Performing Hajj while possessing a car loan.
Q. Can you please let me know if it is permissible to perform Hajj provided that one has saved the required funds, however one possesses a car loan and a mortgage?
A. Yes, it is permissible for one to perform hajj when he has the funds to do so, even if he is paying on a car loan and a mortgage.
With respect to these debts, one is normally required to pay a fixed sum on a monthly basis which continues for a period of time. It is therefore essential that the person who is in this situation fulfills the monthly payments which are essential upon him, and then he can use the remaining sum to perform the hajj. If he is not able to fulfill the monthly payments because of his intention to go for the hajj, then he should request a moratorium from the company he is indebted to, in order to save the funds for the hajj. Once he gets the allowance to miss the payment without any interest being added, then he can use the funds to go for hajj.
If he is required to pay out (a large sum) for the car loan and/or the mortgage with the funds he has saved, then he must pay out these debts first, and then look towards saving for the hajj. If he still wishes to go for the hajj (in this case), then he needs to get the official permission/consent of the creditors in order for him to bypass their payments and go for the hajj with the savings which he was supposed to give to them.
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Waseem Khan