No, she is not obliged to perform hajj. This is because a mahram, with respect to her, is part of the necessary aspects of having the means to perform hajj. Having the means is one of the conditions for the obligatory nature of hajj. It is not allowed for her to travel for hajj or otherwise without her husband or a mahram.

Reported by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (PBUH) said “It is forbidden for any woman who has faith in Allah and the Day of Judgement to undertake the distance of a day or more without being accompanied by a mahram” (Bukhari: 1088, Muslim: 1339 & Ahmad: 2/420). It is evident from this hadith that the ruling of mahram applies to all sort of travelling including hajj and ‘umrah.

A man cannot be alone with a woman unless in the presence of a mahram of hers. And a woman does not travel except along with a mahram.

In another occasion a man said: “O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) my wife has left to make the hajj and I have enlisted for such and such expedition.” He said, “Go and make Hajj with your wife.”

Allah knows best.

Answer: A person has to perform hajj if it is obligatory upon him or her. Giving the poor the amount of money instead going to hajj, does not eliminate that obligation. Therefore, a person who gives the poor the amount of money for hajj is not regarded to have performed the hajj.

Answer: In order to be obliged to go to hajj, a Muslim must be healthy and wealthy, free, sane and have reached the age of puberty. Therefore, a person who is not wealthy enough does not have to go to hajj; however, if a person goes to hajj by borrowing money, his hajj is valid and he becomes free of the obligation of going to hajj.

Answer: One should start reciting talbiyah after making intention for hajj and read as many times as you can. Talbiyah is stopped just before performing tawaf. 

Answer: A woman is allowed to tie plait on her hair as long as she does not do this exposing her hair in front of non-muhram(s).  

Answer: No, there is no sa’i after the Tawaf-al-Widaa.   

Answer: Yes, having the financial ability is one of the fundamental criteria for hajj to be obligatory upon a Muslim – whether this Muslim is a man or woman, it does not matter. A person with financial ability has no choice but to go to hajj. If this person dies before performing hajj, he or she will be a sinner. On the contrary a person who has no financial means to pay for hajj, there is no sin upon him or her for not performing hajj. 

Now consider the situation from a different perspective – if Allah made hajj obligatory upon every Muslim regardless of the person’s financial ability to go to hajj, certainly it would have been a big burden on poorer people. But Allah is just, kind and merciful. He knows what is good for human being. Allah did not make hajj obligatory on all Muslims. Does this mean only rich will get the reward for hajj and not the poor? Now notice this hadith narrated by Abu Huraira: Some poor people came to the Prophet and said, “The wealthy people will get higher grades and will have permanent enjoyment and they pray like us and fast as we do. They have more money by which they perform the Hajj, and ‘Umra; fight and struggle in Allah’s Cause and give in charity.” The Prophet said, “Shall I not tell you a thing upon which if you acted you would catch up with those who have surpassed you? Nobody would overtake you and you would be better than the people amongst whom you live except those who would do the same. Say, “Subhan Allah”, “Alhamdulillah” and “Allahu Akbar” thirty-three times each after every (compulsory) prayer.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 12: 804)

Coming to your question whether a rich husband will be a sinner if he does not take his wife to hajj with his money?  Strictly speaking the answer is no. He will have no sin for this. However, this attitude and decision to not to take the wife to hajj despite having financial means, will not certainly be wise towards building and maintaining a happy family. As such, we will certainly advise any Muslim man with financial ability, to think the broader aspect of Islam. In Islam, the family is not a mere means of satisfying animal instincts, nor is a family’s home merely an abode for sleep. In fact, it represents an educational environment both for spiritual growth and intellectual development. It is a place where mutual and noble sentiment particularly between husband and wife and among other members of the family is nurtured to create a healthy community.

Answer: It depends on your itinerary. If you arrive in Makkah and you have enough time to be purified from menstruation before starting hajj on the on 8th Dhul-hijja, then make intention [before crossing the miqat boundary] for Tammattu hajj. Upon arriving in Makkah, once you are purified, undertake cleansing rituals and perform ‘umrah.

However, if you have no chance of being purified before hajj, then carry on with hajj – recite talbiyah, go to Mina for encampment, standing in Arafat, spending the night in Muzdalifa and throwing pebbles at jamarat except hajj tawaf (Tawaf Ifada) only if you are not purified by then. If you are purified from menstruation then perform hajj tawaf (Tawaf Ifada). Once your hajj completed, you can go to a place called Tanim and come back with a niyah for ‘umrah. This was the case for Umm al-Mu’mineen ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) (Sahih al-Bukhari 1762).

For more details about the issue of menstruation, please see section ‘Hajj of a Woman’.