Can first hajj be nafal (optional)
If someone is capable for hajj (I mean his hajj is fardh), but when he performs his first hajj, he intended to make it as nafal (optional), not as fardh (mandatory). He aims to perform his fardh hajj later. so my question is that will his hajj be nafal or first hajj of a man must be fardh?
Answer
Wa’alaykum as Salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,
Since there is no guarantee of life, and we also do not know what laws there will be for Haj, it is best for a person doing Haj for the first time to make intention that he is completing his Fardh. If he does not get a chance to perform Haj again, at least his Fardh is done, and he will not get any sin.
Hhowever, if a person made the intention of a Nafl Haj, then the Haj will be regarded as Nafl, and the Fardh will still be binding.
References
إذا حج بنية النفل عندنا حجه يكون نفلا (المبسوط للسرخسي – 4/ 151)
ولو عين نفلا فنفل، وإن لم يكن حج الفرض. (الدر المختار – 2/ 535)