Can I send my parents for Hajj by taking a loan?
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
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Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be
upon all of you)
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Answer:
Can I send my parents for Hajj by taking a loan?
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His
forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and who-ever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness
that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we
bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His
Messengers.
Hajj
is one of the pillars of Islam, and every muslim
is commanded to go to the Hajj pilgrimage at least once in his lifetime, if he
has the financial and physicals means for it.
Allah says in the Holy Quran in Chapter 3 Surah Ale-Imran verse 97: Allah
has, therefore, a right on the people that the one, who can afford to reach the
House (Ka’aba), should perform Hajj there.
To
take a loan to go to the pilgrimage of Hajj is forbidden in Islam, as taking a
loan firstly means, that one cannot afford it and is thus excused till he has
the financial means of going to the pilgrimage of Hajj. Secondly, taking a loan
or using credit cards to pay for Hajj, would mean paying interest, which is
absolutely forbidden in Islam.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Al Baqarah verse 278: O Believers, fear Allah and give up that interest (or dealing
in interest) which is still due to you, if indeed you are true believers. But
if you do not do so, then you are warned of the declaration of war against you
by Allah and His Messenger.
Thus,
brother, in light of the Quran and tradition of the
Prophet (saws), the Hajj pilgrimage that you intend to send your parents on,
would not be valid, if you took loans to send them. But be rest assured that
Allah knows the intentions of your heart and He will Insha
Allah reward you for your intention to serve your parents. One of Allah’s attributes is that He is the Ar-Razzak (The Provider).
He Provides to anyone of His slaves He Wills
without measure. We pray that Allah Subhanah provide
you from His bounty, so that you can afford to send your parents on Hajj with
your own earned resources. Also at this stage, if your parents cannot afford
the pilgrimage, then it is not incumbent upon them to perform Hajj. The Hajj is only obligatory on a person if
he can afford the expenses of the journey and the related expenses, as clearly
stated by Allah in His commandment of Surah Ale Imran verse 97.
Allah
is very Forgiving and extremely Merciful. He knows the
state of every being in this Universe. He never burdens his slave more than he
can bear. And in His infinite Mercy, He
has given the above commandment of Hajj only for those who can afford it.
And
Allah Alone knows best and He is the Only Source of Strength.
May
Allah make us of those who strive to go to the Hajj pilgrimage at least once in
our life. And
May Allah make us of those who strive to serve our
parents in every way we can.
May Allah guide you and us all to the
Straight Path of Islam.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s
Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only
Source of Strength.
Your Brother in
Islam,
Wister