Want to Perform Hajj? Know the Following Hajj Requirements First

Dream - Hajj requirements are important knowledge for prospective pilgrims. Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam and is a mandatory act of worship for capable Muslims. Hajj is a spiritual journey and worship performed in the Holy Land of Mecca.

Literally, hajj means 'visiting' or 'heading towards'. In the context of Islam, hajj refers to the worship that follows the footsteps of Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ismail. Hajj is performed in the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, on specific dates in the Hijri calendar.

Hajj has provisions that must be observed by pilgrims, including its requirements, obligations, pillars, and prohibitions. One of the topics that will be discussed in this article is hajj requirements. Hajj requirements are everything that is necessary for the validity of the hajj worship.

What are the hajj requirements in Islam that need to be understood? Find out the explanations below!

Hajj Requirements in Islam that Must be Known

Hajj is an important moment for Muslims, where they worship, strengthen spiritual bonds, and experience the unity of the Muslim ummah from all over the world. It is important for pilgrims to know the hajj requirements. The mandatory hajj requirements in Islam are as follows:

1. Being a Muslim

Anyone who wants to perform hajj must be a Muslim. Hajj is a worship specifically intended for Muslims.

This is explained in Surah At-Taubah verse 28:

يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْٓا اِنَّمَا الْمُشْرِكُوْنَ نَجَسٌ فَلَا يَقْرَبُوا الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ بَعْدَ عَامِهِمْ هٰذَا ۚوَاِنْ خِفْتُمْ عَيْلَةً فَسَوْفَ يُغْنِيْكُمُ اللّٰهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهٖٓ اِنْ شَاۤءَۗ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلِيْمٌ حَكِيْمٌ

Meaning: "O you who have believed, indeed the polytheists are unclean, so let them not approach al-Masjid al-Haram after this, their [final] year. And if you fear poverty, Allah will enrich you from His bounty if He wills."

2. Mentally Sound

Prospective hajj pilgrims must have sound mental faculties and be able to understand and perform the rituals and guidance of hajj. This is because a mentally ill person is someone whose intellect is impaired. This requirement is explained in a hadith narrated by Abu Dawud:

“The pen has been lifted from three: the sleeper until he wakes up, the child until he reaches adulthood, and the insane person until he regains his sanity.” (Narrated by Abu Dawud)

3. Puberty

Prospective hajj pilgrims must have reached the age of puberty, where a person has the ability to understand and perform worship independently. On the other hand, young children are not obligated to perform hajj. Based on a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad, there was a woman who brought her child to him and asked:

“Does this child get the reward of hajj?” Then the Prophet sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam answered: “Yes, and you will also receive the reward.” (Narrated by Muslim)

Through a hadith narrated by Imam Tirmidhi, scholars have agreed that if a young child performs hajj before reaching adulthood and sanity, then he/she must perform hajj again when they become adults.

4. Free (Not a Slave)

Another requirement for hajj is that the person must be free, not a slave. Therefore, a slave is not obligated to perform hajj.

“And any slave who performs hajj and is then freed, it is obligatory for him to perform hajj again.” (Narrated by Ibn Khuzaimah)

The hadith tells the story of a slave who performed hajj while still owned by his master. Then he was freed and obligated to perform hajj again.

5. Physically and Financially Capable

Prospective hajj pilgrims must have adequate physical condition to undertake the journey and perform the hajj rituals. In addition, they must have sufficient wealth or income to finance the hajj journey and their livelihood during their stay in Mecca, including transportation, accommodation, meals, and other expenses. The required wealth is adjusted according to the economic conditions and hajj costs prevailing at that time.

This requirement of 'capability' for hajj has been explained in the Quran in Surah Al-Imran verse 97.

وَلِلّٰهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ اِلَيْهِ سَبِيْلًا

Meaning: "And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way."

In addition, Muslims must also ensure that they have enough wealth when they return from hajj and enough to support the people they leave behind. And if the person has debts, the debts must be paid off first.

6. Mahram for Women

Another requirement for hajj is the presence of a mahram (male relative) for female prospective hajj pilgrims. This is in accordance with a hadith narrated by Imam Bukhari as follows:

“A woman should not travel except with a mahram, and a man should not enter upon her except with a mahram.” Then someone asked: “O Messenger of Allah, I want to go with this and that group, while my wife wants to perform hajj?” So he said: “Go out, go with your wife.” (Narrated by Bukhari)

Hajj also requires the presence of security and adequate facilities in Mecca and its surroundings. The government and relevant authorities must provide security guarantees and provide facilities such as accommodation, transportation, water, and adequate health services for hajj pilgrims.

It should be noted that hajj is mandatory to be performed once in a lifetime by those who meet the above requirements. However, there is also a type of hajj called hajj sunnah or hajj tamattu' that can be performed more than once. To perform hajj, pilgrims also need to arrange the necessary permits and travel documents from the government or relevant authorities.