A young man who has no money for Hajj: is it prescribed for him to ask his parents, or should he wait until he is employed and performs Hajj from his own funds, even if a long time passes? What is the advice for him?
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The questioner : He says: I am a student who has reached puberty, and I have no money of my own. Should I ask my parents for money to perform Hajj now, or should I wait until I graduate and get a job to perform Hajj with my own money? And if that means I will sit idle for years, what do you advise me to do?
The Shaykh : Hajj is not obligatory on a person if he does not have money, even if his father is wealthy. He is not required to ask his father to give him what he needs to perform Hajj. In fact, the scholars say: if your father gives you money to perform Hajj, you are not obligated to accept it. You may refuse it and say, "I do not want to perform Hajj, because Hajj is not obligatory on me." However, some scholars say: if a person gives you money to perform Hajj, and that person is like your father or a compassionate brother, then it is obligatory for you to take it and perform Hajj with it. But if another person gives you money, and you fear that he will remind you of his favor one day, then you are not obligated to take it and perform Hajj with it. This is the correct opinion. I think the issue is now clear to you. A person is given money by someone else, who says, "Take this and fulfill the obligation." Is he obligated to accept this money and fulfill the obligation with it? The answer is no, he is not obligated. He may return it and say, "I do not want anyone to have a favor over me. The favor belongs to Allah, who did not make Hajj obligatory on me except if I am able." Unless the one who gave him the money is his father or his compassionate brother. In that case, we say, "Take it," because your father will not remind you of his favor, and your compassionate brother will not remind you of his favor. Yes. And based on this, we say to the student brother: wait until Allah the Exalted enriches you, and perform Hajj from your own money. You will not sin if you delay it. Yes.
The Shaykh : Hajj is not obligatory on a person if he does not have money, even if his father is wealthy. He is not required to ask his father to give him what he needs to perform Hajj. In fact, the scholars say: if your father gives you money to perform Hajj, you are not obligated to accept it. You may refuse it and say, "I do not want to perform Hajj, because Hajj is not obligatory on me." However, some scholars say: if a person gives you money to perform Hajj, and that person is like your father or a compassionate brother, then it is obligatory for you to take it and perform Hajj with it. But if another person gives you money, and you fear that he will remind you of his favor one day, then you are not obligated to take it and perform Hajj with it. This is the correct opinion. I think the issue is now clear to you. A person is given money by someone else, who says, "Take this and fulfill the obligation." Is he obligated to accept this money and fulfill the obligation with it? The answer is no, he is not obligated. He may return it and say, "I do not want anyone to have a favor over me. The favor belongs to Allah, who did not make Hajj obligatory on me except if I am able." Unless the one who gave him the money is his father or his compassionate brother. In that case, we say, "Take it," because your father will not remind you of his favor, and your compassionate brother will not remind you of his favor. Yes. And based on this, we say to the student brother: wait until Allah the Exalted enriches you, and perform Hajj from your own money. You will not sin if you delay it. Yes.