The Obligation of al-Hajj and al-Umrah

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بِمَسَائِلَ بَعْضُهَا مَعَ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ وَ بَعْضُهَا مَعَ أَبِي الْعَبَّاسِ فَجَاءَ الْجَوَابُ‌ بِإِمْلَائِهِ سَأَلْتَ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ لِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا[1] يَعْنِي بِهِ الْحَجَّ وَ الْعُمْرَةَ جَمِيعاً لِأَنَّهُمَا مَفْرُوضَانِ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ أَتِمُّوا الْحَجَّ وَ

‘You have asked about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, “People owe to Allah to perform al-Hajj of the House, whoever is capable to do so,” (3:97) is a reference to al-Hajj and al-‘Umrah. It refers to both of them performed together because they are obligatory.’ You have asked about the words of

وَ أَتِمُّوا الْحَجَّ وَ الْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ‌ قَالَ هُمَا مَفْرُوضَانِ‌[4].

“About the words of Allah: ‘Complete al-Hajj and al-‘Umrah for the sake of Allah’ (2:196) abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that they are obligatory.”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْحَجُّ عَلَى الْغَنِيِّ وَ الْفَقِيرِ فَقَالَ الْحَجُّ عَلَى النَّاسِ جَمِيعاً[5] كِبَارِهِمْ وَ صِغَارِهِمْ فَمَنْ كَانَ لَهُ عُذْرٌ عَذَرَهُ اللَّهُ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if al-Hajj is obligatory on both rich and poor people. He (the Imam) said, ‘Al-Hajj is obligatory on all people, grown up ones and small ones, only those who have good reasons Allah accepts their excuse.’”

الْعُمْرَةُ وَاجِبَةٌ عَلَى الْخَلْقِ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْحَجِّ عَلَى مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ- وَ أَتِمُّوا الْحَجَّ وَ الْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ‌ وَ إِنَّمَا نَزَلَتِ الْعُمْرَةُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ‌ فَمَنْ تَمَتَّعَ بِالْعُمْرَةِ إِلَى الْحَجِ‌ أَ يُجْزِئُ ذَلِكَ عَنْهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

‘Al-’Umrah is obligatory on the creatures as al-Hajj is if they are able to perform; Allah, most High, has said, ‘Complete al-Hajj and al-‘Umrah for the sake of Allah.’ (2:196) Al-’Umrah came in al-Madinah.’ I then asked, ‘Those who benefit (al-Tamattu‘) in al-‘Umrah and al-Hajj’, is that kind sufficient?’ He (the Imam

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَرَضَ الْحَجَّ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْجِدَةِ[7] فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ وَ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ‌ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ لِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا وَ مَنْ كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعالَمِينَ‌ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَحُجَّ مِنَّا فَقَدْ كَفَرَ قَالَ لَا وَ لَكِنْ مَنْ قَالَ لَيْسَ هَذَا هَكَذَا فَقَدْ كَفَرَ[1].

“Abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.) has said that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, made al- Hajj obligatory for people of Jaddah every year because of His words, ‘It is obligatory upon people from Allah to perform al-Hajj who are able to do so. Those who refuse must take notice that Allah is independent of all people.’ (3:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَرَضَ الْحَجَّ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْجِدَةِ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has made al-Hajj obligatory on people of Jaddah every year.”’

لَيْسَ عَلَى الْمَمْلُوكِ حَجٌّ وَ لَا عُمْرَةٌ حَتَّى يُعْتَقَ.

‘It is not obligatory upon a slave to perform al-Hajj or al-‘Umrah until he is free.’”

الْحَجُّ فَرْضٌ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْجِدَةِ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Performing al-Hajj is obligatory upon people of Jaddah every year.’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَرَضَ الْحَجَّ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْجِدَةِ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has made al-Hajj obligatory on people of Jaddah every year.’”