Is it allowed for somebody to go on Haj while owing money to banks for home loans, car loans, etc?

Kindly refer below our standard reply to similar queries.

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
FATWA DEPT.

Q: A person is heavily indebted to the bank by way of overdraft and to private business houses. Is Hajj compulsory upon him? If not, can he perform Hajj?
A: It is forbidden to engage in any interest bearing transactions. As long as a person is involved in an overdraft, he will be incurring sin. Hajj is compulsory on a person who has the financial means to travel to Makkah Mukarramah and be able to maintain himself there and his dependants (if any) at home. As for other debts, if a person is heavily indebted and his liabilities exceed his assets, Hajj is not compulsory upon that person. If he fulfils his monthly commitments and his creditors do not have any arrears claim against him, he will not be infringing on the rights of his creditors by performing Hajj on condition that he is sincere in fulfilling the remaining amount according to the commitments. If the creditors have arrears claims against him, he will be infringing on their rights by performing Hajj. Hence, he cannot perform Hajj unless he receives the prior consent of his creditors claiming arrears from him.