Hajj in a Time of Famine

Question

One of ‘Abd al-Rashid’s daughters is married, but his son-in-law beats her badly; however much he has been admonished, he does not desist. Now ‘Abd al-Rashid wishes to go on Hajj, but he fears that if something happens to him on the Hajj journey, the girl will be left an orphan and her life will be dreadful. Likewise, a famine is setting in in this region. So should he go on Hajj, or postpone it for now — how would that be?

Answer

He should by no means abandon the fard Hajj on account of the aforementioned situation of his daughter; likewise, he should not abandon it because of the lack of rain — unless, before the Hajj, he gives his money in sadaqa to the poor so that the famine-stricken poor are helped; then Hajj will of itself no longer be binding upon him this year.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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