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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West Hajj: The pilgrimage to Mecca Introduction The pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj) is one of the fundmental obligations in Islamic laws. The holy Qur’an has clearly mentioned this obligation. Almighty Allah says in His holy Book: “And it is for the sake of Allah [a duty] upon the people to do the pilgrimage of the House—whosoever has the ability [to travel] to it.

And whosoever is ungrateful, then surely Allah is free from need of the universe.” (2:196) The Almighty has compared the negligence of hajj to ingratitude because of its importance. Hajj is one of the five pillars on which Islam is based.

In a noble hadith , Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) said, “Islam is based on five pillars: on prayer (salat), alms (zakat), pilgrimage (hajj), fasting (sawm), and devotion [to the Ahlul Bayt] (wilaya) ."[^1] Imam ‘Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.) advised about hajj by saying, “Do not neglect the pilgrimage to the House of your Lord; otherwise you will perish."[^2] Imam as-Sadiq (a.s.) said, “If the people neglect the pilgrimage to the House, the chastisement will overwhelm them and they would not be warned [about it].”[^3] This is so because neglecting hajj while the person is in a position to fulfill all its conditions is a great sin.

A hadith says, “When a person is capable of doing the pilgrimage but does not do it, he has indeed flouted a law from the laws of Islam.”[^4] Another noble hadith says, “One who keeps postponing hajj until he dies, Allah will resurrect him on the Day of Judgement as a Jew or a Christian.”[^5] General Rules When a Muslim becomes capable, hajj becomes obligatory upon him. By “ capability ” we mean the following: a.

Availability of enough time to travel to the holy places and stay there for performing the obligatory rites. b. Physical health and strength, observing to travel to the holy places, and staying there for the obligatory rituals. c. The road through which one has to pass for performing the rituals be open and secure, in the sense that it does not place the life or property or honour of the pilgrim in undue danger. d.

Financial ability: One should be able to get whatever is necessary for the pilgrim in his journey; e.g., food, drink, clothes, including the means of transportation according to his status by which he can cover the distance for hajj . e.