Sunday 21 Jumada al-akhirah 1446 - 22 December 2024
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Hajj at the expense of a government department

Question

I am a young man and I have sufficient money, praise be to Allah. I found an opportunity to work during Hajj whilst performing this important obligatory duty at the expense of a government department. Is my Hajj acceptable or not? Please note that this is the first time for me to do Hajj.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

It is permissible for a person to do Hajj at the expense of someone else, whether it is an obligatory or naafil Hajj. It is also permissible to work and do business and earn money during the Hajj. In his Tafseer, al-Tabari narrated with his isnaad from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) his comment on the verse in which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “There is no sin on you if you seek the Bounty of your Lord (during pilgrimage by trading)” [al-Baqarah 2:198]. He said: There is no sin on you if you buy and sell before entering ihraam and afterwards. 

The scholars of the Standing Committee were asked: what is the ruling on one who does Hajj at the expense of the ruler? i.e., if a ruler wants to give his subjects some money and tells them: Go for Hajj with this money. Is it permissible for them to do Hajj with it or not? If they do Hajj with it, will that count as the obligatory Hajj? 

They replied: It is permissible for them to do that, and their Hajj is valid, because of the general meaning of the evidence."(Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah  11/36). 

See also the answer to question no. 36841

And Allah knows best.

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Source: Islam Q&A