Q: I am a man, twenty nine years of age and I want to perform the obligatory Hajj but I am handicapped. When I was young, I contracted a disease which handicapped me and now I cannot walk. What should I do to perform the obligatory Hajj? (Part No. 10; Page No. 55

A : If you are physically disabled and your disability is permanent and you can afford the cost to pay another person - who had already performed Hajj and `Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) for himself - to perform Hajj and 'Umrah on your behalf, then it is obligatory on you to do so, according to the general meaning of the Saying of Allah (Exalted be He): So keep your duty to Allâh and fear Him as much as you can and the saying of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): When I command you to do anything, do of it as much as you possibly can. It was narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) that he said: It is narrated that a woman from Khath`am said: O Messenger of Allah! The Faridah (obligatory act) of Hajj has become obligatory for my father while he is an old man and is unable to sit steadily on his Camel, The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Perform Hajj on his behalf. (Agreed upon its authenticity)May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his Companions.