Budget hajj?? I didn’t know you could get a better hajj experience for more money, seems to defeat one of the main principals of equality. Is this something recent or has always been the case.
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Wow thats crazy. Appreciate the information that’s been shared because it gives a rough idea of how we can at least start preparing for hajj إن شاءالله
The cost of Hajj currently isn’t a stable .
It has been increasing gradually over the years, but the previous years Hajj put a whole new turn on it.
The whole system has changed, all funds are being directed to the businesses in Saudi Arabia and skipping out tour operations in other countries.
If a fund was setup up, it may help those wanting to make Hajj concentrate their efforts more as they have a dedicated savings to pay into.
There maybe some restrictions (optional at start) that makes it difficult to use the savings at any time.
This may take years, so the issue of paying zakah on the amount yearly (if it reaches the nisaab) would have to be taken into consideration.
Therefore the money saved could put put into investment to save zakah consuming it each year.
Inflation is also a factor to take into consideration.
Hajj may well be around £8 and more thousand now, but how much will it be in 10 years time?
Saving a small amount per month may not enable that individual to ever reach the amount as the cost is forever increasing.
The Hajj fund doesn’t guarantee the person being able to make Hajj any sooner than if they had saved their money in another way.
These are some points to think over.
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Assalamu alaikum. As soon as one starts earning money, has a stable job, they should be putting aside money with the intention to perform Hajj. It is obligatory upon Muslims, especially men. There are many different ways to save money now and it is easier than ever with various saving accounts, pots, even a at home money bank. Putting aside a small amount of money each month or whenever possible goes a long way. Just as you would have general savings. Investing in Hajj is a one in a lifetime investment, for your Hereafter. An amazing experience you cannot miss! Alhamdulillah I was lucky to complete my Hajj before the whole covid madness
Wa ‘alaykum assalaam. Welcome to the community. I agree. It’s good to have the intention and make some financial effort to perform Hajj even if it’s not financially possible in the near future. As long as the person knows they’re intending on it. Although, I do think the prices to perform Hajj is ridiculously expensive in the past few recent years. So is the new system Saudi has placed and the issues it’s caused to pilgrims last year. May Allah allow us all to perform Hajj and make it easy for us. Ameen
jazallahu khairan, for your advice. Do you think we should aim to set aside a percentage of our monthly income? Also, for sisters should we try and save for our mahram as well to make it easier for them?
I think some of these points are definitely valid and scary thoughts at the least- really makes you feel like only a select few can make it to hajj.
However I do feel that there are other things which are much more expensive than hajj which many people manage to pull off because they value them. For example, university fees of at least £9k/ year! Others save up similar amounts to buy a better car, etc. I feel that if one has hajj as a genuine goal, it could be financially feasible. However, many of us do think of it as an afterthought and by the time we become passionate about it, there’s not enough savings for it.
I think we need to consider saving up for Hajj after one has a stable income, but that’s easy to say.
Young men especially want to save up money and make financial investments, whether that’s into businesses or EG into a place of residence so they don’t have to pay rent when they have families.
In the U.K. for example house prices are very high , so that raises the question of what should we do first?
Agreed, I am a bit stuck, however, wahed provides hajj funds, so they take into consideration how much you make and put a percentage in for a hajj fund, and once you make enough, you can go, stress free!!
Ah I see, that’s good to know.
Many people have the mindset of “oh let me get a house, bring up my children, and perhaps I’ll go when I’m in my Middle Ages, when I will more likely have much more wealth accumulated”
Do you think people should save for Hajj as soon as they get a job and are fulfilling their other responsibilities financially? Or would you say it’s fine to delay it slightly if you want to invest into business for example?
I’d say it’s fine to delay, but it doesn’t need to be that way. If you set aside money each month for saving, Hajj, and investing you can achieve all of those things.
If the finances provide for it then yes.
Just seems like a distant dream with how much the costs are increasing. Is it as simple as saying “as soon as you have the money then go”? Should we consider that if all our savings were put on Hajj, we would be starting at £0 upon return. So should we be waiting until we have X amount of savings above the Hajj cost in order to have something to return to. If we wait that long, we cannot use our savings to finance any other goals. Does that then put our life progress at risk? Or is that risk all worth it to get the obligation of Hajj done?
MaShaAllah, great discussion.
May Allah bless you all to perform Hajj sooner rather than later, and inShaAllah since Covid, things seem to be returning back to normal, and hopefully this would entail the hajj prices dropping due to larger numbers attending.
Below I will share some points for your consideration as you consider your plan for financing your hajj.
In terms of the Hajj, there are five conditions that Islam stipulates before Hajj becomes compulsory upon an individual: being Muslim, being of sound mind, being an adult, being free (i.e not a slave), and being physically and financially able to perform the hajj.
Regarding the condition of being able; Allah says:
“And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka‘bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, [those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision, and residence)].” [Aal 'Imran 3:97]
The scholars of Islam have elaborated on the meaning of financial ability and stated that it refers to a person having the means of transportation to reach Makkah, whether by plane, car, or otherwise, or by renting transportation, according to their abilities, and that they have sufficient provisions that can last a round trip (To Makkah and back). They also state that the amounts needed to cover their transport and meals should be surplus to the obligatory expenses they may have to honor on behalf of their family until they return from Hajj, and surplus to any debts that are due upon them, or will be due during the hajj or immediately after the hajj, and will not be honored due to the Hajj.
It is also important to note that when looking at one’s obligatory expenses, it is incumbent that those expenses entail the minimum viable options and not options surplus to requirement or extravagant in reality. As such, if a person decides that they do not qualify to perform the hajj as they will be out of money to cover extravagant expenses or surplus expenses upon them towards their family whilst away, for example; they will be considered sinful from an Islamic perspective.
Lastly, some people excuse themselves from qualifying to perform hajj due to them not having enough to afford a 5-star Hajj Package. This naturally does not have any basis from an Islamic perspective, and the obligation would apply in the event of a person having funds to cover a basic package that ensures personal safety as well as compliance with the rules of Hajj as established within Islamic Jurisprudence.
May Allah bless you all.
I agree with the points made above that if one genuinely makes saving up for Hajj as their goal, as people do for other material things, then it is no doubt feasible to save up the 8-10 grand.
A question I have has to do with someone in my position. While I am saving up for Hajj for myself, I feel obliged to save up for my mother too, but that delays the process. Without delving into the specifics, my mum is getting older, has some health issues and has never completed Hajj. She is unemployed and I am the main earner for the household. I am the only realistic mahram for her to complete Hajj, so I feel guilty if I was to save up for just myself and go alone. But then, I could end up having to save 20 grand. I have not put any thought into if I was to get married before then, and if I should take/help finance my wife too. Currently, I have made the intention to take my mum to Hajj with me but it would be interesting to hear others’ perspectives as I’m sure this is a situation other young men are facing.