Is It a Condition for a Woman to Be Obliged to Perform Hajj That Her Husband Accompany Her?
Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch
Question
Is it obligatory for a woman to perform Hajj if she has enough savings for herself and her husband, but he cannot afford it? Does she have to pay for him, or is it only obligatory if he can afford it?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
If a woman has her own money and has an unmarriageable relative (mahram) who is adult (or nearly adult), Muslim, and upright, she is obliged to perform the Hajj, and her husband has no right to prevent her. She is not obliged to pay for her husband to go in case she can go with a mahram. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
The conditions of obligation of Hajj for women are as follows:
1) Islam: not obligatory on non-muslims
2) Adult (Baligh): not obligatory on children
3) Sanity (Aql): not obligatory on those who lack sanity
4) Health (Sihha): not obligatory on those physically unable
5) Sight (Basir): not obligatory on the blind
6) Safety (Salama): not obligatory on those who may be in danger by performing Hajj
7) Financially Able: (Dhu Zad): not obligatory on one lacking financial means
8) Means of Travels (Rahila): not obligatory for one lacking means of travel
Specifically for Women:
9) A Husband or unmarriageable blood relative (mahram) who is are adult, upright Muslims
[Ibid.]
Note that these conditions must be met, but they do not have to be sought out. So it is not an obligation for someone to get married so that she can perform Hajj. [Ibid.]Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he went on to study at Darul Uloom Seminary in New York and completed his studies in Darul Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen. There, he completed the memorization of the Qur’an and his study of the Islamic Sciences. Throughout his years of study he was blessed to learn from many great scholars: al-Habib Umar bin Hafiz, al-Habib Kazhim al-Saqqaf, al-Shaykh Umar bin Husayn al-Khatib, and others. Upon returning, he joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.
