The meaning of Hajj, its status and its conditions

Welcome to this course This adult course is for the person preparing to leave, the person who has just returned, and the person who stays in Montreal and wants to live these days with the pilgrims. It goes deeper into what the courses "Discovering Islam: the foundations" (lesson "Zakat, fasting and pilgrimage") and "The pillars of Islam" (lesson "Hajj, the great journey") presented briefly, and it completes the lesson "The farewell pilgrimage" of the course "The Seerah". It follows the order of the journey: understanding and preparing (the meaning, the conditions, iḥraam, its prohibitions, the three ways of performing Hajj), performing Umrah and then the days of Hajj step by step, and finally Madinah, the spiritual meaning, Eid and the return home. Where the schools differ, the course presents the positions without deciding: for your situation, the reference remains the centre's imam and, on site, the scholars accompanying your group. Practical details (registration, cost, agencies, procedures in Canada) are left for the centre to complete.

The words "Hajj" and "Umrah" In Arabic, الْحَجُّ means "to head for a place one venerates". In Islamic law, it is to go to the Sacred House in Makkah, during the months of Hajj, to perform specific acts (iḥraam, the standing at 'Arafa, the circuits around the Ka'ba, the walk between Ṣafaa and Marwa, the stonings…) in fixed places and on fixed days. الْعُمْرَةُ, Umrah, comes from a word meaning "to visit". It is often called the "lesser pilgrimage": iḥraam, ṭawaaf, sa'y, then shaving or shortening the hair. It can be performed at any time of the year.

Its place in the religion • Hajj is the fifth pillar: "Islam is built on five…" (Bukhari 8, Muslim 16). • Allah says: "And pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to Allah by people, for whoever is able to find a way to it" (meaning of 3:97, text below). The previous verse recalls that it is "the first House established for people" (3:96). • It is obligatory only once in a lifetime. When the Prophet ﷺ announced: "Allah has prescribed Hajj for you, so perform Hajj", a man asked: "Every year?" He answered: "If I said yes, it would have become obligatory, and you would not be able to do it" (Muslim 1337). Anything done beyond that is voluntary. • It was made obligatory in Madinah; the year is discussed (the 6th, 9th or 10th year of the Hijra according to different views) [À VÉRIFIER : date]. The Prophet ﷺ performed only one Hajj after the Hijra, in year 10: the "farewell pilgrimage".

Its merits • "Whoever performs Hajj without intimate relations and without sinning returns like the day his mother gave birth to him" (Bukhari 1521, Muslim 1350). • "One Umrah to the next expiates what is between them, and an accepted Hajj (al-ḥajj al-mabruur) has no reward other than Paradise" (Bukhari 1773, Muslim 1349). • Asked about the best deed, the Prophet ﷺ named faith in Allah and His Messenger, then striving in the path of Allah, then "an accepted Hajj" (Bukhari 1519, Muslim 83) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros].

Who must perform Hajj: the five conditions Scholars list five conditions for Hajj to be obligatory: 1. Being Muslim. 2. Having reached puberty. A child's Hajj is valid and rewarded, but it does not replace the obligatory Hajj: a woman lifted up a child and asked: "Does this one have a Hajj?" He answered: "Yes, and you have a reward" (Muslim 1336). 3. Being of sound mind. 4. Being free (a condition linked to the era of slavery). 5. Having the ability (al-istiṭaa'a): health, the means for the journey and the stay, from lawful money, beyond what one's family left at home needs and beyond one's debts that are due, and a safe route. Someone who is wealthy but permanently unable physically (old age, chronic illness) sends someone to perform Hajj in his place, according to the majority (see below).

Women and the maḥram The Prophet ﷺ said: "A woman should travel only with a maḥram" (Bukhari 1862, Muslim 1341). The schools draw different conclusions for the obligatory Hajj: • For the Hanafis and Hanbalis, the presence of the husband or a maḥram is part of a woman's ability: without him, Hajj is not yet obligatory for her. • For the Malikis and Shafi'is, she may perform the obligatory Hajj with a group of trustworthy women, or a safe group [À VÉRIFIER : présentation des avis]. The entry rules of the Saudi authorities on this point have changed in recent years: to be completed by the centre.

Right away or later? Must someone who meets the conditions leave as soon as possible? For the majority (according to the best-known position of the Hanafis, Malikis and Hanbalis), the obligation is immediate: one does not postpone it without reason. For the Shafi'is, one may delay it if one is sure of being able to perform it, but it is better to hasten [À VÉRIFIER : présentation des avis]. All agree on one point: whoever had the ability and dies without having performed Hajj has left a duty undone.

Umrah: obligatory or recommended? For the Shafi'is and Hanbalis, Umrah is obligatory once in a lifetime, like Hajj; for the Hanafis and Malikis, it is a strongly recommended sunna [À VÉRIFIER : présentation des avis]. All agree on its merit: an Umrah during Ramadan "is equal to a Hajj" (Bukhari 1782, Muslim 1256) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros].

Performing Hajj for someone else A woman of the tribe of Khath'am asked whether she could perform Hajj for her father, who was very old and could not stay seated on a mount; he answered: "Yes" (Bukhari 1513, Muslim 1334). One may therefore perform Hajj for a person who has died or who is permanently unable. According to the majority, one must first have performed one's own Hajj (account of Shubruma, Abu Daawuud 1811) [À VÉRIFIER : numéro et degré].

In practice in Canada Registration (quotas, official platform, approved agencies), cost, required vaccines, travel documents and preparation sessions: to be completed by the centre. Before paying money to an agency, ask the centre for advice.

Understanding the lesson

Explanation Hajj is the most complete act of worship: it involves the body (walking, standing, bearing the heat), money (the journey and the stay) and the heart (intention, patience, repentance). This is why it is asked only of the one who has the ability: "Allah does not burden any soul beyond its capacity" (2:286). But ability is a condition, not an excuse. Someone who can afford leisure trips, a new car or renovations, and who postpones Hajj year after year, should ask himself the question honestly. Hajj follows the footsteps of Ibraahiim, Haajar and Ismaa'iil, then those of the Prophet ﷺ: every rite is a living memory. And its reward is immense: the forgiveness of sins and Paradise for the accepted Hajj. Finally, Islam has provided for difficult cases: the child, the elderly person, the woman without a maḥram, the deceased. The schools answer them in different ways, with serious evidence: this is why this course refers you to the imam.

Lessons to draw from it • Make the intention of Hajj now and begin saving lawful money. • Pay your debts, return what is owed and put your affairs in order before leaving. • Do not postpone Hajj without a serious reason when you have the means. • Taking your children is permitted and rewarded, but their Hajj will have to be performed again after puberty. • For the question of the maḥram, of health or of Hajj for a parent, ask the imam's opinion.

Key points to remember • Fifth pillar (Bukhari 8, Muslim 16), obligatory once in a lifetime (Muslim 1337). • For whoever has the means (3:97). • Five conditions: Islam, puberty, sound mind, freedom, ability (al-istiṭaa'a). • Accepted Hajj: its reward is Paradise (Bukhari 1773, Muslim 1349). • Umrah: obligatory (Shafi'is, Hanbalis) or strongly recommended sunna (Hanafis, Malikis).

The main message Hajj is the duty of a lifetime for whoever has the ability: prepare it with lawful money and a sincere heart, and do not postpone it without reason.

The text: Surah Aal 'Imraan (3), verses 96 to 97 [TEXTE ARABE À INSÉRER : sourate 3:96-97]

Meaning: "The first House established for people is the one at Bakka (Makkah), blessed and a guidance for the worlds. In it are clear signs, among them the station of Ibraahiim, and whoever enters it is safe. And pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to Allah by people, for whoever is able to find a way to it. And whoever disbelieves, Allah is free of need of the worlds." The word "istaṭaa'a" (is able) is the origin of the condition of ability.

Arabic text: deliberately not typed, to avoid any error; it is to be copied from the centre's mushaf (or a verified source) at the place indicated.