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 Brother Burhan,

As Salam w Alekum.

I read above question and your answer to it. I would like to know:

Hajj is Farz in Islam for those who can afford, but I think it is compulsory once in a life time and there is no condition that you should do it 2, 3 or 5 times? Please correct if I am wrong.

So my question is "Is it not nice to spend your money for the poor brother in Islam who can not afford to do Hajj on their own? or to help some relative for his daughter's marriage instead of doing Hajj 3 - 5 times?"

Please reply Urgently. Your early reply will be highly appreciated.

Allah hafiz.

Your brother in Islam,

(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:

Helping others better than doing hajj?

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.

Your Statement: Hajj is Farz in Islam for those who can afford, but I think it is compulsory once in a life time and there is no condition that you should do it 2, 3 or 5 times? Please correct if I am wrong.

The Pilgrimage of Hajj to the Sacred House is indeed obligatory for every sane and adult believer, who has the physical and financial strength, once in his lifetime.

Your Question: So my question is "Is it not nice to spend your money for the poor brother in Islam who can not afford to do Hajj on their own? or to help some relative for his daughter's marriage instead of doing Hajj 3 - 5 times?"

The question that was asked by the brother earlier was ‘is it legal or waste of money for a person who has already done his obligatory Hajj to do it more than once, or every year?’.

Thus, there is a difference between something being allowed and legal in Islam, and doing something which is the better of two legal options, and earns more reward from Allah Subhanah.

Indeed, in today’s time, when there is already a long waiting list for the believers willing to perform their obligatory Hajj, and the government of Saudi Arabia can handle only a limited number of people every year for the Hajj period; it is obviously better for the person who has already done his obligatory Hajj to spend the money in helping his needy brothers and sisters in faith.

But if a believer wishes to perform Hajj more than once in his lifetime, one cannot say that he is in the wrong or his extra pilgrimages are invalid or illegal. Every believer, who sincerely loves Allah and the Last Day, loves to visit the Sacred House, and loves to be the honored guests at the Sacred House of Allah Subhanah. No matter how many times one visits the Sacred Mosque, he never ever tires of that spiritual and peaceful experience.

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