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,

Assalamualaikum,

In case a person is not able to perform Hajj, is he supposed to compensate by fasting or any other actions.  If so, when should he start the fast?

Regards

(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:

Compensation if one cannot perform 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.

Hajj is only obligatory to a person who is physically and financially able to afford the pilgrimage, once in his/her lifetime. If a woman is physically and financially able, but has no mehram to accompany her to the Hajj pilgrimage; she is excused from performing the pilgrimage.

Allah knows the condition of each individual, and any one who has a genuine excuse, whereby he/she could not perform the Hajj pilgrimage even once in their lifetime because of their physical or financial constraints; Allah will not hold them accountable on the Day of Judgment. But if one is physically and financially able, but does not perform the pilgrimage due to laziness, or because he/she was too busy in the world, or they were waiting to perform the Hajj when they grew old; and death overtakes any one of them without their performing this sacred and obligatory duty to Allah Subhanah; they will be held severely accountable to Allah on the Day of Judgment.

For the one who has a genuine excuse and cannot perform the Hajj even once in his/her lifetime; there is absolutely no compensation, as Hajj is then not obligatory on them.

But if one intends to go to Hajj, enters into the state of ihraam, and is then prevented or is unable to perform the Hajj for any reason (like accident, sickness, etc.) or has to shave his head before the sacrifice, he has to fast ten days as commanded by Allah Subhanah in the Holy Quran.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 196:

When you make intention to perform Hajj or Umrah, accomplish these to please Allah. But if you are prevented (from completing it) then offer to Allah any sacrifice you can afford, and do not shave your heads until the sacrifice reaches its place. But whoever among you is sick, or has an ailment of the head, and has his head shaved, shall atone for this either by fasting, or by alms-giving or by offering a sacrifice. And when you are in peaceful conditions (again), if anyone wishes to continue the Umrah on to the Hajj, he must offer the sacrifice he can afford. But if he cannot afford a sacrifice, he shall fast three days during the Hajj, and seven days after reaching home, that is, ten days in all. This is for those whose household is not in (the precincts) of the Sacred Mosque. And Fear Allah, and know that Allah is strict in punishment.

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