Hajj or the Pilgrimage to Khana Kaaba, the most respected place for Muslims, situated in Makkah, is the fourth basic element of Islam. It is obligatory only on those who can afford it and that too only once in a lifetime. It means if a person having enough money for traveling, cost of food etc. is under religious obligation to perform Hajj. Suppose:-

1.                  Traveling expenses for Hajj are US$ 2000

2.                  Food and other cost of living there in Makkah is US$ 2000.

3.                  If someone has a family he should have enough money to provide maintenance for his family in his absence.

4.                  IN case of a woman it is necessary to travel with his mehram. Mehram means a person with the marriage is not permissible e.g. mother, sister, daughter, maternal or paternal daughter or uncle or aunt etc.

5.                  For a woman, it become obligatory to perform Hajj only if she has enough money to borne cost of Hajj of her and her mehram’s. However, if her Mehram could afford his own traveling cost this condition will no more be applicable and Hajj will become obligatory for her even if she does not have sufficient amount to bear the cost of Hajj of her mehram.

Indeed the Hajj is one of the most important ibaadat. For unless a man really loves God he would never undertake such a long journey leaving all his near and dear ones behind him and incur so much expenditure.

Imagine the world before this century without any aero plan or modern ships. People have to travel in caravans for months to perform Hajj and the journeys were so dangerous that many of the Hajjis were not sure that they could reach their destination i.e. Khana Kaba in Macca and to visit Masjid-e-Nabvi in Madina Sharif.

The Hajj unites the Muslims of the world into one international fraternity.