Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Can someone perform Hajj on Zakat money? 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Hajj with zakah funds

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Shariah Law dictates that the Hajj pilgrimage is only obligatory on every adult believer, man or woman, who has the financial and physical means to afford the journey; thus if one is financially or physically incapable of performing the journey, such a person will be excused from the obligation of Hajj and will not be held accountable for not being able to fulfill their obligation of Hajj in the Court of their Lord Most Merciful.

Secondly, Allah Subhanah has prescribed that ‘zakah’ should be paid to any of the below listed eight categories only:

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 60:

60 Alms are for the poor, and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds), for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to the Truth), for those in bondage and in debt, in the Cause of Allah, and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah and Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom.

1. To the poor
2. To the needy
3. To those who are employed to administer the zakah funds
4. To those whose hearts have recently been reconciled to the Truth of Islam (new-muslims)
5. For those in bondage
6. For those in debt
7. In the Cause of Allah
8. To the way-farer or traveler

Allah Subhanah has Commanded and Guided the believers that ‘Zakah’ must be distributed to any of the above eight categories only; for all other categories, one may help them through voluntary and supererogatory charity or ‘sadaqah’ but not through ‘Zakah’ funds.

It would not be permissible in Shariah for one to give someone funds from their ‘zakah’ dues only so that they may perform the Hajj.

But if one feels that their believing brother is poor or needy and gives them some funds from their ‘zakah’ dues to fulfill their needs, and the person who receives the ‘zakah’ dues happens to spend the ‘zakah’ funds they received to perform the Hajj pilgrimage, the one who gave the ‘zakah’ funds is blameless.

If the person who receives funds from ‘zakah’ chooses to perform the Hajj pilgrimage, their Hajj will be considered valid.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan