If I said yes, hajj would have become obligatory (to perform every year).^[1]

It should be remembered that hajj is only obligatory once in a lifetime, as mentioned in hadith. When AqraꜤ b. Ḥābisرَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ asked about the obligation of hajj every year, the Messenger of Allah صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  explained: بَلْ مَرَّۃً وَاحِدَۃً فَمَنْ زَادَ فَتَطَوُّعٌ  - “Hajj is only once. Whoever performs it more than once; it is voluntary."^[2]

سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه Observe the majesty, authority, and care for the Ummah our Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  has.

Even though he had the authority to make hajj obligatory every year, he did not impose it to save the Ummah from hardship. However, he made it clear that if he had said yes, it would have been compulsory every year. This was not an isolated incident; on many occasions, the Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  considered the difficulties and challenges us sinners may face and ensured ease in religious matters.

Now, let us reflect on three hadith of the Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ , which demonstrate both his authority and benevolence toward the Umma:

لَوْلَا اَنْ اَشُقَّ عَلٰى اُمَّتِيْ لَفَـرَضْتُ عَلَيْہِمُ السِّوَاكَ كَمَا فَـرَضْتُ عَلَيْہِمُ الْوُضُو ْءَ  - “If I did not consider it burdensome for my Ummah, I would have made the use of miswak obligatory, just as I made wudu obligatory upon them.”^[3]