Chapter on the Ability to Undertake the Journey for Hajj

It was narrated from Abu al-Rabi' al-Shami, who said: Abu Abdullah عليه السلام was asked about the words of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted: "And [due] to Allah سبحانه وتعالى from the people is a pilgrimage to the House – for whoever is able to find thereto a way." (Surah Aal-e-Imran 3:97). Imam عليه السلام said: "What do people say regarding it?" It was said to him: "Provision and a mount." Imam عليه السلام replied: "Abu Ja'far عليه السلام was asked about this and said: 'Then the people would perish! If it were such that whoever has provisions and a mount sufficient for his family and enough to make him independent of others must go for Hajj and be stripped of these provisions, then they would perish.'" Imam عليه السلام was asked: "Then what is the 'way' (sabeel)?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "It is sufficiency in wealth—when one can perform Hajj with part of it while leaving enough to provide for his family. Has not Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, obligated Zakat and made it incumbent only upon those who possess two hundred dirhams?"