Changing one’s mind after thinking of going on Hajj or ‘Umrah 12213

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Changing one’s mind after thinking of going on Hajj or ‘Umrah

Question

If one is thinking of going on holiday, and the thought of doing Umrah comes up, then if they decide not to go to Umrah, but instead to go on a holiday elsewhere, is there anything wrong in this. I have always been told that you only go to Umrah and Hajj if there is a calling and it is your time to go. Just by discussing the possibility and then not going does not mean your time is here?

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

With regard to the obligatory Hajj, one should hasten to do it, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Hasten to do Hajj, for no one of you knows what will happen to him.” And ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him) said, “Whoever dies without having done Hajj when he had the means to do so, he might as well die as a Jew or as a Christian.”

With regard to supererogatory (naafil) Hajj or ‘Umrah, a person can change his mind, and he does not sin by doing so, so long as he has not started the rituals, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And perform properly (i.e. all the ceremonies according to the ways of Prophet Muhammad), the Hajj and ‘Umrah (i.e. the pilgrimage to Makkah) for Allaah” [al-Baqarah 2:196]

He may choose the time that suits him; even if he has resolved to travel (for that purpose) then changes his mind, there is nothing wrong with that.