Answer
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
Yes, Hajj is valid while in long term debt if the person is confident in repaying it when due. If unsure about repayment, he should delay Hajj.
Answering your question, the late Saudi scholar Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him), stated:
Debt Takes Precedence Over Hajj
A debt which is due now takes precedence over Hajj, because this obligation comes before Hajj. So he should pay off the debt and offer Hajj. If he has nothing left after paying off the debt, then he should wait until Allah makes him independent of means.
The Ruling on Long Term Debts and Hajj
If it is a long-term debt to be paid off at a future date, and the person feels confident that he will be able to pay it on the agreed date, then, in this case, the debt does not mean that Hajj is not obligatory for him, whether the lender gives him permission or not. If there is no guarantee that he will be able to pay it off as agreed, then he should wait until the date for the payment comes. (Fatawa Ibn `Uthaymeen, 21/96)
Consult the following fatwas for further details:
- Can You Go to Hajj with Debt?
- Can I Perform Hajj I Am in Debt?
- Can You Go to Hajj If You Have a Debt or a Loan? (Video)
Allah Almighty knows best.
Editorโs note: This fatwa is from Ask the Scholarโs archive and was originally published at an earlier date.
Source: www.islamqa.info