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Can You Engage in Business during Hajj?

23 May, 2025
Q Dear scholar, I have a question about Hajj. Can a pilgrim earn money by being involved in work or engaging in business during Hajj?

Answer

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:

Islamic Guidance on Business During Hajj:

  • Initially, pilgrims avoided trade fearing it was forbidden.
  • Allah revealed Surat Al-Baqarah 2:198 allowing trade.
  • Ibn `Abbas clarified it’s permissible during rites.
  • Guiding pilgrims is also a valid earning with reward.
  • Business must not interfere with Hajj obligations.

Highlighting this issue, Sheikh Sayyed Sabiq  states in well-known book Fiqh us-Sunnah:

There is no harm if a pilgrim engages in trade and business during Hajj or `Umrah. Ibn `Abbas said: In the beginning when Hajj was prescribed, the people used to trade at Mina, Arafah, and the market place of Dhul-Majaz (a place close to Arafah) during the Hajj season, but they feared it might be forbidden for them while in a state of ihram. Thereupon Allah revealed the verse:There is no blame upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord [during Hajj]. (Al-Baqarah 2:198)

Commenting on the above verse, Ibn `Abbas added: The people used to shun business while in Mina, so they were instructed to engage in business or trade while departing from `Arafah.

Ibn `Abbas says that a man asked him, “I hire myself to these people to guide them in performing their rites of Hajj; will I have a reward for Hajj?” Ibn `Abbas said, “Yes.” (And then he recited) “Those will have a share of what they have earned, and Allah is swift in account.” (Al-Baqarah 2:202)

For more explanation, refer to these fatwas:

Almighty Allah knows best.

Editor’s note: This fatwa is from Ask the Scholar’s archive and was originally published at an earlier date.