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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Islamic Laws Hajj Issue 2044: * Hajj (pilgrimage) means visiting the House of Allah (Ka'bah), and performing all those worshipful acts which have been ordered to be performed there. It is obligatory on a person once in his lifetime, provided that he fulfils the following conditions: (i) He should be baligh. (ii) He should be sane and free, that is, he should not be insane and should not be a slave.

(iii) Because of proceeding to Makkah for Hajj, he should not be obliged to commit a haraam act, avoidance of which is more important than Hajj, nor should he be compelled to forsake an obligatory work which is more important than Hajj. (iv) He should be capable of performing Hajj, and this depends upon number of factors: (a) He should possess provisions and means for transportation, if need be, or heshould have enough money to buy them.

(b) He should be healthy and strong enough to go to Makkah and per form Hajj, without suffering extreme difficulties. (c) There should be no obstacle on the way. If the way is closed, or if a person fears that he will lose his life, or honour, while on his way to Makkah, or he will berobbed of his property, it is not obligatory on him to perform Hajj. But if he can reach Makkah by another route, he should go to perform Hajj, even if the other route is a longer one.

But that route should not be unusually longer. (d) He should have enough time to reach Makkah, and to perform all the acts of worship in Hajj. (e) He should possess sufficient money to meet the expenses of his dependents whose maintenance is obligatory on him, like, his wife and children, as well as the expenses of those who have to be paid, like, servants, maids, etc.

(f) On return from Hajj, he should have some means of livelihood, like, income from the property, farming, business, employment etc. so that he may not lead a life of hardship. Issue 2045: When a person is in need of owning a house, performance of Hajj will be obligatory on him if he also possesses money for the house.

Issue 2046: If a wife can go to Makkah but does not have any means of support on her return, and if her husband is also poor, and cannot provide her subsistence, subjecting her to hard life, Hajj will not be obligatory on her.