The Status of the Hajj in Islam

The Hajj is a duty on every adult, sane, free Muslim who is capable of performing it once in a lifetime. A capable person is the one who can afford the trip financially and health wise .

• If an under-aged performed the Hajj, it would be considered as supererogatory for him, but he still has to perform it once he has reached the age of puberty to fulfill it as an obligatory act of worship.

• If a Muslim is unable to perform the Hajj due to old age, terminal illness or the like, he must deputize someone to perform it on his behalf at his own cost .

• As for a woman, she must have a Mahram to accompany her , such as a husband, a male sibling of hers, a father, a son, a brother, or an uncle, as a precondition for the incumbency of Hajj upon her. Although her Hajj would by valid, yet she would commit a sin if she goes for Hajj by herself .

• A Muslim must first perform Hajj for himself before performing it on behalf of someone else .

• It is praiseworthy for the pilgrim to give out to the poor people in the Haram (The Masjid al-Haram in Makkah) and be charitable more often .

• The provisions and expenses of the Hajj must be earned lawfully .

• It is permissible for a menstruating woman, and a woman in postnatal period to have a bath or shower upon entering the state of Ihram for the purpose of performing the Hajj or the Umrah . She must remain in her Ihram in Makkah until she becomes clean and have a bath thereafter to complete the Hajj rituals.