Question

My husband and I have been married for four years but we do not have any children. We went to a doctor and she told us that we need to perform an In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) procedure if we are to have a child. We have not yet performed Hajj and only have enough money to cover the costs of either the IVF, which is very expensive, or our obligation of Hajj, which is also very expensive as we live in the United Arab Emirates. It will cost both of us about twenty-five thousand Dirhams in total. We are of modest means, praise be to Allah The Almighty, and I do not know whether or not we will be able to save such a sum of money later on. I am yearning to have a child in my life and fear that my husband's relatives would convince him to marry another woman so as to have a child. What should I do? Which of the two matters should be prioritized?

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.

Hajj is obligatory upon a Muslim who is capable of performing it. This is supported by the verse (which means): {And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way.} [Quran 3:97]

Ability means having money that enables a person to pay the expenses of Hajj provided that it is in surplus to his necessary needs, like residence and life expenditures.

As for having children, there is no doubt that it is one of the most important needs in a person's life but it does not reach the degree of necessity. Hence, you have to give priority to performing Hajj over the IVF which you mentioned is very costly.

We would like to point out that the costs of Hajj vary according to the means of transportation, accommodation services in the sacred cities and so on. If you choose a cheaper Hajj package, you may reduce its costs in a way which helps you save some money that may help you with the IVF procedure. We ask Allah The Almighty to assist you in realizing all your aims and make reproduction easy for you.

Allah Knows best.