The Ruling on Hajj in the Presence of Debts

Question:
The questioner says: Your Eminence the Shaykh! I have many debts. Is it valid for me to take my wife and daughter to perform the obligatory Hajj? Is it necessary to seek the permission of the creditors? And if they do not permit it, is the Hajj valid? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
What is prescribed for you is to start with the debt; do not perform Hajj. Give the cost of the Hajj to the creditors. It is obligatory for you to hasten to pay off the debt and to be diligent in paying it off, and to fear Allah and not speak about people’s money. As for if you are unable to pay, Allah the Exalted says: “So fear Allah as much as you are able,” and He the Exalted says: “But if he is in difficulty, then let him defer [payment] until ease comes to him.” As for if you have money you want to use for Hajj, no, give it to its purpose, give it to the people of the debt, and do not perform Hajj. Allah did not obligate Hajj upon you except if you are able. He the Exalted says: “And [due] to Allah is the obligation of Hajj for whoever is able to afford it.” You are not able; the debtor is not able. So pay the debt to its people, the money to its people, except if you are able to pay off the debt and perform Hajj both, then perform Hajj while you are in debt, both, yes.
As for if the money is in your hand and it does not suffice for paying off the debt and performing Hajj, prioritize the two debts, give to the two creditors. Even if you perform Hajj, the Hajj is valid, even if you perform Hajj, the Hajj is valid, but you have made a mistake. It is obligatory to start with the people of the debt. And even if a person performs Hajj, his Hajj is valid, but he left what was required of him. It is obligatory for him to start with the people of the debt, because their right upon him is obligatory, and Hajj is also obligatory, so the obligatory is to start with the obligatory.