Hajj is Obligatory upon Every Responsible Person Who Has the Ability
Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori
The word Hajj comes from the root حَجَّ يَحْجُ (Nasr, Madd) and means “to intend or to aim.” According to Imam Khalil (رحمه الله), it means “to frequently intend towards an honoured place.”
[Al-Qamus al-Muhit: p.167; Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi: 3/623]
Intending towards al-Masjid al-Haram for the performance of specific acts is called Hajj.
[Al-Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuhu: 3/2064; Al-Mughni: 3/217; Kashshaf al-Qinaʿ: 2/437; Al-Lubab: 1/177; Fath al-Qadir: 2/120]
Scholars have differed regarding the time of its obligation:
As narrated from ʿAbdullah ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما), Islam is built upon five pillars, one of which is Hajj.
[Bukhari: 8, Kitab al-Iman: Bab Duʿaʾukum Imanukum]
❶ Narration of Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه):
والحج المبرور ليس له جزاء إلا الجنة
“A Hajj Mabrur (one free from sin) has no reward except Paradise.”
[Bukhari: 1773; Muslim: 1349; Tirmidhi: 933; Nasa’i: 5/115; Ibn Majah: 2888; Muwatta: 1/346]
❷ Narration of Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه):
من حج ولم يرفث ولم يفسق رجع من ذنوبه كيوم ولدته أمــه
“Whoever performs Hajj and neither approaches women (sexually) nor commits sin, returns as free from sins as the day his mother gave birth to him.”
[Bukhari: 1521; Muslim: 1350]
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
خذوا عني مناسككم
“Learn your rites of Hajj from me.”
[Muslim: 1297; Abu Dawud: 1970; Ibn Majah: 3023; Nasa’i: 5/270; Bayhaqi: 5/130; Ahmad: 3/318]
It is necessary to perform all the acts as the Prophet (ﷺ) demonstrated. Missing an act does not invalidate the Hajj except in the case of Wuquf ʿArafah, without which Hajj is not valid.
❶ Hadith:
الحج عرفة
“Hajj is (standing at) ʿArafah.”
[Sahih Ibn Majah: 2441; Abu Dawud: 1949; Tirmidhi: 889; Nasa’i: 5/264; Ahmad: 309; Bayhaqi: 5/116]
❷ Hadith:
من شهد معنا الصلاة وأفاض من عرفات ليلا أو نهارا فقد قضى تقته وتم حجه
“Whoever joins us for the prayer (on the Day of Nahr) and has come from ʿArafah at night or during the day, his Hajj is complete.”
[Sahih Ibn Majah: 2442; Abu Dawud: 1950; Tirmidhi: 891; Nasa’i: 5/663; Ahmad: 4/15; Hakim: 1/463]
وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِبُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا
“Allah has enjoined upon mankind the pilgrimage to the House — for whoever is able to find a way thereto.”
❶ Narration of Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
يايها الناس قد فرض الله عليكم الحج فحجوا
“O people! Allah has made Hajj obligatory upon you, so perform Hajj.”
A man asked, “Every year, O Messenger of Allah?” The Prophet (ﷺ) remained silent until the third time, and then said: “If I had said yes, it would have become obligatory every year, and you would not be able to do it.”
[Muslim: 1337; Ahmad: 2/508; Nasa’i: 5/110; Ibn Hibban: 3705; Bayhaqi: 4/326]
❷ Narration of Ibn ʿAbbas (رضي الله عنهما):
الحج مرة واحدة فمن زاد فهو تطوع
“Hajj is (obligatory) once in a lifetime, and whatever is more than that is voluntary.”
[Sahih Abu Dawud: 1514; Nasa’i: 5/111; Ibn Majah: 2886; Hakim: 1/441]
The Ummah is unanimously agreed that Hajj is obligatory upon one who has the means, and that it is only obligatory once in a lifetime.
[Tafsir al-Lubab fi ʿUlum al-Kitab: 3/359; Nayl al-Awtar: 3/273; Fath al-Bari: 4/152; Sharh Muslim: 4/330]
When the Prophet (ﷺ) was asked about as-sabil in the verse, he said:
الزاد والراحلة — “Provision and a mount.”
Although the narrations with this meaning are weak, the majority of the Ummah accepts this interpretation. Zad means having extra provision beyond the needs of one’s family until returning, and Rahilah means any means of transport for those living at a long distance (e.g., animal, ship, airplane, car).
[Subul al-Salam: 2/923]
Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori
Linguistic Explanation
The word Hajj comes from the root حَجَّ يَحْجُ (Nasr, Madd) and means “to intend or to aim.” According to Imam Khalil (رحمه الله), it means “to frequently intend towards an honoured place.”
[Al-Qamus al-Muhit: p.167; Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi: 3/623]
Sharʿi Definition
Intending towards al-Masjid al-Haram for the performance of specific acts is called Hajj.
[Al-Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuhu: 3/2064; Al-Mughni: 3/217; Kashshaf al-Qinaʿ: 2/437; Al-Lubab: 1/177; Fath al-Qadir: 2/120]
History of Legislation
Scholars have differed regarding the time of its obligation:
- Majority: Obligated in the 6th year of Hijrah. [Subul al-Salam: 2/919]
- Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله): Obligated in the 9th or 10th year of Hijrah. [Zad al-Maʿad: 2/101]
- Wahbah al-Zuhayli (رحمه الله): Obligated at the end of the 9th year of Hijrah. [Al-Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuhu: 3/2065]
Hajj as a Pillar of Islam
As narrated from ʿAbdullah ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما), Islam is built upon five pillars, one of which is Hajj.
[Bukhari: 8, Kitab al-Iman: Bab Duʿaʾukum Imanukum]
Virtues of Hajj
❶ Narration of Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه):
والحج المبرور ليس له جزاء إلا الجنة
“A Hajj Mabrur (one free from sin) has no reward except Paradise.”
[Bukhari: 1773; Muslim: 1349; Tirmidhi: 933; Nasa’i: 5/115; Ibn Majah: 2888; Muwatta: 1/346]
❷ Narration of Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه):
من حج ولم يرفث ولم يفسق رجع من ذنوبه كيوم ولدته أمــه
“Whoever performs Hajj and neither approaches women (sexually) nor commits sin, returns as free from sins as the day his mother gave birth to him.”
[Bukhari: 1521; Muslim: 1350]
Following the Prophet’s Example in Hajj
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
خذوا عني مناسككم
“Learn your rites of Hajj from me.”
[Muslim: 1297; Abu Dawud: 1970; Ibn Majah: 3023; Nasa’i: 5/270; Bayhaqi: 5/130; Ahmad: 3/318]
It is necessary to perform all the acts as the Prophet (ﷺ) demonstrated. Missing an act does not invalidate the Hajj except in the case of Wuquf ʿArafah, without which Hajj is not valid.
Evidence for Wuquf ʿArafah as Essential
❶ Hadith:
الحج عرفة
“Hajj is (standing at) ʿArafah.”
[Sahih Ibn Majah: 2441; Abu Dawud: 1949; Tirmidhi: 889; Nasa’i: 5/264; Ahmad: 309; Bayhaqi: 5/116]
❷ Hadith:
من شهد معنا الصلاة وأفاض من عرفات ليلا أو نهارا فقد قضى تقته وتم حجه
“Whoever joins us for the prayer (on the Day of Nahr) and has come from ʿArafah at night or during the day, his Hajj is complete.”
[Sahih Ibn Majah: 2442; Abu Dawud: 1950; Tirmidhi: 891; Nasa’i: 5/663; Ahmad: 4/15; Hakim: 1/463]
Qur’anic Evidence for Obligation
وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِبُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا
“Allah has enjoined upon mankind the pilgrimage to the House — for whoever is able to find a way thereto.”
Prophetic Evidence for Obligation
❶ Narration of Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
يايها الناس قد فرض الله عليكم الحج فحجوا
“O people! Allah has made Hajj obligatory upon you, so perform Hajj.”
A man asked, “Every year, O Messenger of Allah?” The Prophet (ﷺ) remained silent until the third time, and then said: “If I had said yes, it would have become obligatory every year, and you would not be able to do it.”
[Muslim: 1337; Ahmad: 2/508; Nasa’i: 5/110; Ibn Hibban: 3705; Bayhaqi: 4/326]
❷ Narration of Ibn ʿAbbas (رضي الله عنهما):
الحج مرة واحدة فمن زاد فهو تطوع
“Hajj is (obligatory) once in a lifetime, and whatever is more than that is voluntary.”
[Sahih Abu Dawud: 1514; Nasa’i: 5/111; Ibn Majah: 2886; Hakim: 1/441]
Consensus of the Ummah
The Ummah is unanimously agreed that Hajj is obligatory upon one who has the means, and that it is only obligatory once in a lifetime.
[Tafsir al-Lubab fi ʿUlum al-Kitab: 3/359; Nayl al-Awtar: 3/273; Fath al-Bari: 4/152; Sharh Muslim: 4/330]
Meaning of “Ability” (As-Sabil)
When the Prophet (ﷺ) was asked about as-sabil in the verse, he said:
الزاد والراحلة — “Provision and a mount.”
Although the narrations with this meaning are weak, the majority of the Ummah accepts this interpretation. Zad means having extra provision beyond the needs of one’s family until returning, and Rahilah means any means of transport for those living at a long distance (e.g., animal, ship, airplane, car).
[Subul al-Salam: 2/923]
