Is a child's الحج valid, and does it fulfill their واجب الحج?

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.