A woman lifted up a child and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, is there الحج for this one?' He said: 'Yes, and you have reward.'
A woman lifted up a child and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, is there الحج for this one?' He said: 'Yes, and you have reward.'
A child's الحج is valid and earns reward for both the child and the parent who facilitates it. However, it does not count as the child's واجب الحج. Once the child reaches puberty and has the means, they must perform الحج again for their obligation. This is by scholarly consensus. The parent enters الإحرام on behalf of a young child and assists them with all the rites.
A child's الحج is valid and earns reward, but it does not count as the child's واجب الحج. By scholarly consensus (ijma'), a الحج performed before reaching the age of puberty (bulugh) is considered a voluntary (nafl) الحج. When the child grows up and reaches puberty, they are required to perform الحج as their own obligation if they have the means, regardless of having performed it as a child.
الشيخ ابن باز stated that it is praiseworthy for parents to take their children for الحج, as this instills love for the sacred rites from an early age and earns reward for both the child and the parent. For a child who can walk and perform the rites independently (typically from age 7 onwards), the parent helps them through the rites with guidance. For an infant or very young child, the parent enters الإحرام on the child's behalf, carries them during الطواف and السعي, and performs the required acts (like cutting the child's hair) on their behalf.
الشيخ ابن عثيمين discussed the practical question of whether it is better to take young children for الحج or leave them at home. He acknowledged that taking young children can be very challenging during the intense الحج experience, and that the reward of the child's الحج does not discharge any future obligation. He advised parents to weigh the benefits (spiritual exposure, reward for facilitating worship) against the difficulties (potential distraction from their own worship, physical burden). He did not discourage it but left it to the parents' assessment of their specific situation.
A woman lifted up a child and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, is there الحج for this one?' He said: 'Yes, and you have reward.'
A woman lifted up a child and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, is there الحج for this one?' He said: 'Yes, and you have reward.'
النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: 'The pen is lifted from three: from the sleeper until he wakes, from the child until he reaches puberty, and from the insane until he regains sanity.'
النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: 'The pen is lifted from three: from the sleeper until he wakes, from the child until he reaches puberty, and from the insane until he regains sanity.'
Scholars from different schools of Islamic jurisprudence offer varying perspectives on this matter.
A child's الحج is voluntary and does not discharge the obligation. The child must perform الحج after puberty when they have the means.
Al-Hidayah: pre-puberty الحج is nafl; the obligation begins at puberty.
The Maliki school affirms that a child's الحج is valid but voluntary. The واجب الحج must be performed after reaching puberty.
Maliki scholars consider the child's الحج as a good deed that does not fulfill the future obligation.
A child's الحج is valid and rewarded. The Shafi'i school confirms that it is voluntary and does not count for the obligation after puberty.
Al-Majmu' by al-Nawawi: the child's الحج is nafl by consensus.
The child's الحج is valid and both child and parent are rewarded. It does not discharge the obligation that arises after puberty.
Al-Mughni by ابن قدامة: a child's الحج is voluntary; they must perform الحج again after bulugh.
This is a scholarly summary, not a personal fatwa. Consult your scholar for personal rulings.
A woman lifted up a child and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, is there الحج for this one?' He said: 'Yes, and you have reward.'
Sahih Muslim #1336 (sahih)النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: 'The pen is lifted from three: from the sleeper until he wakes, from the child until he reaches puberty, and from the insane until he regains sanity.'
Sunan Abu Dawud #4403 (sahih)