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:

Dear Sir

Some of friends have not performed Haj despite enough resorces and no health problems. How should I explain them about impotance of this important pillar of islam. Waiting for your kind response

(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:

Hajj duty unto Allah

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imran verses 96-97:

Undoubtedly the first House of Worship ever to be built for mankind is the one which is at Makkah. It was blessed, and made the center of guidance for all the peoples. In it are clear Signs; there is a spot where Ibraheem used to worship; and it is the Sanctuary, and whoever enters it becomes safe and secure. Allah has, therefore, a right on the people that the one, who can afford to reach the House, should perform Hajj there. And the one who disobeys (this commandment should know that) Allah is Self-Sufficient, and does not stand in need of anyone!

Allah Subhanah has made the pilgrimage of Hajj obligatory and duty unto their Lord Creator on every sane, adult believer who has the financial and physical means to reach the Sacred House at least once in his lifetime. This pilgrimage of the Hajj is so sanctified that it is listed by the Messenger of Allah (saws) as one of the five pillars upon which the deen of Islam is built!

If one believes in Allah and the Last Day, declares themselves to be a ‘muslim’, accepts and believes that the Hajj is an obligatory duty which the Lord Most High has ordained for His believing slaves…..but due to laziness or procrastination or negligence does not perform this obligatory duty….such a person would be a sinner in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

But if there is one who claims to be a ‘muslim’, but (Allah forbid) believes that Hajj is neither obligatory, nor necessary, nor a duty unto their Lord…..then such a belief would tantamount to a manifestation of disbelief in the Sight of Allah Subhanah. And as the Lord Most Majestic Most Supreme Declares in the above quoted verses: ‘……And the one who disobeys (this commandment should know that) Allah is Self-Sufficient, and does not stand in need of anyone!’

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan