Accordingly, hajj and ʿumrah are required of every Muslim only once in a lifetime, for the Prophet ﷺ said, “Hajj is obligatory once; anything beyond that is voluntary.” This was reported by Aḥmad and others.

Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim and other collections relate from Abū Hurayrah—traced back to the Prophet—that he declared, “People! Hajj has been prescribed for you, so perform it.” A man asked, “Every year, O Messenger of Allah?” He answered, “Had I said, ‘Yes,’ it would have become mandatory—and you would not have been able to manage it.”

A Muslim must therefore hasten to perform the obligatory hajj whenever he is able; postponing it without a legitimate excuse is sinful. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Make haste to the pilgrimage—meaning the obligatory one—for none of you knows what may confront him.” Aḥmad recorded this.

Hajj becomes due only when five conditions are met: being Muslim, of sound mind, having reached puberty, being free, and having the means. Whoever meets these five must promptly undertake the pilgrimage.

Nonetheless, the hajj or ʿumrah of a child counts as a voluntary act. Ibn ʿAbbās reported that a woman raised a child to the Prophet ﷺ and asked, “Is there hajj for this one?” He replied, “Yes—and you will have a reward.” Muslim transmitted this narration.