Mufti Responses - Haj: The fifth pillar of Islam

Haj is not a ritual that is a must for Muslims, but,  if an individual has the physical and financial capacity then they should perform the ritual at least once in their lifetime, said Ajman-based Islamic scholar Mufti Khaliq Ahmad.
Haj, which is one of the five pillars of Islam, is a five- day ritual that occurs between the eighth and the 12th days of Dhu Al Hijja, the last month in the Islamic calendar. Mufti Ahmad explained that the ritual of Haj is one that all sects of Islam agree on and have practised through generations.

The Islamic scholar explained that when Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) re-entered Makkah to re-dedicate the Kaaba in the name of Allah, he did not disrespect or seek revenge against the people there at the time.

Shortly after re-dedicating the Kaaba to Allah, Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) carried out the ritual of Haj, known as Hajjat Al Wadaa (The Farewell Pilgrimage), considered his first and last Haj.  Mufti Ahmad said Muslims should strive to perform Haj at least once in their lifetime. This is not mandatory because not all believers have the capacity to do so.

“People who choose to go to Haj more than once do it for themselves. This is not because Islam requires them to do so since it is not mandatory,” he explained.

There are specific conditions to be taken into consideration before performing any Islamic ritual.

“The basic requirements are for the worshipper to be mentally fit and past the age of puberty,” said Mufti Ahmad. “Muslims who choose to perform Haj must have the physical ability to withstand the trip and the ability to finance the trip, including their commute and stay in Makkah.”

For those who are physically unable to perform Haj, for health reasons or old age, Mufti Ahmad explained that Haj Al Badal, Haj on behalf of others, is acceptable.  “If a person has the financial ability to pay for Haj and not the physical health, they can then appoint someone on their behalf to perform the Haj ritual, a concept all sects and Maddaheb (schools) agree on,” he said.

Though Haj Al Badal is acceptable, Mufti Ahmad said it is a must for the person appointed to perform Haj on behalf of others to have done it at least once earlier for themselves. A person who has not been previously to Haj cannot perform it on behalf of others first.

Haj Al Badal is permissible but not in all cases, said Shaikh Ali Mashaal, Grand Mufti of Dubai.

He said it is permissible in all four Islamic schools of jurisprudence to perform Haj Al Badal on behalf of a dead person who did not perform Haj in his lifetime, especially if that person was able to and could afford it, but kept postponing it until he died.

One can perform Haj on someone else’s behalf only if they have performed Haj for themselves first. “One can perform Haj on behalf of a dead relative or assign someone to do it,” he said.  - Read More at Mufti Responses

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