Discussion of Hajj and its most important conditions.

The Shaykh : And among what we wish to discuss in this meeting is the issue of Hajj. Many Muslims know that Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam, which is not completed without it, but it has conditions, the most important of which are the ability and means to perform it, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted: So, if one is poor, there is no Hajj upon him. If one is in debt, there is no Hajj upon him. If one is physically unable, there is no Hajj upon him, but he appoints someone to perform Hajj on his behalf. Through this, we know the lack of jurisprudence of those who have debts and go to perform Hajj, or perhaps they borrow money to perform Hajj. This is an error. Thank Allah for your well-being. If Allah has been generous with you and has not obligated Hajj upon you until you have paid off your debt, then thank Allah for that. You are obligated to pay the debt, and you are not obligated to perform Hajj as long as you have a debt. Do you see the poor person? Do we obligate him to pay Zakah? Answer? No. One who has no money or has a debt is not obligated to perform Hajj. And if he meets Allah the Mighty and Majestic, he meets Allah the Exalted without his Islam being deficient. Why? Because Allah did not obligate it upon him. It is only obligatory upon one who has the means to it. Some people say: I ask permission from the creditor and I perform Hajj. We say: What benefit is there in asking permission? If you ask permission, does any part of the debt fall off? The answer: Answer, everyone. No, it does not fall off. So, what is the benefit? If you have ten thousand in debt and you perform Hajj with two thousand, put the two thousand toward paying off your debt. How much remains on you? Eight thousand. Thank Allah for your well-being. Now, if the creditor gives you permission and says: There is no harm, perform Hajj, and you perform Hajj, will the ten thousand become eight thousand? No. So, there is no benefit. Yes, the one who has a debt and knows that whenever a portion of it comes due, he will be able to pay it off, if he has money for Hajj, let him perform Hajj. I give an example for this, for those who have a debt to the Real Estate Development Fund. He says: If the installment comes due, I will be able to pay it, but right now I have money with which I can perform Hajj, and when the installment comes due, I will pay what is on me. We say: Yes, perform Hajj, because this debt does not prevent the obligation of Hajj. But a person who has nothing and does not trust himself to pay it off when the debt's term comes due, does not perform Hajj, even if the owner of the debt gives him permission.