Going for Hajj via private travel agents

21-6-2012 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalamualeyikum, I am from India & Haj is fardh on me & i am planning to perform this year insha allah. There are two ways to perform haj here - Go via state haj comittee (they follow qurrah/lucky draw) where my name didn't selected. - Go via private travel operators I heard going via private travel operator is not correct? Please suggest Also i have an important question to ask. I am currently doing a job & it's unlikely that i will get holidays to perform haj. In india we go for about 40 days. In this situation shall i postpone my haj for next year or shall i leave the job go to haj & search for another job after i returned. Kindly answer my each question, it would be very beneficial. Jazaakumulllah Irshad

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

It is not clear to us why travelling via these private travel agents is not accepted; in principle, travelling with such agents is permissible unless it includes a religious prohibition. Therefore, we advise you to travel with these agents if you are able to do so provided there is no Islamic prohibition in travelling with them.

As regards your job, then if you are certain that they (your employers) will not give you a vacation for Hajj and you are harmed by leaving this job while you are unable to find another job to provide for your basic needs, then you have the concession to delay the Hajj until next year, and you are not sinful in doing so, Allaah willing.

On the other hand, if you will not be harmed by leaving this job, then you are obliged to leave it and travel for Hajj because according to the most preponderant opinion, Hajj is an immediate obligation. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 91223.

Allaah Know best.