Is Hajj an immediate obligation, and are exams, if they take place immediately after Hajj, a valid legal reason that permits delaying the obligatory act?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, it is well known that exams take place immediately after Hajj. The reason for this is that many young men and women refrain from performing the obligation that Allah has made obligatory upon them, despite their ability and capacity to do so. Do they sin for this? Is Hajj an immediate obligation? And is an exam a valid legal reason that permits them to delay the obligatory act?
The Shaykh : The stronger opinion among the scholars is that Hajj is an immediate obligation and that it is not permissible for a person to delay it except for a valid legal excuse. The evidence for this is that when the Companions delayed their exit from the state of ihram during the Battle of Hudaybiyyah, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) became angry. Another piece of evidence is that a person does not know what may befall him; he may delay Hajj this year and then die, remaining in a state of pending obligation. However, if his Hajj would negatively affect his exam, he may delay it until the following year. But I advise him to take his lessons with him and perform Hajj, if he travels to Hajj early. As for if he delays his Hajj, I do not think it will harm him. It is well known that a person can spend four days on the days of Hajj. Is that possible? Yes. He goes on the Day of 'Arafah, the 9th, the 10th, the 11th, and the 12th, and hastens his departure. It is permissible for him to leave after stoning the pillars on the 12th after noon, perform the farewell circumambulation, and go home. I do not think four days will harm him in any way. A diligent person can perform Hajj without it affecting him at all. Also, if a person relies upon Allah, places his trust in Him, and performs Hajj with confidence in Allah (Mighty and Majestic), then Allah will make the matter easy for him. Yes.
The Shaykh : The stronger opinion among the scholars is that Hajj is an immediate obligation and that it is not permissible for a person to delay it except for a valid legal excuse. The evidence for this is that when the Companions delayed their exit from the state of ihram during the Battle of Hudaybiyyah, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) became angry. Another piece of evidence is that a person does not know what may befall him; he may delay Hajj this year and then die, remaining in a state of pending obligation. However, if his Hajj would negatively affect his exam, he may delay it until the following year. But I advise him to take his lessons with him and perform Hajj, if he travels to Hajj early. As for if he delays his Hajj, I do not think it will harm him. It is well known that a person can spend four days on the days of Hajj. Is that possible? Yes. He goes on the Day of 'Arafah, the 9th, the 10th, the 11th, and the 12th, and hastens his departure. It is permissible for him to leave after stoning the pillars on the 12th after noon, perform the farewell circumambulation, and go home. I do not think four days will harm him in any way. A diligent person can perform Hajj without it affecting him at all. Also, if a person relies upon Allah, places his trust in Him, and performs Hajj with confidence in Allah (Mighty and Majestic), then Allah will make the matter easy for him. Yes.