out of a desire to do so, just as Moses’ mother desired to nurse her son, unlike a hired wet nurse who is unrelated to the child. As for someone who engages in the outward form of righteous work merely to earn a living, this is a worldly pursuit. There is a difference between someone whose aim is religion and who uses worldly means to serve it, and someone whose aim is worldly gain and who uses religion as a means to obtain it. The more likely view is that the latter will have no share in the Hereafter, as indicated by scriptural texts which this is not the place to discuss.”

He—may Allah have mercy on him—was asked:

“A man owes a debt to someone who is away in Baghdad, while the debtor lives in Egypt and is unable to pay. Another person wishes to take him on Hajj at his own expense. May he perform Hajj while still owing this debt?”

He replied:

“Yes, a debtor who is unable to pay may perform Hajj at someone else’s expense, provided this does not compromise the creditor’s right to repayment—whether because the debtor is unable to earn or because the creditor is absent and cannot be paid from the debtor’s earnings. And Allah knows best.”