Date : 10-05-2010

Question :

What is the Islamic ruling on trading in Hajj visas? Is there a difference in this ruling between the person who pays for such visa because he has to and the one who pays for it because he can afford it?


The Answer :

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.


 


From an Islamic perspective, selling Hajj visas isn`t permissible  because the Saudi Embassy grants these visas to some people to go to Hajj, themselves or those whom they care about out, of courtesy and to maintain good ties with the hosting country. However, courtesy visas aren`t part of the visas originally allocated to the hosting country. In addition, it isn`t permissible for the person who obtains such visa to sell it because such visas are issued based on actual need and whoever is granted one should either use it or give it back to the embassy as selling it is unlawful. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.