Who are Obliged to Perform Hajj?

As of reaching adolescence, all healthy and financially able Muslims are obliged to perform Hajj once in a lifetime. Prophet Muhammad (saw) stated that whoever finds the opportunity must perform hajj once in a lifetime: “Hajj is to be performed only once. And if anyone performs it more often, he performs a supererogatory act.”  (Abu Dawud, Manasik, 1; Ibn Majah, Manasik, 2)

It is stipulated in the related verse that Hajj is a kind of worship that becomes obligatory depending on "affordability." (Ali 'Imran, 3/97)Here, the word "affordability" refers to the fact that the person going to the hajj has enough financial means to afford his travel and to provide for the people dependent on him. Besides this, it means that the person going to the hajj has enough power and opportunities in terms of health and time to perform it. Prophet Muhammad (saw) was asked, "O Messenger of Allah! What is it that makes hajj obligatory?" He answered, “The provisions and a means of conveyance.” (Tirmidhi, Hajj, 4) He reminded that those who are able to afford these are obliged to perform hajj.

It would not be right to interpret affordability as "being in a good financial condition." Such an interpretation of the word "affordability" would limit the worship of hajj only to wealthy Muslims. However, those one who do not have the wealth to be considered as wealthy but somehow can make it to the Ka’bah need to perform hajj.

A believer who finds the opportunity to perform hajj has to perform it as soon as possible, without postponing it to a later time. Because one may lose this opportunity for a variety of reasons and later he would be responsible for not performing it when he had the chance. Prophet Muhammad (saw) draws attention to this matter with the following hadith: “Whoever intends to perform Hajj, let him hasten to do so, for he may fall sick, lose his mount, or be faced with some need.” (Ibn Majah, Manasik, 1; Abu Dawud, Manasik, 5)

Despite the fact that it is a fardh, the sick and the elderly people who would not be able to endure the travel or perform hajj are not obliged to perform it. If suitable conditions do not occur, the ones in this situation would not be responsible for not performing hajj, therefore they send someone to perform it for them by paying (the price of) it. 

Today, because of Saudi Arabia’s quota application, the people who are willing to go to the hajj are determined by drawing lots in Turkey. Therefore, those who made an application but cannot perform hajj due to the applied quota obstacles are not considered responsible for that.