Can Hajj Savings Be Used for Other Purposes?
Mizan Rahman
Via Email
Question: A person opens a DPS (Deposit Pension Scheme) at a bank and tells his parents that when the DPS matures, they should use the money to perform Hajj. However, after the DPS matures, when he asks them to use the money for Hajj, they say they do not want to perform Hajj with this money. What is the ruling on this money? Can the person in whose name the DPS was opened use the money for another purpose?
Answer: There is no problem in using the principal amount of the DPS for Hajj. If the amount includes interest, the interest received should be given to anyone in need or disposed of in another permissible way, without intending to gain spiritual reward from it. The principal amount should be used for Hajj. This is because when a child saves money for Hajj and gives it to the parents, and the amount is sufficient for them to perform Hajj, Hajj becomes obligatory for the parents. Unless there is another valid reason under Islamic law, the parents must perform Hajj. However, if the amount is not sufficient to make Hajj obligatory, the money may be spent on another permissible purpose.
Answered by: Allama Mufti Ubaidur Rahman Khan Nadwi
Source: Jameul Fatawa, an encyclopedia of Islamic jurisprudence and fatwas.
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