If one is able to perform the Hajj, but he wants to donate the amount of money he saved to his poor relatives, what will be the ruling in this case?

Answer

Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.

Performing Hajj is a pillar of the five pillars of Islam. It is obligatory upon those who are financially and physically able. It cannot be substituted by any other worship especially for those who are able. However, performing it more than once is controversial. Referring to your question, some scholars think that performing Hajj again and again is better that charity.  Others think that charity is better than performing Hajj again and again especially when the majority of people are in need.

Performing the Hajj is a must. It is a duty. It is a pillar of the five pillars of Islam. It includes physical worship like the prayers and fasting; it also includes financial worship like Zakat as a Muslim pays a lot to perform such a ritual. It also involves struggling against one’s desires.

Allah says: “And perform properly (i.e. all the ceremonies according to the ways of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH), the Hajj and Umrah (i.e. the pilgrimage to Makkah) for Allah.” Al-Baqarah: 196. He also 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.” Al-Imran: 97

The clause “and Hajj is a duty that mankind owes” means that performing Hajj is obligatory.  What assures this meaning is the rest of the verse: “and whoever disbelieves [i.e. denies Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah), then he is a disbeliever of Allah] then Allah stands not in need of any of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists.” Al-Imran: 97.

Thus, ignoring this ritual is not done by a Muslim. Leaving this ritual when one is able is equal to atheism. (Noor ed-Din Atar’s Al-Hajj wal- Umrah).  Ibn Abbas RRA interprets this verse saying that whoever denies the obligation of Hajj and thinks that pilgrimage is not a pillar or a duty is a disbeliever. (Tafsir al-Tabari: 6/51)

The above-mentioned verses assure the obligation of Hajj. Moreover, there are prophetic Hadiths to assure the importance of Hajj.

Ibn Omar RAA narrated that the prophet said: “Islam is based on five things: the testimony that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, the observance of the prayer, the payment of zakat, the pilgrimage, and the fasting during Ramadan.” Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Abu Hurairah RAA said that the messenger of Allah delivered a Khutba and said: “O people! Hajj (pilgrimage to the House of Allah) has been made incumbent upon you, so perform Hajj. A man inquired: O messenger of Allah, is it prescribed every year? He (PBUH) remained silent till the man repeated it thrice. Then he (PBUH) said: “Had I replied in the affirmative, it would have surely become obligatory, and you would not have been able to fulfill it.” Afterwards he said: “Do not ask me as long as I do not impose anything upon you, because those who were before you were destroyed on account of their frequent questioning and their disagreement with their prophets. So, when I order you to do something, do it as far as you can, and when I forbid you from doing anything, eschew it.” Related by Muslim.

These prophetic hadiths are successive and documented.

The prophet’s companions agreed that performing Hajj is obligatory once in life time. Therefore, and after all these evidences, Muslim scholars decided that whoever denies the compulsion of Hajj is a disbeliever and apostate. (Ibn Qudama’s Al-Mughni: 3/154) (Ibn Taymiyyah’s A Great compilation of Fatwa: 2/308)

 Hence, to decide which is better: to perform Hajj again or charity, there are different opinions: the scholars: Tawoos and Al-Hasan say performing Hajj again is greater than charity. However, other scholars like An-Nakh’i think that charity is greater than performing Hajj for a second or a third time.

Other scholars say, if there are relatives who are in need, or if Muslims suffer from hunger, charity is greater and more important; otherwise, performing Hajj is greater. This is the opinion of Ahmad.

Moreover, scholar Al-Hasan said: “maintaining the bonds of relatives and relieving hardship are greater than optional worship. (Precious Articles on the Pilgrimage to Noble Places: 12)

These days, as people in general are in need, I think that paying charity is greater that reperforming Hajj; in addition, this deed allows others who have not performed Hajj yet to take their chance and to give them a room to travel to perform Hajj.

Finally, it would be better for you to perform Hajj once you are able as it is a duty.