Short answer
Scholars differ. Many say Hajj was made fard in 9 AH, when the verse on Hajj for those able was revealed; others say 6 AH. The Prophet ﷺ performed his only Hajj in 10 AH, after Abu Bakr led the pilgrims in 9 AH.
In the relied-upon Hanafi view, once Hajj is fard on a person it must be done in the first year he is able. The Prophet's ﷺ timing does not contradict this, as scholars explain below.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Two verses are discussed. The verse "complete the Hajj and umrah for Allah" came at Hudaybiyah in 6 AH, and some scholars date the obligation from it. Others say that verse orders completing a Hajj once started, and that the obligation came with "pilgrimage to the House is due to Allah from people, whoever is able", which many date to 9 AH, the year of the delegations. Both views are held by respected scholars; many later scholars prefer 9 AH.
- 8 AH: Makkah was opened, but the polytheists still controlled the season and performed rites in their own way.
- 9 AH: Abu Bakr led the Hajj, and it was announced at Mina that no polytheist would perform Hajj after that year and no one would circle the House naked.
- 10 AH: the Prophet ﷺ performed the Farewell Hajj, taught its rites, and died a few months later.
Why did he not go at once? If the obligation came in 9 AH, scholars explain that the House first had to be cleared of the polytheists' practices, and that he knew he would live to perform it. If it came earlier, Makkah was not open to him. Neither case allows an ordinary Muslim to delay; see who must perform Hajj and the Quran and hadith on 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 verse that made Hajj fard on the able.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:196
وَأَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلْحَجَّ وَٱلْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ فَإِنْ أُحْصِرْتُمْ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِ ۖ وَلَا تَحْلِقُوا۟ رُءُوسَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ ٱلْهَدْىُ مَحِلَّهُۥ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ بِهِۦٓ أَذًۭى مِّن رَّأْسِهِۦ فَفِدْيَةٌۭ مِّن صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍۢ ۚ فَإِذَآ أَمِنتُمْ فَمَن تَمَتَّعَ بِٱلْعُمْرَةِ إِلَى ٱلْحَجِّ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِ ۚ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَٰثَةِ أَيَّامٍۢ فِى ٱلْحَجِّ وَسَبْعَةٍ إِذَا رَجَعْتُمْ ۗ تِلْكَ عَشَرَةٌۭ كَامِلَةٌۭ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن لَّمْ يَكُنْ أَهْلُهُۥ حَاضِرِى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ ﴿١٩٦﴾
And complete the Hajj and 'umrah for Allah. But if you are prevented, then [offer] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter. And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice. And when you are secure, then whoever performs 'umrah [during the Hajj months] followed by Hajj [offers] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And whoever cannot find [or afford such an animal] - then a fast of three days during Hajj and of seven when you have returned [home]. Those are ten complete [days]. This is for those whose family is not in the area of al-Masjid al-Haram. And fear Allah and know that Allah is severe in penalty.
The verse some date the obligation from.
Sahih al-Bukhari 369
Sahih... بعثني أبو بكر في تلك الحجة في مؤذنين يوم النحر ...
"Abu Bakr sent me in that Hajj among the announcers on the day of sacrifice."
Abu Bakr led the Hajj of 9 AH before the Prophet's own Hajj.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Hajj, opening section. The year Hajj was made fard and why it must be done without delay.
- Bada'i al-Sana'i, Kitab al-Hajj. Whether Hajj is due at once or may be delayed.
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.