Dear Islamic brothers, let us listen to a few narrations on this very topic, which describe the authority of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم .

The obligation of hajj and the Prophet’s authority

When Allah made hajj obligatory, and the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم announced this in a sermon, اَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ فَرَضَ اللہُ عَلَيْكُمُ الْحَجَّ فَحُجُّوا, - ‘O people! Allah has certainly made hajj obligatory upon you, so perform it.’ An honourable Companion, Aqra’ bin Haabis رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ! Is it obligatory to perform hajj every year?’ He presented the same question three times, but the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم remained silent throughout. After remaining silent and letting the Companion finish asking, he replied by saying, لَوْ قُلْتُ:نَعَمْ لَوَجَبَتْ - “If I had said yes, performing hajj every year would have become obligatory.”^[1]

Remember, hajj is compulsory only once in a person’s life, as mentioned in hadith. When the Companion, Aqra’ bin Haabis رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ , asked if Hajj was mandatory every year, the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied:  بَلْ مَرَّۃً وَاحِدَۃً فَمَنْ زَادَ فَتَطَوُّعٌ - ‘Hajj is (obligatory) only once. It is voluntary (nafl) for whoever performs it more than this.’^[2]

سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه! Look at the powers of authority held by the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ! Look at the deep concern he has for his ummah! Despite having the ability to, he did not declare hajj obligatory for his ummah every year in order to save them from potentially finding this difficult. Having said this, the authority and mastery granted to him by Allah is clear from this narration. If he had said yes, hajj would have become obligatory every year.