
years?
Praise be to Allaah.
If a person is able to do Hajj and meets all the conditions of it
being obligatory, then he must do Hajj straight away, and it is not
permissible for him to delay it.
Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on
him) said in (al-Mughni):
If a person is obliged to do Hajj and is able to do it, he must do
it straight away and it is not permissible for him to delay it.
This is the view of Abu Haneefah and Maalik. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning): {And
Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka'bah) is a duty that
mankind owes to Allaah, those who can afford the expenses (for
one's conveyance, provision and residence); and whoever disbelieves
[i.e. denies Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah), then he is a disbeliever
of Allaah], then Allaah stands not in need of any of the 'Aalameen
(mankind, jinn and all that exists)} [Aal 'Imraan
3:97].
The command is to do it straight away.
And it was narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said: «Whoever wants to
do Hajj, let him hasten to do it» [Narrated by Imam Ahmad,
Abu Dawood and Ibn Maajah]. According to a version narrated by
Ahmad and Ibn Maajah: «…for he may
fall sick or be faced with some need» [Classed as hasan by
al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah]. End quote.
What is meant by «let him hasten to do
it» is that a person who is accountable must do what is
enjoined upon him as soon as he becomes able to do it, and it is
not permissible for him to delay it with no excuse.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked:
Does the command to do Hajj mean that it must be done immediately
or may one do it at one's leisure?
He replied:
"The correct view is that it must be done straight away and it is
not permissible for a person who is able to go on Hajj to the
Sacred House of Allaah to delay it. The same applies to all the
duties enjoined by sharee'ah: if there is no set time or reason,
they must be done immediately". End quote. (Fataawa Ibn 'Uthaymeen,
21/13).
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