Date : 02-12-2009

Question :

Is a Muslim obliged to sell his land in order to cover the expenses of Hajj because he has no other source of income?


The Answer :

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad.



The most prevalent opinion of the Shafite jurists is that a person is obliged to sell the land that he employs in agriculture in order to cover the expenses of his Hajj. This is because that land is reserved for covering future expenses while Hajj is due on him immediately.



Their least prevalent opinion is that selling one`s land to cover the expenses of Hajj isn`t obligatory:



A Shfite book, stated: "One who possesses active funds that cover his expenses is obliged to sell them to pay for the expenses of his Hajj because this is the most correct opinion….Whereas, according to the least prevalent opinion, he isn`t obliged to do so in order not to be considered from the category of the poor who are eligible to receive obligatory charity." [Moghni Al-Mohtajj vol.1/pp.465]. And Allah Knows Best.