❖ How Many Times Is Hajj Obligatory in a Lifetime?
Question:If someone has already performed Hajj once, and later gets the opportunity to perform ʿUmrah, does Hajj become obligatory again? Also, what is the ruling on performing ʿUmrah for the first time?
Answer:
Hajj is obligatory only once in a lifetime. Performing ʿUmrah later does not make Hajj obligatory again, and there is no evidence supporting such a claim.
Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) delivered a sermon and said:
“O people! Indeed, Allah has made Hajj obligatory upon you, so perform Hajj.”
A man asked, “O Messenger of Allah, is it every year?”
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) remained silent until the man asked three times. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) then said:
“Had I said ‘yes,’ it would have become obligatory, and you would not have been able to do it.”
Then he continued:
“Leave me with what I have left for you. Indeed, the people before you were destroyed due to excessive questioning and disagreement with their prophets. When I command you to do something, do it to the best of your ability, and when I forbid you from something, abstain from it.”
[Sahih Muslim, Book of Hajj: Chapter on Hajj Being Obligatory Once in a Lifetime, 1337]
This Hadith clearly establishes that Hajj is obligatory only once in a lifetime, not more.
❖ Ruling on Performing ʿUmrah
ʿUmrah is also obligatory once in a lifetime.
Abdullah bin Umar (رضي الله عنهما) stated:
“There is no person except that Hajj and ʿUmrah are both obligatory upon him.”
Abdullah bin Abbas (رضي الله عنهما) said:
“In the Book of Allah, ʿUmrah is mentioned along with Hajj,” referring to the verse:
"وَأَتِمُّوا الْحَجَّ وَالْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ"
[Surah Al-Baqarah: 194]
Imam Bukhari (رحمه الله), in his Sahih, compiled the chapter "Book of ʿUmrah: Chapter on the Obligation and Virtue of ʿUmrah", in which he mentioned these narrations and explained that ʿUmrah is obligatory.
