The Obligation of al-Hajj and al-Umrah

“I once wrote to abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about certain issues (of Fiqh) of which a few were with ibn Bukayr, a few with abu al- ‘Abbas. The answers came with his (the Imam’s) dictation, ‘You have asked about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, “People owe to Allah to perform al-Hajj of the House, whoever is capable to do so,” (3:97) is a reference to al-Hajj and al-‘Umrah. It refers to both of them performed together because they are obligatory.’ You have asked about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘Complete al-Hajj and al-‘Umrah for the sake of Allah. . .’ (2:196) ‘Completing’ means fulfilling this duty during which one must abstain from whatever a person in the state of Ihram abstains.’ I also asked him (the Imam) about the meaning of the words of Allah, the most High, ‘Al-Hajj al-Akbar’. (9:3) He (the Imam) replied it is staying in ‘Arafat, throwing pebbles on al-Jamar and al-Hajj al-Asghar stands for al-‘Umrah.’”

“About the words of Allah: ‘Complete al-Hajj and al-‘Umrah for the sake of Allah’ (2:196) abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that they are obligatory.”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if al-Hajj is obligatory on both rich and poor people. He (the Imam) said, ‘Al-Hajj is obligatory on all people, grown up ones and small ones, only those who have good reasons Allah accepts their excuse.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Al-’Umrah is obligatory on the creatures as al-Hajj is if they are able to perform; Allah, most High, has said, ‘Complete al-Hajj and al-‘Umrah for the sake of Allah.’ (2:196) Al-’Umrah came in al-Madinah.’ I then asked, ‘Those who benefit (al-Tamattu‘) in al-‘Umrah and al-Hajj’, is that kind sufficient?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is sufficient.’”

“Abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.) has said that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, made al- Hajj obligatory for people of Jaddah every year because of His words, ‘It is obligatory upon people from Allah to perform al-Hajj who are able to do so. Those who refuse must take notice that Allah is independent of all people.’ (3:96) I then asked him (the Imam); ‘Does one of us for not performing al- Hajj become an unbeliever?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘However, if he says, ‘This is not as such then he becomes one who hides the truth (an unbeliever).”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has made al-Hajj obligatory on people of Jaddah every year.”’

“Abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not obligatory upon a slave to perform al-Hajj or al-‘Umrah until he is free.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Performing al-Hajj is obligatory upon people of Jaddah every year.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has made al-Hajj obligatory on people of Jaddah every year.’”