Hajj A Duty Well-to-Do People Owe to God
This duty is not only a form of worship but also regarded as a sign of true faith.
God says in Verse 97 of Surah Al Imran: “In it, there are clear signs; the station where Abraham stood. Whoever enters it let him be safe. Pilgrimage to the House is a duty to Allah for all who can make the journey. And whosoever disbelieves, Allah is Rich, independent of all the worlds.”
This verse indicates that performing the Hajj rituals is a divine duty for those who are capable. The word Istita’a (ability) in this verse is not limited to financial means alone but also includes physical capacity, safety of the journey, health, and the ability to manage life upon return.
The continuation of the verse with the phrase “And whosoever disbelieves, Allah is Rich, independent of all the worlds”, reminds us that deliberately abandoning Hajj is a form of disbelief and disregard for God’s command.
In the verse of Hajj, abandoning the pilgrimage is described as disbelief (kufr). Some interpret this kufr in the verse as apostasy, meaning leaving Islam for someone who denies the obligation of Hajj. However, others believe that abandoning Hajj—even without denying its obligation—constitutes leaving the fold of Islam. There are also those who hold that the term kufr encompasses any form of opposition to the truth, though it has different stages and levels, each with its own specific rulings.
From the perspective of some commentators, the phrase “Ayat bayyinat” (clear signs) refers to the evident signs of the House of God and, together with the preceding verse, serves as a response to the Jews who regarded Jerusalem al-Quds as more magnificent than the Kaaba.
Read More:
In reply to the Jews’ objections, the Quran highlights certain merits of the Kaaba in the previous verse, and in this verse, it adds the “clear signs”.
According to the verse of Hajj, the matters considered clear signs of the House of God include the Maqam of Abraham, the security granted to those who enter it, and the obligation of Hajj upon those who are able.
