I work as a businessman, and the profits I make from my business are barely enough for me and my family, and I cannot do Hajj unless I take some of the capital of my business, which would mean that I make less profits, and the profit I make on my business would not be enough for my children’s expenses. Do I have to do Hajj?.
Hajj is not obligatory except for the one who is able to do it, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka‘bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allaah, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence)” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:97].
What is meant by being financially able to do it is that one has enough to cover his travel costs and his family’s expenses until he returns and that he has enough after he returns to cover his expenses and those of the people on whom he spends, such as rent from properties he own, salaries, business and so on. Hence he is not obliged to do Hajj using the capital with which he does business from which he spends the income on himself and his family, as the reduction in the capital will result in the reduction of the income which would then not be enough for him and his family.
Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Mughni (5/12):
The one who has property that he needs for his dwelling, or for his family’s dwelling, or he needs it to rent it out to cover his expenses or those of his family, or trade goods that if their amount is reduced then his profit will not be sufficient to cover his expenses, is not obliged to do Hajj.
The scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas were asked:
I am an Egyptian citizen and head of a family consisting of two children and a wife, and my salary in Egypt is barely enough to cover the necessities of life, and I do not have any other income. I worked in one of the Gulf countries for four years, and I earned some money which I put in an Islamic bank to provide me with an income that will help me to bear the various burdens of life, so that my salary and this income will be sufficient for me and my family to live a reasonable life. Am I obliged to devote some of this money to the expenses of Hajj, and am I obliged to do Hajj in these circumstances? Please note that if I take some money out of this bank account to spend on Hajj, that will affect my monthly income and I will encounter some financial difficulties.
They replied:
If your situation is as you described, then you are not obliged to do Hajj, because you are not able to do it. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka‘bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allaah, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence)” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:97]. And He says (interpretation of the meaning): “So keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him as much as you can”[al-Taghaabun 64:16] and “and [Allaah] has not laid upon you in religion any hardship”[al-Hajj 22:78].
And Allaah is the Source of strength. May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions. End quote.
Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas
Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Razzaaq ‘Afeefi, Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Ghadyaan.
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah li’l-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah wa’l-Ifta (11/35, 36).
Based on this, you do not have to do Hajj, so long as you need the money that you have for your expenses and those of your family.