Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I have a personal problem and I hope you will help me.

2 years after my father passed away, my uncle (my mothers brother) told me about Haj-e-badal and offered to perform it for my father as he(my uncle) had already done Haj before. At that time my uncle was working in a Bank. He told me the cost of the Haj and I paid him the amount promptly. My mother and grand mother (my uncle`s mother) also joined my uncle in this Haj.

Even though my uncle is financially in a very good condition and a religious person involving himself in many good works, he never supported his parents as he should be doing (with his financial capacity). for example, we had to tell him that his mother is too old and that he should buy her a washing machine. only after this he purchased a washing machine for her. we all know it too well that he is controlled in financial aspect by his wife. Likewise, he did not come forward to pay for his mothers Haj expenses. I paid for her expenses and did not raise any issue on this.

A year after this, my uncle took Voluntary Retirement from the bank and he got a good amount of money. After this he told me that he realised his mistake regarding his mother`s haj and that he feels he should have taken that responsibility and he offered to pay me the amount incurred. I accepted this as to fulfil his wish of having performed Haj for his mother even though it was clear that he was financially fit to pay for his mother`s Haj even before his retirement.

Now , almost 3 years after that Haj, he is bringing up an issue with my father`s Haj. He is saying that as he took leave for performing my fathers Haj , he lost some money during his settlement during Voluntary Retirement calculations. he says he lost the money for the leaves he has taken to perform the Haj and asking me to pay him for his loss for fulfilment of Haj-e-badal.

My view is that as he took the responsibility of Haj for his mother (which she is too old to do it alone) he should not be asking me for this money and also as he did not mention about it before performing the Haj. At that time, I asked him how much the Haj will cost him and paid him the amount promptly.

Can you please clarify what is the right thing for me to do in view of the above circumstances?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Reimbursement for Hajj-e-badl

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever 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.

The ‘usool’ or right way of conduct would be that if both you and your uncle had fixed an expense amount at the time of going to Hajj, and you have paid that amount promptly; you are free from blame.

But if today your uncle claims that he incurred some material losses which were only realized later and wishes or demands to be reimbursed for those losses, it would be best, although not obligatory on you, to pay him that amount if possible, and close the matter amicably.

Beloved brother, even if you paid him a little more than what was agreed between you, please be rest assured that you will find whatever you spend in the Cause of Allah Subhanah in your Book of Good Records on the Day of Judgement.

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,

Burhan