Children may perform হজ্জ and enter ইহরাম, and their হজ্জ is valid as a voluntary (nafl) act that earns reward for both the child and the parent. However, it does not count as their ওয়াজিব হজ্জ — they must perform হজ্জ again after reaching puberty if they are able. The guardian enters ইহরাম on behalf of an infant by making the intention. The child must observe ইহরাম restrictions as much as possible.
Children are permitted to perform হজ্জ and enter ইহরাম according to the consensus of scholars from all four schools of jurisprudence. নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) affirmed this when a woman lifted her child during হজ্জ and asked: 'Is there হজ্জ for this one?' He replied: 'Yes, and you will have a reward.' This hadith establishes both the validity of a child's হজ্জ and the reward earned by the parent or guardian who facilitates it.
For infants and very young children who cannot understand or act for themselves, the guardian (parent or wali) enters ইহরাম on their behalf by making the intention (niyyah) and pronouncing the talbiyah for them. The guardian then performs তাওয়াফ and sa'i while carrying the child, and throws the pebbles on the child's behalf during the stoning ritual. Sheikh Ibn Baz explained that the guardian should ensure the child wears ইহরাম garments if possible and avoids ইহরাম restrictions as much as practically feasible.
However, the হজ্জ performed by a child — whether a discerning minor (mumayyiz) or a non-discerning infant — does not fulfill the obligation of the হজ্জ of Islam. All four schools agree that once the child reaches puberty, they must perform হজ্জ again if they meet the conditions of obligation (ability, means, etc.). Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen noted that while the child's হজ্জ is a valid voluntary act of worship with reward, the ওয়াজিব হজ্জ can only be fulfilled by someone who has reached the age of legal responsibility (bulugh).
A woman lifted up a child and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, is there হজ্জ for this one?' He said: 'Yes, and you will have a reward.'
A woman lifted up a child and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, is there হজ্জ for this one?' He said: 'Yes, and you will have a reward.'
নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) said: 'The pen is lifted from three: from the sleeping person until he wakes up, from the child until he reaches puberty, and from the insane person until he regains his sanity.'
নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) said: 'The pen is lifted from three: from the sleeping person until he wakes up, from the child until he reaches puberty, and from the insane person until he regains his sanity.'
Scholars from different schools of Islamic jurisprudence offer varying perspectives on this matter.
A child's হজ্জ is valid as a voluntary act. The Hanafi school holds that the guardian enters ইহরাম on behalf of a non-discerning child. If the child violates ইহরাম restrictions, no fidyah is due because they are not legally responsible.
Al-Hidayah: the child's হজ্জ is nafl and does not fulfill the obligation. The guardian manages the ইহরাম on their behalf.
The Maliki school validates a child's হজ্জ. They hold that if the child commits ইহরাম violations, the fidyah is paid by the guardian from the guardian's own wealth, not from the child's wealth.
Al-Mudawwanah: Imam Malik validated children's হজ্জ and placed the responsibility on the guardian.
The Shafi'i school validates a child's হজ্জ as voluntary. If the child violates ইহরাম restrictions, fidyah is due and paid from the child's wealth if available, otherwise from the guardian's. The discerning child (mumayyiz) enters ইহরাম themselves with guardian's permission.
Al-Majmu' by al-Nawawi: 'The child's হজ্জ is valid, and the guardian enters ইহরাম on behalf of the non-discerning child.'
A child's হজ্জ is valid as nafl. The Hanbali school holds that the guardian enters ইহরাম for the non-discerning child. No fidyah is due for the child's ইহরাম violations according to one opinion, while another opinion requires it.
Al-Mughni by Ibn Qudamah: 'The child's হজ্জ is valid according to the hadith of the woman who presented her child.'
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 হজ্জ for this one?' He said: 'Yes, and you will have a reward.'
Sahih Muslim #1336 (sahih)নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) said: 'The pen is lifted from three: from the sleeping person until he wakes up, from the child until he reaches puberty, and from the insane person until he regains his sanity.'
Sunan Abu Dawud #4403 (sahih)