Anybody can perform Hajj taking loan from any financial institution if he/she is capable of repayment of the loan. As loan for mundane requirement is legal, similarly loan for practising the edicts of Islam is also legal. But to whom Hajj is not mandatory, loan for performing Hajj will not be proper. When opinions were sought to the Islamic Foundation Bangladesh regarding launching of funding programme for performing Hajj, the concerned department of the Foundation expressed wise opinion through an official letter dated 17 June, 2010.
Dhaka Ahsania Mission president Kazi Rafiqul Alam said this while addressing a press conference on “Financing for Performance of Hajj” organised by Hajj Finance Company Limited at the Jatiyo Press Club conference lounge on 18 July, 2010.
He further said, financing for performance of Hajj is a novel initiative. Hajj Finance Company Limited has been established at joint initiative of Malaysia and leading NGO of Bangladesh, Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM). The company was set up taking inspiration from popular Hajj management and finance organisation ‘Tabung Haji’ of Malaysia. Services of Hajj Finance Company Limited include Sharia based Hajj Savings Project of one to 30 years’ duration, Mudaraba permanent deposit savings project and funding programme for housing, transport, commerce and industries etc.
Quoting opinion of the Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Prof Moulana Mohammad Salahuddin, speakers said that according to Shariah law, cash money is a resource. At the same time, land, plot, flat, industry, factory, shop and other establishments may be defined as resource. There are many Muslims in Bangladesh to whom Hajj has become mandatory. But he/she is not going to perform Hajj in pretext of lack of cash money or not ready to transfer property in hope of profit. In such a situation, if he/she does not go to perform Hajj this year, there is no guarantee that he/she will remain well till arrival of Hajj season next year. In this circumstance, emergency loan is legal to him/her for performing Hajj which is mandatory to every capable Muslim. Even loan is better for him/her.
Speakers further said, the proposed funding programme of Hajj Finance Company Limited for performance of Hajj is a novel idea in Bangladesh as no bank or any other financial institution of Bangladesh has come forward with such a programme. So, ‘would be pilgrims’ are requested to contact immediately to the Hajj Finance Company Limited Head Office at 72, Dilkusha Commercial Area, or Baitul Mukarram Mosque Complex Branch, second floor of the mosque complex (southern gate), 67 Purana Paltan, Dhaka.
Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) president Kazi Rafiqul Alam, Hajj Finance Company Limited managing director Dr. Rosli Bin Yaakop, Hajj Finance Company Limited executive director Md. Lakiot Ullah, Mufti Mohammad Abdullah of Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, noted banker Touhidul Islam, chairman of Shariah Council of Hajj Finance Company Limited, and Dhaka University Islamic Studies department Professor Dr. Mohammad Ali Haider, Hajj Finance Company Limited Shariah Council member and principal of Durbati Madinatul Ulum Alia (Kamil) Madrrassa, Kaliganj, Gazipur, Moulana Mohammad Nazrul Islam Al Maruf, Hajj Finance Company Limited Shariah Council member and Khatib of Central Jame Masjid, Shaheed Park Town Hall, Mohammadpur, Dhaka, Maulana Nesar Ahmad and Dhaka University Islamic Studies department Professor Dr. Muhammad Abdur Rashid were present.