Some people advise those who have performed Hajj not to perform it a second or third time, on the grounds that they should make room for others. What is your opinion of this statement?
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The questioner : A questioner says: Some people advise those who have performed Hajj not to perform it a second or third time, on the grounds that they should make room for others. What is your opinion of this statement?
The Shaykh : By Allah, I hesitate on this matter. Sometimes I say: If we see severe crowding and that a person is exhausting himself in a matter where remaining in his country might be more devout and more mindful of Allah, because in his country he will establish the remembrance of Allah, the takbir, the recitation of the Qur'an, fasting, charity, and excellence in worship, and he will perform his acts of worship with tranquility, then sometimes I say: This is better. And sometimes, when I see the evidence indicating the encouragement of Hajj and the explanation of its virtue, I say: Performing Hajj is better. Then, when I also see that some pilgrims are performing the obligatory Hajj and others are performing it as a voluntary act, there is no doubt that the places of the rites and the sacred sites are more deserving of those who are performing the obligatory duty, because they are more entitled to them than those who are performing it voluntarily. So I am hesitant in this matter. I fear that if I say: Do not perform Hajj, while the texts have come with the encouragement of Hajj, that there would be a great sin in this. And when I look at the benefits, the prevention of harms, and the alleviation of distress for people, I say: Not performing Hajj is better. And whoever has surplus wealth, the doors of good are many. Yes.
The Shaykh : By Allah, I hesitate on this matter. Sometimes I say: If we see severe crowding and that a person is exhausting himself in a matter where remaining in his country might be more devout and more mindful of Allah, because in his country he will establish the remembrance of Allah, the takbir, the recitation of the Qur'an, fasting, charity, and excellence in worship, and he will perform his acts of worship with tranquility, then sometimes I say: This is better. And sometimes, when I see the evidence indicating the encouragement of Hajj and the explanation of its virtue, I say: Performing Hajj is better. Then, when I also see that some pilgrims are performing the obligatory Hajj and others are performing it as a voluntary act, there is no doubt that the places of the rites and the sacred sites are more deserving of those who are performing the obligatory duty, because they are more entitled to them than those who are performing it voluntarily. So I am hesitant in this matter. I fear that if I say: Do not perform Hajj, while the texts have come with the encouragement of Hajj, that there would be a great sin in this. And when I look at the benefits, the prevention of harms, and the alleviation of distress for people, I say: Not performing Hajj is better. And whoever has surplus wealth, the doors of good are many. Yes.