I think we should prepare ourselves for Hajj as soon as we can afford to go. By preparation I mean educating ourselves of everything Hajj related. The history, the purpose, the Quran/Hadith guidelines, the etiquette and so on. I honestly think it doesn't take more than that to feel ready to perform Hajj.
School, college, work, kids, family etc etc... when does it all end? If we keep waiting until we have enough time, we probably would never go since life is such a rush for everyone. We're always going to be busy.
for me, yes. I refused to join my husband for the same reason. He was totally okay with ‘kuch din nani kay pass and kuch din daadi kay pass’ type arrangement for them while we are away (they were 18 months and 4 yrs old) but that’s how he is ! I knew I wouldnt be able to concentrate for a moment in all the ibaadah,etc and texting/calling back home to know where they are and how are they doing, khana khaya nani ya daadi se ya nahin,etc etc and then regretting all my life keh hajj theek se nahi kar saki bilkul Allah knows intentions. He knows how badly I wanted to join my husband but He also knows my reason for refusing. Though I have a big grugde again husband going alone and he thinks I will never let it go off me
Anyway, it is purely dependant on individual’s circumstances and intentions. Allah know the best !
I personally fine 'I'm not ready for Hajj' very pretentious and a pretty cringe worthy excuse. Hajj is a farz and somehow this phrase makes it sound like a side option. I'd rather hear people saying things like 'yes very soon', 'inshAllah one day' 'maybe in couple of years time' etc etc, even if they are not mentally ready yet. At least sound if you care about it. And speaking of being ready mentally, I believe if you are performing all the other farz, then you'd automatically be prepared to fulfill the hajj obligation, its just a matter of getting the green signal from your circumstances.
I partially think so... they realise they cant be the same old self post-haj and they are not ready to make the changes. I've heard this from a few people around me (excuses like when i do haj, i want to come back wearing a hijab, and i just dont know if i can, etc etc). Haj is farz as soon as you can afford it... if only people realised that.
I agree with pinks here. That is exactly what people mean when they say that I am not ready for Hajj. What I think is that Hajj gives you chance to wipe off your past sins, but in no way it is expecting to you change or not that your Hajj will not be accepted if you dont start wearing hijab. We all are humans and just one 5 day event can definitely change a panjabi movie hero from beghairat to jayalaa ghairtamand, but normal human beings take time to change as it takes time for reality to sink in.
having said that, I strongly recommend everyone to go and perform Hajj while you are young. I saw so many old people and tough time they go through to perform all the rituals. Yes you think you may not be ready for hajj this year, but do you have a guarantee that you will be alive next year? DO you think that you can give this excuse to Allah on the judgment day that O Allah, I was mentally not ready till 2012 and then you called me in 2013 so its not my fault.
Thing is my whole family (husband and inlaws) have been stressing a lot on going hajj. They've all been to hajj and umra several times and want me to go as well. (No one is willing to take care of the boys btw and I can't trust anyone either in this regard). I want to go with my own will not because someone else wants me to.
Perhaps I can make the niyyat of hajj and wait till the kids are independent. There is no way I'm leaving them with my relatives even for a day. I hope God will understand.
Its not all about an excuses but it is b'coz of Allah SWT wills, If He decided that my 'servant' visit my house than surely that 'servant' will perform hajj or umrah even if he/she wasn't prepared themselves same as a person who planned from past few years that he/she will perfom hajj or umrah but couldn't due to any reason caused by Allah SWT.
I heard most of pplz saying this dua 'Ya Allah! please give us afford (istata'at) when its a right moment for us to perform Umrah/hajj".
Allah knows intentions. He knows how badly I wanted to join my husband but He also knows my reason for refusing. Though I have a big grugde again husband going alone and he thinks I will never let it go off me 