other than obtaining money; it therefore falls within the category of permissible acts. Whoever seeks worldly gain through deeds intended for the Hereafter will have no share in the Hereafter. When we permit hiring and reward-based contracts for righteous acts whose performers must be qualified to undertake acts of devotion, we regard those acts, in these circumstances, as merely permissible; we do not classify them as “acts of devotion.” For there are three possibilities: a person may be punished for performing the act with this intention, rewarded for it, or neither rewarded nor punished.

Likewise, accepting the money may be prohibited, recommended, or permissible. Each case has its corresponding ruling, and Allah knows best. However, hiring may be preferable to . . . (1) if the person needs that money to meet his expenses during Hajj, to support himself after his return, or to repay his debt, and thus intends to meet his expenses and discharge the debt he is obliged to repay.

Here, then, there are three possibilities: he may intend only to perform Hajj and show kindness to another; he may intend only to meet his legitimate expenses; or he may intend both. If he intends the first, that is good. If he intends both together, that too is good, Allah willing, for both are righteous aims. But if he intends only to earn money to meet his expenses, this requires further consideration. This issue is explained in detail elsewhere.