If at some point money came to a person by which Hajj became obligatory upon him, but the days of Hajj are not here and he is waiting for next year, and the money has been spent, is it still obligatory?

Summary: If the money was spent on lawful needs, or was lost, before the time of Hajj/the opportunity for registration arrived, then Hajj is not now obligatory and he is not sinful — for the obligation of Hajj, "the arrival of the time of Hajj" and "the presence of the money" must coincide at one time.

1. The meeting of ability and time: "وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا" [Surah Aal-e-Imran: 97] — the obligation becomes settled when the months of Hajj arrive and financial ability is present; if the money ends before the time, the condition of the obligation no longer remains.

2. The nature of the spending: (a) A lawful need (a house, a debt, treatment, children's marriage/education) or theft/loss — by consensus there is no sin, and Hajj is not a debt upon him. (b) Deliberately squandering it/extravagance in order to escape Hajj — he is sinful for the bad intention; he is no longer under the obligation now, but he should repent, and if money comes in future he should perform Hajj first of all.

Summary: If the money had already been spent on lawful necessities before the days of preparing for Hajj, remain at peace — Hajj is not obligatory, and there is no sin.

Translated from the original Urdu fatwa.