A sister asks:

"I'd like to know if not performing Hajj (while having the opportunity) on the ground of not trusting to leave one's daughters at home alone is lawful and valid. Or if performing such a pillar of Islam has the priority over one's daughter and having trust/distrust in them.

In my case, me and my sister are 22-25 years old and we don't have anyone who could "care" for us, but on the other side we are old enough to stay alone..

Every year I ask my parents if they're going to perform Hajj but they reply: "we don't trust you in leaving you home alone"; I remind them that not performing Hajj while having the means to do so is a great sin and they shouldn't let their love/worry for us overcome the obligation of Hajj, but they justify themselves saying they have a valid reason, but I don't think that "loving one's daughters too much and not trusting them" is a valid reason!  Is that correct?".

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

Answer

In a nutshell, the aforementioned scenario is not a valid excuse not to go for Hajj. If the parents failed to go and passed away without performing the Hajj, they would be considered sinful.

It is narrated by Saaiduna Ali Radiallahu Anhu that the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam once said: "He who possesses sufficient provisions and means of journey for the performance of Hajj and yet does not do so, let him die the death of a Jew or a Christian." (Sunan Tirmizi)

If the parents do have a genuine concern for their daughter’s well-being, they can book a ticket to go for Hajj for a couple of weeks. It is unlikely that within two weeks one’s daughters will seriously go off their deen and start doing immoral things.

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham