The Pilgrimage (Al-Hajj) Constitutes one of the five pillars of Islam. Although it is made compulsory for every muslim, it stipulates a clear Condition that only those Muslim who have the means to undertake the journey to Ka'abah, the every first House of Devine worship on earth, may do so. It is not like the salat (prayer) or the saum (fasting) which every single faithful is bound to undertake.
The Qur'an declares:
" And Pilgrimage to the house is Incumbent upon men for the sake of Allãh, upon everyone who is able to undertake the journey to it".
Unlike the Prayers (Salãt), the fasting (saum) and poor-rate (Zakat) Which are compulsary as long as a man is compos mentis and live in this world, The hajj is obligatory only once in a lifetime of a Muslim as and when he is in a position to Undertake it.
The Holy prophet has Clarified the Position when a Companion (Sahãbat) asked a question to the prophet: "O Messenger of Allah! Is the pilgrimage (Hajj) to be performed every year or only once?
He said: Only once, and whoever does it more than once, it is supererogatory".
There are certain conditions which the person should satisfy before the pilgrimage becomes a fard (Compulsory) on him. If he does not satisfy any one of these conditions the Hajj does not become a fard on him.
• The person going for the Hajj be a Muslim
He should be an adult; in sound mental health, not being a lunatic.
• He should be in a sound bodily health to under go the trial of hard journey and difficult living on the way. A week person should send a proxy for the Hajj, and defray his expenses.
• It should be possible for the pilgrim to procure conveyance for purposes of the pilgrimage. This condition does not apply to residents of areas near Mecca.
The hajj is not Incumbent on the sick or old or poor. Islam has prohibited persons from going to perform their Hajj on foot: as the man is punishing himself by doing so. (Bukhari: 28:27). The months of the pilgrimage are Shawwãl, Dhul-Qadah and the first ten days of Dhul-Hajjah.
As far as the rites of the hajj are concerned, a pilgrim finds a complete guidance in the words and the deeds of the prophet. When he used to performed his pilgrimage, his companious used to note all what he did and uttered.
All Muslims, King or his servant, master or his slave, teacher or his pupil, rich or the poor are all equal in the eyes of God and he pilgrims demonstrate this Islamic ideal practically during the performance of the pilgrimage.