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:

Assalamu alaikum

Dear brother,

I have planned to perform Hajj and sponsor the Hajj of my parents Inshah ALLAH.

I have a few questions in this regard:

My parents are financially able to support their Hajj trip. But still I want to sponsor the same for them. In this case do they need to perform Hajj again with their own money or will this Hajj be enough to fulfill the Fardh (obligation) due on them.

My father is not literate. He is not aware of all the formalities and worships involved in Hajj but I will help him during the trip. Will this be enough to fulfill his obligatory Hajj?

My father has his own small business. When he buys some goods to sell he repays back to the original distributor (from whom he bought) in installments. So he keeps paying for example, for six months to one year, like other businesses. So in this case should he clear all the installments before leaving for Hajj although it is not loan but only a part of business?

Are there any other prerequisites to perform Hajj that you would like me to know?

Please answer my queries in the above order.

Jazak-ALLAH khair

(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:

Can child pay for parents 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 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.

Your Question: My parents are financially able to support their Hajj trip. But still I want to sponsor the same for them. In this case do they need to perform Hajj again with their own money or will this Hajj be enough to fulfill the Fardh (obligation) due on them.

The believers are well within their rights to bear the complete expenses of their parents obligatory Hajj, even if the parents themselves are financially able to support themselves.

The parents need not perform the Hajj again with their own funds; the Hajj which they performed would more than suffice to fulfill their ‘fard’ obligation of pilgrimage unto the Sacred House of Allah Subhanah.

Your Question: My father is not literate. He is not aware of all the formalities and worships involved in Hajj but I will help him during the trip. Will this be enough to fulfill his obligatory Hajj?

Respected brother, there is no condition in Shariah that only the ‘literate’ amongst the believers must perform the Hajj! All adult believers who are financially and physically able are obligated to perform the Hajj pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.

There is absolutely no harm if you wish to bear their expenses, or better still accompany them and serve and help them during their Hajj journey and stay. Not only would it suffice to fulfill their obligation of Hajj, but it would be a great source of earning rewards for you for your services unto your parents.

Your Question: …My father has his own small business. When he buys some goods to sell he repays back to the original distributor (from whom he bought) in installments. So he keeps paying for example, for six months to one year, like other businesses. So in this case should he clear all the installments before leaving for Hajj although it is not loan but only a part of business?

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 5.15a

Abdullah ibn Abi 'Awfa relates: "I asked the Prophet (saws) about a man who has not performed Hajj, 'Should he not get a loan to perform Hajj?' The Prophet (saws) replied: 'No'”

Related by Al-Baihaqi.

The taking of a loan by itself does not make one ineligible to perform the Hajj, but it is the taking of a loan only so that one may fulfill the Hajj expenses which is severely disliked and forbidden by the Messenger of Allah (saws).

Thus if there is one who has an outstanding loan, and one is paying one’s installments due on their outstanding loan according to their agreed schedule with the lender, and one has the financial and physical ability to afford the Hajj journey and stay, one would be liable and eligible to perform the obligatory Hajj pilgrimage unto their Lord.

What is forbidden and severely disliked in Shariah is that one who cannot afford the Hajj journey and stay, and one takes a loan specifically to pay for their Hajj expenses....this is severely disliked and forbidden in Shariah.

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