Can we perform Hajj through a personal loan from the bank?
Hajj is obligatory only upon those who can afford it. Allah SWT said:
"Pilgrimage to this House is an obligation by Allah upon whoever is able among the people." (Ali-Imran 3:97). Therefore, we are not obliged to perform the Hajj yet if our savings are still insufficient to pay the Hajj expenses.
What About Performing Hajj With Unlawful (Haram) Wealth?
His Hajj will not be accepted by Allah SWT, and the individual will not be rewarded for his deed. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "Indeed, Allah is good and accepts only what is good." (Muslim, 2/1015).
Performing Hajj on Behalf of Someone (Badal Hajj / Proxy Hajj)
Performing Hajj on behalf of someone else is allowed based on a few conditions, such as: medically unfit (old or terminally ill), or deceased.
Valid conditions for Badal Hajj:
- The person represented has met the conditions that make Hajj obligatory.
- The person appointed to perform Hajj on someone else's behalf has fulfilled his/her own obligatory Hajj.
Who is Eligible to be represented in Badal Hajj?
- Hajj is not valid for those who are physically fit to do it themselves.
- Badal Hajj is only for those who are terminally ill or for the deceased.
- Badal Hajj is not for people who are not financially able (poor).
- The person who cancels the Hajj for others must have performed the obligatory Hajj for himself. If he has not performed Hajj for himself, then he performs Hajj for someone else, then his Hajj will fall on himself.
- Women can replace men's Hajj, and vice versa. (Fatwa Al-Lajnah Daimah, 11/52).
- Badal Hajj is only allowed for one person, as is Umrah. However, if a person performs Hajj for someone and performs Umrah for another person in the same year, this is valid as long as he has performed Hajj or Umrah for himself. (Fatwa Al-Lajnah Daimah, 11/58).
- The badal Hajj should be performed by his son, his relatives, or his closest relatives. However, other people other than close relatives are also allowed to replace the Hajj.
Can a Child Perform Hajj?
Children who are performing Hajj must reach puberty to be considered valid. If children have not reached puberty, their Hajj is valid as a voluntary Hajj, not the obligatory Hajj.
Damm (Fine in Hajj):
Damm or fidya, is fine for Hajj pilgrims who miss any action from the obligatory acts of Hajj and violate the rules of ihram, such as cutting hair, hunting animals, or engaging in intimate relationships. They must offer Damn as atonement for their actions.
What is Hady?
Hady refers to an animal sacrifice (camel, cow, or goat) carried out by pilgrims with the aim of getting closer to Allah SWT.
Is Talbiya Wajib?
Talbiyah is considered a sunnah act in Hajj (and Umrah). Men should recite the Talbiyah audibly, whereas women should recite it softly.
Can We Observe Tahallul Without Shaving Our Heads?
It is allowed to perform tahallul by trimming the hair or cutting a small part of the hair only. However, male pilgrims are encouraged to shave the whole head (bald).
Can I Perform Tawaf During Menstruation?
A female pilgrim who is menstruating must wait until she is in a state of purity before performing tawaf. If one still experiences menstruation, she can perform tawaf by paying the damm - based on the Hanafi school of thought. Or you can also take the views of Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Qayyim which allow tawaf in an impure state if they are in a state of emergency - without having to pay the damm (e.g.: she cannot stay in Makkah because she is part of a group that will leave soon, and she cannot come back in order to do tawaf).