Q: My wife wants to perform Hajj with me leaving my son behind by some friends. She is still feeding the child. I am worried and do not want to leave the child behind as he is very sensitive and afraid of foriegn people. He wakes up at night and wants his mother all the time. I am trying to convience my wife to leave the hajj this year. Am I commiting a sin ? Am I obliged to take her with me for hajj?
A: If Haj has become fardh upon you and your wife, then you both should not delay in fulfilling this obligation. However, if there is no responsible person to take care of the child in your absence, or the child is unable to stay by anyone, then under such circumstances, it will be permissible for your wife to postpone the Haj (until the following year) and remain behind in order to look after the child.
( فرض ) … ( مرة ) … ( على الفور ) في العام الأول عند الثاني وأصح الروايتين عن الإمام ومالك وأحمد فيفسق وترد شهادته بتأخيره أي سنينا لأن تأخيره صغيرة وبارتكابه مرة لا يفسق إلا بالأضرار ( على مسلم ) … ( حر مكلف ) عالم بفرضيته ( صحيح ) البدن ( بصير ) غير محبوس وخائف من سلطان يمنع منه ( ذي زاد ) يصح به بدنه فالمعتاد اللحم ونحوه إذا قدر على خبز وجبن لا يعد قادرا ( وراحلة ) ( الدر المختار 2/455-459)
فتاوى رحيمية 8/48
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)