The Prophet’s Command for a Man to Perform Hajj with His Wife

Question:
Was the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) commanding a man to perform Hajj with his wife for the sake of recommendation or for the sake of obligation?

Answer:
The default is obligation; that is the default. However, if one argues against that by saying that the default is that nothing is permissible for anyone except by their own choice, because Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has made accountability obligatory on every individual independently, and he is not bound by the actions of others except with valid evidence, such as the actions of others and the causes thereof, and he does not bear the sin of another. But saying this is a statement, meaning it is obligatory upon him unless he fears for her, meaning if she went out with someone, that would be an incidental obligation. This obligation would be an incidental obligation due to the fear for her, just as it is obligatory for the believer to forbid what is wrong, and I do not think that helping the poor singer, if he is able, and the like, may become incidentally obligatory on a person on behalf of another. It may be said that this is not established, and the default for commands is that they are obligatory for him. So, if the husband fears for his wife and she travels and he neglects her, he must catch up with her or be with her so that no harm occurs. This is different from if the fitnah (trial) is that he wants to take her for Hajj; the scholars mentioned that he is not obligated to take her for Hajj, but it is recommended for him and prescribed for him to take her for Hajj so that he helps her to perform the obligation. In any case, he should help in doing good and perform Hajj with her to fulfill her obligation. As for obligation, its meaning requires consideration. Yes.