I intended to perform Hajj, but I was not able to do so due to material and spiritual reasons. Will it be counted as a Hajj for me because of the intention?
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The questioner:
May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good. This listener says: I intended to perform Hajj, but I was not able to do so due to material and spiritual reasons. Will it be counted as a Hajj for me, if Allah wills? May Allah reward you for me with good.
The Shaykh:
If you intend a righteous deed and leave it off because you were unable to do it, even though you would have done it had you been able, then the reward of the doer is written for you as a favor from Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. This is established by many proofs that whoever intends a righteous deed and is unable to do it, even though he would have done it had he been able, is written the reward of the doer.
The one who intends to stand in night prayer and resolves to do so, but sleep overcomes him, or an excuse arises that prevents him from standing in night prayer, is written the reward of the one who stands. Likewise, if he travels while he is standing in night prayer or fasting during the day, and he would have continued the deed had he been able, he is written the reward of the one who fasts and the reward of the one who stands. This is the favor of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to his Companions while they were on the expedition ofSunan Ibn Majah 2765Sahih (Darussalam): “You have traveled a distance, but they are with you. An excuse held them back,” meaning they are with you in intention and reward. An excuse held them back, so Allah writes for them the reward of the mujahideen. Yes.
The questioner:
May Allah reward you with good and may He do you good. But does the obligation not drop off from him, Shaykh Salih? Or does this intention drop off the obligation?
The Shaykh:
The obligation remains if he is able.
The questioner:
Yes.
The Shaykh:
He performs it, and intention alone is not sufficient,[Ali 'Imran 3:97]
May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good. This listener says: I intended to perform Hajj, but I was not able to do so due to material and spiritual reasons. Will it be counted as a Hajj for me, if Allah wills? May Allah reward you for me with good.
The Shaykh:
If you intend a righteous deed and leave it off because you were unable to do it, even though you would have done it had you been able, then the reward of the doer is written for you as a favor from Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. This is established by many proofs that whoever intends a righteous deed and is unable to do it, even though he would have done it had he been able, is written the reward of the doer.
The one who intends to stand in night prayer and resolves to do so, but sleep overcomes him, or an excuse arises that prevents him from standing in night prayer, is written the reward of the one who stands. Likewise, if he travels while he is standing in night prayer or fasting during the day, and he would have continued the deed had he been able, he is written the reward of the one who fasts and the reward of the one who stands. This is the favor of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to his Companions while they were on the expedition of
in Al-Madinah there are men who, every time you crossed a valley or
إن في المدينة رجالا ما قطعتم واديا ولاThe questioner:
May Allah reward you with good and may He do you good. But does the obligation not drop off from him, Shaykh Salih? Or does this intention drop off the obligation?
The Shaykh:
The obligation remains if he is able.
The questioner:
Yes.
The Shaykh:
He performs it, and intention alone is not sufficient,
And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way
وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، كانت في نيتي الحج ولم أوفق لأسباب مادية ومعنوية فهل تحسب لي حجة بسبب النية؟ الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.