Hajj Once, Between the Legal Text and the Developmental Needs of the Nation

Introduction:

Our Islamic world today faces highly complex circumstances, with the number of the poor and needy increasing, and the developmental gap widening in many societies, while billions are spent annually on repeating the Hajj rituals after fulfilling the duty.

While the religious office of the Syrian Future Movement affirms the great significance of Hajj in Islam, it calls for a re-examination of the concept of repetition, invoking its intended purpose, and directing surplus funds toward building individuals and strengthening the nation’s institutions.

 

Firstly: Hajj is obligatory once in a lifetime according to Islamic law:

It is narrated in a Hadith by the Prophet (peace be upon him): “O people, Allah has made Hajj obligatory upon you, so perform Hajj.” A man asked, “Every year, O Messenger of Allah?” He remained silent until the man asked three times. Then he said: “If I had said yes, it would have become obligatory, and you would not have been able to do it. Hajj is once; whoever does more is voluntary.” (Narrated by Muslim and Ahmad).

The scholars, including Al-Nawawi, Ibn Rushd, Ibn Qudama, and Ibn Taymiyyah, agreed that Hajj is only obligatory once in a lifetime for those who are able, and any additional Hajj beyond that is voluntary.

Imam Al-Shafi’i stated in his book “Al-Umm” that after performing the obligatory Hajj, it is better to spend money on other voluntary acts or on charitable causes based on the needs of the nation.

 

Secondly: The Reality of the Nation Calls for Rationalizing Repetition:

Some unofficial statistics estimate that more than 30% of the pilgrims each year are repeaters.

Knowing that the average cost of Hajj is approximately 7,000 to 10,000 dollars per person, the total amount spent on repeating Hajj ranges between 2 billion and 3 billion dollars annually.

 

These figures are sufficient to establish:

1. Dozens of hospitals and schools.
2. Thousands of endowment projects.
3. Programs for the rehabilitation of orphans and widows.
4. Funding for education and vocational training funds.

 

Thirdly: Islamic Endowment as a Means to Secure Sustainable Returns:

Endowment in Islam involves freezing the principal amount of wealth and directing its proceeds toward perpetual benefit.

Hence, the creation of “endowment funds from the money spent on repeated Hajj” can achieve:

1. Financial sustainability for charitable projects.
2. Protection of the nation’s wealth from wastage.
3. Long-term strategic planning to serve the community.

Contemporary scholars, such as Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi and Sheikh Muhammad al-Ghazali, have pointed out that redirecting money toward community development falls under the category of “fulfilling obligatory duties that take precedence over personal voluntary acts.”

 

Fourthly: Hajj as an Annual Global Conference for the Nation:

The greatness of Hajj is not limited to being an individual act of worship, but it also serves as an annual global conference where the unity of Muslims is manifested and the issues of the nation are presented.

Prominent thinkers such as Malek Bennabi and Muhammad Iqbal have called for leveraging this season to build collective awareness, unify ranks, and revive the Islamic civilizational project.

 

Fifthly: The Impact of Regulation on the Political and Economic Reality:

In the face of severe economic crises and escalating humanitarian suffering, directing funds from voluntary acts of Hajj to community development strengthens:

1. Social stability.
2. Economic justice.
3. The advancement of education and healthcare.
4. Support for vulnerable groups such as refugees, orphans, and female breadwinners.

 

Religious Office Recommendations for the Syrian Future Movement:

1. Call on scholars and muftis to encourage people to perform Hajj only once, and to volunteer the excess funds for the benefit of the nation.
2. Establish national endowment funds to finance projects that serve orphans, widows, the poor, and infrastructure development.
3. Launch an awareness campaign under the slogan: “With the money from your second Hajj, build a community.”
4. Coordinate with Islamic jurisprudential councils to regulate voluntary Hajj during crises.
5. Allocate part of the official Hajj revenues to support education and healthcare in the poorest Islamic countries.
6. Focus on reviving the objectives of Hajj as a means to strengthen unity and integration among Muslims.

 

Conclusion:

In Islam, wealth is a trust, and its purpose in worship is the well-being of both the individual and society.

While the Religious Office of the Syrian Future Movement acknowledges the virtue of those who volunteer for Hajj, it urges them to elevate the goals of the faith and dedicate their wealth as an endowment for a nation in search of justice and dignity after years of war and collapse.

 

Religious Office

Research Team

Research and Studies Department

Articles

Syrian Future Movement