Question

My country prevented Hajj this year, is it permissible for me to do Hajj by some other way? For example, by buying a visa, and thus the whole journey of Hajj would cost me much money – about $17,500 – which is approximately equivalent to buying a house for a poor person or which is equivalent to the cost of Hajj for two persons. I am only 43 years old. What is better for me? Should I go for Hajj this year or wait and do it next year?

Fatwa

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger.

In principle, Hajj is to be performed straightaway. This is the opinion of the majority of scholars. Whoever is able to do Hajj, then he must hasten to do it, and it is not permissible for him to delay it. However, many of the scholars stated that whoever finds a riding camel – and this applies to modern means of transport – however he finds it for more than its usual price or cost, then Hajj is not obligatory upon him.

An-Nawawi said:

If the distance between him and Makkah is a distance in which he may shorten the prayer, then he is not obliged to perform Hajj unless he finds a means of transportation that befits those who are like him with the usual price or cost. If he does not find it or finds it for more than its usual price or cost, or if he is unable to pay its price or cost, then he is not obliged to perform Hajj.

Accordingly, there is no blame upon you, Allah Willing, for delaying Hajj this year because, under the circumstances you have stated, you are not one of those on whom Hajj is obligatory, as we have pointed out.

Allah Knows best.