My mother fears riding in cars; should someone perform Hajj on her behalf?
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Fatwa No. ( 18728 )
Q: My mother is fifty years old, and she is currently in good health
and has never performed Hajj or 'Umrah at all. I have tried to take her for Hajj or 'Umrah, but to no avail. She responds to me by saying: "Hajj is by the facilitation of Allah, and I will perform it if Allah wills," and so on. Her real problem is that she is afflicted with fear and terror of riding in a car . In fact, for fifty years she has never ridden in a car, and it is inconceivable that a car would take her at all. I have tried to get her out of this dilemma by having her ride with me, but all attempts have failed. Perhaps if she learns of this attempt, she will become even more insistent, and it may even reach the point of cutting off contact. She rarely leaves her house, and even that is very seldom. This is my problem, and I do not know what is obligatory for me regarding this mother, especially in her performance of this obligatory duty. I hope for a prompt response from your eminence.
A: If the matter is as you described, it is obligatory to wait, in case this obstacle is removed and your mother performs Hajj herself, the Hajj of Islam; for this is what is obligatory upon her, by the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Ali 'Imran 3:97], and this obstacle you mention is expected to be removed in this situation. If it becomes impossible for her to perform Hajj herself, then perform Hajj on her behalf; because she, in the state you described,
is in the ruling of the old woman who is unable to perform Hajj, and in the ruling of the sick person whose recovery is not expected. We ask Allah to double your reward, and to grant her healing and well-being until her chest is opened for Hajj by herself. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: My mother is fifty years old, and she is currently in good health
and has never performed Hajj or 'Umrah at all. I have tried to take her for Hajj or 'Umrah, but to no avail. She responds to me by saying: "Hajj is by the facilitation of Allah, and I will perform it if Allah wills," and so on. Her real problem is that she is afflicted with fear and terror of riding in a car . In fact, for fifty years she has never ridden in a car, and it is inconceivable that a car would take her at all. I have tried to get her out of this dilemma by having her ride with me, but all attempts have failed. Perhaps if she learns of this attempt, she will become even more insistent, and it may even reach the point of cutting off contact. She rarely leaves her house, and even that is very seldom. This is my problem, and I do not know what is obligatory for me regarding this mother, especially in her performance of this obligatory duty. I hope for a prompt response from your eminence.
A: If the matter is as you described, it is obligatory to wait, in case this obstacle is removed and your mother performs Hajj herself, the Hajj of Islam; for this is what is obligatory upon her, by the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way
وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاis in the ruling of the old woman who is unable to perform Hajj, and in the ruling of the sick person whose recovery is not expected. We ask Allah to double your reward, and to grant her healing and well-being until her chest is opened for Hajj by herself. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.