Performing Hajj before fulfilling other obligatory duties and Sharee`ah related expenses
14/10/2010| IslamWeb
Question:
I broke about thirty oaths and have 3000 Saudi Riyals for Hajj. What should I do? Please advise. May Allah reward you.
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger.
If the questioner means that he owes thirty expiations for breaking oaths, then he must expiate for these oaths first before he spends his money on Hajj, even if it is the obligatory Hajj. This is because Hajj only becomes obligatory for the Muslim who can afford it after having settled his Sharee‘ah duties and obligatory expenses, such as Zakah, vows, and expiations. These things must be settled first, then, if some money is left and is enough for Hajj, he should perform Hajj with that money. Otherwise, he would be absolved of the obligation due to his inability.
Al-Buhooti who was a Hanbali scholar, while mentioning the preconditions for the ability to perform Hajj, said, “[This should be] after settling one’s duties, including immediate and deferred debts, Zakah, expiations, vows, and the Sharee‘ah-required expenses for him and those whom he maintains.”
Therefore, it is not obligatory for the questioner to perform Hajj from this money unless some money, which covers the Hajj expenses, remains after paying the Sharee‘ah-required expiations.
Also, we advise him to avoid making oaths frequently. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {But guard your oaths.} [Quran 5:89]
Allah Knows best.