Question

I want to perform Hajj but I feel that even after performing it I might commit sins and make mistakes. Should I perform Hajj or postpone it?

Answer

Almighty Allah enjoined performing Hajj to His Sacred House upon every Muslim who is able to do it, and made it one of the fixed five pillars of Islam on which Islam is based.

Therefore, being a sinner does not justify one's postponing the performance of this great obligation, through which Muslims are greatly rewarded by Almighty Allah and their previous sins are expiated. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Whoever performs Hajj and does not approach his wife for sexual relations nor commits sins (while performing Hajj), he will come out as sinless as a newborn child" (Al-Bukhari and Muslim). The Prophet also said, "The (performance of) `Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed (between it and the previous one). And the reward of Hajj mabrur is nothing except Paradise" (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Accordingly, we advise all Muslim sinners to repent as soon as possible and to perform this great obligation, whose performance will be a start of goodness for them. All Muslim sinners should know that Almighty Allah urges us to hurry to goodness and repentance, as He says [so vie with one another in good works] (Al-Baqarah 2:148). Almighty Allah also says [Race one with another for forgiveness from your Lord] (Al-Hadid 57:21). This is because Hajj is an obligation that must be immediately performed once one is able to perform it, according to the preponderant opinion of Muslim scholars. The reason is that the one who is able to perform it today might not be able to do it tomorrow; the one who is healthy today might not be healthy tomorrow; and the one who is strong today might be feeble tomorrow; no one can guarantee their own safety for as long as a heartbeat.

As for delaying repentance and postponing the performance of religious obligations, they are just satanic insinuations, heedlessness, and futile desires. May Allah safeguard us against them!

Furthermore, fearing to return to sinning does not contradict the performance of Hajj. Such fear is implanted by Satan in the hearts of those who want to turn to Almighty Allah in repentance and perform the duties He decreed. However, if Muslim sinners repent to Almighty Allah and perform the obligations enjoined by Allah, He changes their previous sins into good deeds, as Almighty Allah says about the repentant: [as for such, Allah will change their evil deeds to good deeds. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful] (Al-Furqan 25:70).