The Sharee‘ah ruling on borrowing for Hajj

Question

A person borrowed money from his family members in order to pay for his Hajj expenses and intends to pay the money back before going to Hajj. He borrowed the money because he did not have the sum at the time when he was asked to pay it to the concerned authorities. What is the ruling?
 
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) is His Slave and Messenger.
 
It is permissible for one to borrow an interest-free sum in order to pay for his Hajj expenses and regardless of whether he will pay it back before going to Hajj or after returning. It is mentioned in the Kuwaiti Fiqhi (jurisprudential) Encyclopedia:
 
The scholars of Fiqh unanimously agree that the principle in loans is that, on part of the lender, it is an act which brings one closer to Allah. That is because he works to benefit the borrower, provide for his need and relieve his distress. On the part of the borrower, the fundamental ruling is that it is permissible for him to borrow as long as he intends to pay it back when he expects to receive money and intends to pay the loan back from that.
 
However, if the questioner means interest-based borrowing, then this is prohibited as it is usury which is forbidden by the Quran, the Sunnah and the consensus of the Muslim Ummah (nation).
 
We ask Allah The Almighty to grant us all the success to make Hajj to His Sacred House and accept our righteous deeds.
 
Allah Knows best.

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