Question Summary:
I have enough resources to go for Hajj. My wife is pregnant and my father wants me to do Hajj next year. Is Hajj obligatory on me?

Question Detail:

I am the only son of my parents and we are living in UAE. My question is at the moment my wife and me have enough resources (gold cash) to go for hajj this year. We have two kids age 1 & 2. My wife is pregnant and the expected date of delivery is 5 Sept. 2012. I want to know what will be the obligations of Hajj on us with these circumstances whereas my father is insisting me to save some money for buying the house in home country and do hajj next year. Please advise. JazakAllah Khair

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 
As-salāmu `alaykumwa-rahmatullāhiwa-barakātuh.
In principle, if one has sufficient means over and above one’s needs and requirements to fulfill the needs of one’s family to perform Hajj, it becomes obligatory on one to perform Hajj immediately.[1]
It is obligatory on you and your wife to perform Hajj this year if you and your wife have sufficient means to perform Hajj. 
If your wife becomes ill and cannot manage to perform Hajj, it will be permissible for her to delay the performance of Hajj.[2]
You state that your father is insisting that you save money to buy a new house and perform Hajj next year. 
Kindly consider the following options:
Your wife is ill; therefore she is not obligated to go for Hajj this year. She may perform Hajj next year. In that case, she will have to be accompanied by her Mahram. 
You may use the same money that your wife could use to perform Hajj to buy a new house e.t.c.
You are not excused from performing Hajj; therefore you will be obligated to proceed for the performance of Hajj. 
If you do not perform Hajj, we advise you to record the following in your will that “If I pass away and did not perform Hajj, then I appoint so and so to perform Hajj – E- Badal on my behalf”.
You will have to proceed to perform Hajj the following year if you did not perform Hajj. 
And Allah knows best.
Mawlana Ismail Desai
Durban, South Africa
Student DarulIftaa
Checked and Approved 
Mufti Ebrahim Desai