Short answer
A child's Hajj or umrah is valid and rewarded, and the parent who takes him also gets reward, but it does not count as the fard Hajj. He must perform Hajj again after puberty if he can afford it. There is no minimum age in Islam; even a baby can be put in ihram by a parent.
A child's Hajj is a valid voluntary Hajj. A guardian makes the intention for a child too young to understand and does the rites he cannot do. The child's ihram is not binding in the Hanafi school, so no penalty is due on the child or the guardian for a violation.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i and Hanbali
- The child's ihram is binding; penalties for violations are paid by the guardian, and if a discerning child spoils his Hajj, it is made up.
- Maliki
- Similar to the Shafi'i view: the guardian bears any penalty that results from bringing the child.
Explanation
A woman lifted up a small boy to the Prophet ﷺ and asked if he had a Hajj. He said yes, and that she would have the reward. Scholars agree from this that a child's Hajj is valid and that the parent is rewarded for it. They also agree that it does not replace the Hajj that becomes fard after puberty, since obligations begin at adulthood.
- Baby or young child: the parent intends ihram for him, puts a boy in ihram clothes (or loose clean clothes for a baby, avoiding a cap), and carries him through tawaf and sa'i. The parent can count the same rounds for himself and the child if he intends both, in the Hanafi school.
- Discerning child (around seven and older): he makes his own intention with the parent's permission and does what he can himself.
- What the child cannot do: the guardian does it for him, such as stoning.
- Nappies and purity: try to do tawaf after a change. A child's lapse brings no penalty in the Hanafi school.
- Two rakats of tawaf: a young child is excused.
Saudi authorities set their own age and health rules for Hajj permits, which differ from year to year; those are travel rules, not fiqh. For whom Hajj is fard, see who must perform Hajj.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:97
فِيهِ ءَايَٰتٌۢ بَيِّنَٰتٌۭ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُۥ كَانَ ءَامِنًۭا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ حِجُّ ٱلْبَيْتِ مَنِ ٱسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًۭا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ عَنِ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ ﴿٩٧﴾
In it are clear signs [such as] the standing place of Abraham. And whoever enters it shall be safe. And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way. But whoever disbelieves - then indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds.
The fard Hajj is on those who are able, which includes being an adult.
Sahih Muslim 1336
Sahih... فقالت يا رسول الله ألهذا حج قال نعم ولك أجر ...
"She said: Messenger of Allah, does this one have a Hajj? He said: Yes, and you will have a reward."
A child's Hajj is valid and the parent is rewarded.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4403
Graded sahih... رفع القلم عن ثلاثة عن النائم حتى يستيقظ وعن الصبي حتى يحتلم ...
"The pen is lifted from three: the sleeper until he wakes, the child until he reaches puberty, and the insane until he recovers."
A child is not yet under obligation, so his Hajj is voluntary.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Hajj, opening section. A child's Hajj does not discharge the fard Hajj.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Hajj, on the Hajj of a child. The guardian intends for the young child; no penalty is due for the child's violations.
- al-Majmu' (Nawawi), Kitab al-Hajj, on the Hajj of a child. The Shafi'i view that the guardian pays the penalties.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.