Expenses of Hajj are prohibitive (too high)

26-1-2004 | IslamWeb

Question:

I am thinking about performing Hajj in the month of Dhul-Hajj, but sadly the high cost of going on Hajj is always a problem and millions of other Muslims feel that way. I need your help to find a solution for me or at least some advice.
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 ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

There is no doubt that Hajj is one of the best actions by which a person gets nearer to Allaah.

Abu Hurayrah may Allaah be pleased with him narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was asked about the best action and he replied: "To believe in Allaah and in His Prophet. He was then asked: “What is the best action after this?” He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) replied: "To fight in the Cause of Allaah." He was then asked: “What is next?"  He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) replied: "An accepted Hajj."  [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

In another Hadeeth the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Whoever performs Hajj and he neither utters obscene words nor does he commit any act of disobedience, he returns like the day his mother gave birth to him." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Also, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Jihaad (fighting in the Cause of Allaah) for the elderly and young people, as well as for the weak and women, is to perform Hajj and Umrah." [An-Nasaa'i and Al-Albaani]

There are many Ahadeeth about the excellence of Hajj and which encourage people to perform it. Besides, the scholars may Allaah have mercy upon them mentioned that spending on Hajj equals spending when fighting in the Cause of Allaah. Their evidence about this is the saying of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) "Spending on Hajj is like spending when fighting in the Cause of Allaah, it is multiplied 700 times." [Ahmad and Al-Arnaoot]

Therefore, whoever is able to perform Hajj or is eager to perform it, while performing it does not harm him or his dependents, and he wants to perform it, then he should not consider the amount of money that he spends for this purpose as being too much, because the more a person spends in the way of Allaah, the more reward he gets.

Allaah Knows best.

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