Question: Can a Muslim perform Hajj while he has riba or is in debt?

Answer: Hajj becomes compulsory upon a person when he/she possess the means to undertake the journey to Makka. The wealth which must be considered is that which is halal. Hence, if a person possesses riba and this amount is sufficient to take him for hajj, then hajj will not become compulsory upon him and he also cannot use it to perform the hajj.

If a person is indebted to the extent that he has no money to undertake the hajj, then it does not become compulsory upon him. If he has a sum of money which can take him for the hajj but this is supposed to be used to repay the debt, then he must use it to repay the debt and cannot take it for the purpose of undertaking the hajj.

If he wishes to still undertake the hajj with the intention of repaying the debt at a later date, then he must obtain permission from the one he owes before he can make this decision. If the debts are of a nature that they are due over a period of time and are not payable immediately or at any closer period, and a person has a sum of money sufficient enough to take him for hajj (besides the amount which he uses to repay the debt), then hajj will become essential upon him.


And Allah knows best.
Mufti Waseem Khan