Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 97

(Ayah 97) ➊ {وَ لِلّٰهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ:} The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Islam is built upon five things: the testimony that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and (the testimony) that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is His servant and His Messenger, establishing prayer, giving zakah, performing Hajj, and fasting in Ramadan.” [ بخاری، الإیمان، باب دعاؤکم إیمانکم : ۸، عن ابن عمر رضی اللہ عنہما] Hajj is obligatory once in a lifetime upon every sane and adult Muslim who has the ability to reach the Ka’bah. [ مسلم، الحج، باب فرض الحج مرۃ فی العمر : ۱۳۳۷ ]

➋ {مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ اِلَيْهِ سَبِيْلًا :} The explanation of “ability” in the hadith is provision for the journey and a means of transport. [ ترمذی، الحج، باب ما جاء من التغلیظ… : ۸۱۲، عن علی رضی اللہ عنہ عن رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ] Shaykh al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) has graded it Hasan in Sahih al-Targhib, and Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) also says the same. [ ہدایۃ المستنیر ]

The meaning of “ability” also includes the route being safe, and there being no fear of loss of life or wealth, and for a woman, it is also necessary to have a mahram with her. It is understood from the hadith that if one has financial ability but not physical ability, then someone else may perform Hajj on his behalf. It is narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that a woman from the tribe of Khath’am came and asked: “O Messenger of Allah! The obligation of Hajj that Allah has placed upon His servants has come upon my father while he is very old and cannot sit firmly on a mount, so may I perform Hajj on his behalf?” He said: “Yes!” And this was during the Farewell Hajj. [ بخاری، جزاء الصید، باب حج المرأۃ عن الرجل : ۱۸۵۵ ]

Similarly, if Hajj was obligatory upon someone, but he neglected it out of laziness and died, then Hajj will be performed from his inheritance. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ فَاقْضِ اللّٰهَ فَهُوَ أَحَقُّ بِالْقَضَاءِ ] “Fulfill Allah’s debt, for He is more deserving that it be fulfilled.” [ بخاری، الأیمان والنذور، باب من مات و علیہ نذر : ۶۶۹۹۔ مسلم : ۱۱۴۸ ] From an authentic hadith, it is understood that the person who performs Hajj on behalf of another should have already performed Hajj for himself. [ أبو داوٗد، المناسک، باب الرجل یحج عن غیرہ : ۱۸۱۱، عن ابن عباس رضی اللہ عنہما ]

➌ {وَ مَنْ كَفَرَ:} From this it is understood that not performing Hajj despite having the ability is disbelief, and whoever disbelieves, then what worth does that poor soul have, for Allah is free of need from all the worlds. The difference between abandoning the five pillars of Islam and abandoning other things is that abandoning any of these five causes the foundation of Islam to collapse. Hafiz Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) has narrated with a chain from Abu Bakr Isma’ili al-Hafiz (may Allah have mercy on him) from the Commander of the Faithful, Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), that he said: “Whoever has the means to perform Hajj and does not do so, it is the same for him whether he dies as a Jew or a Christian.” Imam Ibn Kathir said: “This chain is Sahih up to Umar (may Allah be pleased with him).”

97. 1. In it, fighting, bloodshed, hunting, and even cutting down trees are prohibited.

97. 2. The meaning of "can find a way" is the ability and provision of means for the journey, i.e., having enough resources to cover the travel expenses. Additionally, the concept of ability includes that the route is safe and life and property are secure. Similarly, it is also necessary that one is physically healthy and fit for travel, and for a woman, a mahram is also required. This verse is evidence for the obligation of Hajj upon every person who has the means, and the ahadith clarify that this is obligatory only once in a lifetime.

97. 3. Despite having the means, not performing Hajj is described as disbelief (kufr) in the Quran, leaving no doubt about the obligation and emphasis of Hajj. In the ahadith, there is also a warning for such a person.

In it are clear signs [85], including the Station of Abraham. Whoever enters it is safe. Pilgrimage to this House is a duty owed to Allah by all who can find a way to it [86]. And whoever disbelieves, let him know that Allah is free of need from all the worlds [87].

[85]
The Qualities of Zamzam Water and the Well of Zamzam:

By "clear signs" are meant such manifest signs that everyone sees or can see. For example, this House was built in a barren, desolate plain. At this very place, Allah miraculously caused the spring of Zamzam to gush forth, and an even greater miracle is that Muslims from all over the world go there and use this water and bring it to their homes, yet the water of this spring never runs out. Moreover, this water quenches both hunger and thirst and is a cure for many illnesses. Then Allah made this House so secure that even if someone's mortal enemy enters the Ka'bah, he cannot dare to harm him. Furthermore, Allah made not only the Ka'bah but the entire surrounding area a peaceful sanctuary.

The Blessings, Miracles of the House of Allah, and the Qualities of the Sanctuary:

For two and a half thousand years, the entire land of Arabia, due to ignorance, was plagued by extreme insecurity, looting, and bloodshed, but throughout the country, the Ka'bah was the only region where peace prevailed. It was due to the blessing of the Ka'bah that for four months of the year, the entire country enjoyed peace because of it. While looting was rampant throughout the land, the caravans of the Quraysh traveled safely solely because they were custodians of the Ka'bah. Even those trade caravans that came under the protection of the Quraysh were not dared to be interfered with by anyone. Also, just half a century earlier, when Abraha attacked Makkah to destroy the Ka'bah, everyone had seen how the army of elephants was destroyed by the flocks of Ababil (small birds). And above all, for the inhabitants of this barren and rocky plain, Allah arranged such miraculous provision that all kinds of fruits and grains are drawn here from all directions, and Makkah has acquired the status of a central trading market. These are things that everyone can witness with their own eyes. In addition, near the Ka'bah, the Maqam Ibrahim—the stone on which Prophet Ibrahimؑ stood to build the Ka'bah—still exists, as do the hills of Safa and Marwah, between which Hajar ran. These places are counted among the symbols of Allah. People from all over the world are invited to this very place to perform the rites of Hajj. Previous prophets also used to come here to perform Hajj and showed extraordinary reverence and respect for these symbols. See the following hadiths for the explanation of Makkah being «حرماً آمناً».

The End of the Obligation of Migration After the Conquest of Makkah:

1. Abdullah ibn Abbasؓ narrates that the day Makkah was conquered, the next day the Prophetﷺ delivered a sermon and said: "After today, migration (as an obligation) is no longer required. However, jihad and the intention for it remain, and when you are called for jihad, then set out. This is the city that, from the day Allah created the heavens and the earth, He made sacred, and this sanctity of Allah will remain until the Day of Judgment. No one before me was allowed to fight here, and it was made permissible for me only for a short time. Then its sanctity was restored until the Day of Judgment. No thorn should be cut from here, no game should be chased, no lost item should be picked up except by someone who recognizes its owner and intends to return it, and no greenery should be cut." Abbasؓ said: "O Messenger of Allahﷺ! Please allow the cutting of idhkhir grass, as it is useful for blacksmiths and in homes." The Prophetﷺ said: "Alright, idhkhir is permitted."
[بخاری ابواب العمرة، باب لایحل القتال بمکۃ]
From this hadith, the following matters regarding the sanctity and reverence of Makkah are understood:
➊ Military expeditions and fighting are forbidden in the sanctuary of Makkah, and this sanctity will remain until the Day of Judgment. Similarly, mutual fighting is also forbidden.
➋ The wild animals of the sanctuary of Makkah are also protected and secure. They cannot be hunted or chased for hunting.
➌ The trees and plants of the sanctuary of Makkah are also protected and secure. Cutting them is also forbidden. However, due to certain economic needs, the cutting of idhkhir grass is permitted.
➍ Picking up lost items in the sanctuary of Makkah is forbidden, except by someone who knows the owner and takes responsibility for announcing it to find the owner.

2. Jabirؓ narrates that I heard the Messenger of Allahﷺ say: "It is not permissible for any of you to walk around Makkah carrying weapons."
[مسلم، کتاب الحج، باب النھی عن حمل السلاح بمکۃ من غیر حاجۃ]

3. However, it is permitted to kill harmful animals in the sanctuary of Makkah. We were staying in Mina when a snake leapt at us, so the Prophetﷺ said: "Kill it."
[بخاری، ابواب العمرة، باب ما یقتل المحرم من الدواب]

Also, Aishaؓ narrates that there are five evil creatures that should be killed even in the sanctuary: the crow (pied), the kite, the scorpion, the mouse, and the biting dog. [بخاري۔ باب ايضاً] And during the era of the Companions, it was the practice that if a criminal took refuge in the House of Allah, he would not be interfered with as long as he remained in the sanctuary, even if he was guilty of a crime warranting a legal punishment. When Yazid forced Imam Hussainؓ to pledge allegiance, he sought refuge in the sanctuary of Makkah.

[86]
The Obligation and Conditions of Hajj:

Hajj is the right of Allah upon His servants and the fifth pillar of Islam, and it is obligatory only once in a lifetime for the person who has the means to perform it. By means is meant that one has the expenses to go to the Sacred House and return. During this journey, he should leave his family with their usual expenses while he is away from home. Also, the route should not be dangerous, meaning he should not fear for his life or wealth, and his physical health should be such that he can bear the hardships of Hajj and the journey. If someone has the expenses for Hajj and for his family, and the route is safe, but his physical health does not permit, then he can have someone else perform Hajj on his behalf, provided that person has already performed his own obligatory Hajj. This is called Hajj-e-Badal. Similarly, if someone has made a vow to perform Hajj and dies before fulfilling it, then it becomes obligatory on his heirs to fulfill that vow, just as it was obligatory on him, even if it was a voluntary Hajj. If the route is dangerous, then until the danger is removed, Hajj is not obligatory. It is not a virtuous act to take a loan, beg, or travel on foot for Hajj when a ride is available. If someone has made such a mistaken vow, he should break that vow and do the right thing.

[87] That is, whoever has the means but deliberately does not intend to perform Hajj and remains heedless of it, for such a person very harsh words have been mentioned in the hadith, namely: "Allah does not care whether such a person dies as a Jew or a Christian."
[ترمذی، ابواب الحج، باب فی التغلیظ فی ترک الحج]
That is, in any case, he is not a Muslim, and his claim to be a Muslim is false.