Many people are confused about, and ask many questions regarding, the rituals of Hajj (major pilgrimage) and ‘Umrah (minor pilgrimage). They also commit many violations of the Sharee’ah (Islamic jurisprudence) while performing these rites or during their stay in Makkah. This series of articles is an attempt to answer frequently asked questions about Hajj and ‘Umrah. It also alerted to many mistakes and unlawful acts committed by some pilgrims, along with mentioning some methods and means that callers to Allah The Almighty, as well as righteous people, can employ in clarifying these errors and prohibitions. Here, they are mentioned them in points:

1) Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Hajj is [during] well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of Ihraam (ritual consecration)], there is [to be for him] no rafath and no fusooq and jidaal during Hajj…..} [Quran 2:197] Rafath means sexual intercourse and foreplay, etc.; Fusooq refers to disobedience of Allah The Almighty and Jidaal is disputing and quarreling based on falsehood, and arguing over matters that are trivial or whose harm overweighs its benefit.

It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah said:

* “The one who does Hajj and was neither involved in any sexual activity [i.e., intercourse or foreplay] nor disobedience of Allah, would return home free of sins as [he was] the day his mother gave birth to him.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

* “The performance of two ‘Umrahs expiates the sins committed in the interval between them; and the reward of the accepted and valid Hajj is nothing but Paradise.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

So, pilgrims must avoid all acts of disobedience and sins, whether they are major or minor, such as delaying prayer until after its due time, backbiting, tale bearing, cursing and abusing, listening to songs, shaving the beards, letting the garment extend below the ankles, smoking and looking at what is forbidden to be looked at, whether in the street or on television. Moreover, women are required to cover their whole body with the Sharee’ah-approved Hijaab and avoid impermissible exposure of their beauty and adornment.

Since there are many people who perform Hajj and ‘Umrah, and due to the huge crowds and exhaustion, one may be tempted and engage in forbidden arguments and disputes with a traffic policeman or driver, or with others while circumambulating the Ka’bah or throwing the pebbles. Therefore, one should beware of the devil’s deception and plots, for he or she is required to be forbearing and patient, avoid the ignorant and let only good and righteous words flow from the mouth.

2) Some people think that a woman's dress while in the state of Ihraam must be green, black or white. This is a wrong belief, because the Sharee’ah did not specify any certain color to be worn during this period.

3) The woman is permitted to wear socks, as doing so is not forbidden during the state of Ihraam. In fact, it is even obligatory if her feet are exposed to non-related men.

4) It is not valid under the Sharee’ah to express one's intention [for Hajj or ‘Umrah] by uttering supplications like: "O Allah, I want [or intend to perform] such-and-such a ritual, so make it easy for me." Rather, what is prescribed is to either say, "Labbayka ‘Umrah (O Allah, I answer Your call to perform ‘Umrah)”, or, “Labbayka Hajj (I answer Your call to perform Hajj).”

5) While one is in the state of Ihraam, it is permissible for him or her to use soap, as well as other cleansing solutions and ointments. However, they must not be perfumed or scented.

6) It is permissible for the pilgrim to use the Siwaak (wooden tooth stick), as well as toothbrush and toothpaste. As for the flavor which is added to the paste, such as mint, it does not harm, because it is not a perfume.

7) Forbidden Acts during Ihraam:

a) Removing hair

b) Clipping nails

c) Using perfume

d) Killing or hunting prey of the land; it is permissible to kill animals that live in the sea.

e) Wearing tailored clothes by men, not women; this refers to any articles of clothing that are made to fit around the body's limbs, such as a gown, undershirt, pants, shirt, trousers, gloves and socks. As for other items, which include form-fitting parts but are not sewn around the shape of body parts, such as a belt, watch and shoes that fit around the contour [of the feet], it is permissible to wear them.

f) Covering one's head or face with something that sticks to it, such as a bonnet, Ghutrah (a man’s head scarf), turban, hat, etc. It is, however, permissible to shelter oneself from the heat of the sun by staying under an umbrella, tent or in a car. It is also allowed to carry one's belongings on the head, if covering it is not intended.

g) Women are not permitted to wear the Niqaab (face veil) or gloves in the state of Ihraam. But, when in front of non-related men, it is obligatory for them to cover both the face and hands with something other than those accessories, such as by lowering the head cover over the face and entering the hands within the outer garment.

h) Concluding a marital contract.

i) Having sexual intercourse.

j) Touching one's wife with sexual desire.

k) Discharging semen, due to masturbation or because of touching a woman.

8) There are Three Scenarios in which a Pilgrim does One of These Actions while in a State of Ihraam:

a) He does it without a Sharee’ah-approved justification; in such a case, he is sinful and obligated to forfeit Fidyah (compensation).

b) He has an excuse, validated by the Sharee’ah, such as when one shaves his head due to an illness. A pilgrim is then permitted to do the act that is originally forbidden in Ihraam and is then required to pay the Fidyah.

c) The pilgrim does one of the aforementioned actions, but he is excused due to sleep, negligence, ignorance or compulsion. In such a case, he is neither deemed sinful nor obligated to give the Fidyah.

If the violation constitutes removing hair, clipping nails, using perfume, touching one's wife with sexual desire, covering the head and wearing tailored clothes by men, and donning the Niqaab or gloves by women, the pilgrim is permitted to choose which of these three forms of Fidyah to offer:

a) Slaughtering a sheep to be distributed among the poor, and the pilgrim is not entitled to eat anything of it.

b) Providing six needy persons with food that amounts to half a Saa’ (unit of measurement), which equals about one and a half kilograms of rice.

c) Observing fast for three days.

Excluded from this are Other Forbidden Acts in Ihraam:

a) Concluding a marital contract; there is no Fidyah for it.

b) Killing prey; the hunter is responsible for offering an equivalent from sacrificial animals to what he killed, if he deliberately did so.

c) Having sexual intercourse with one's wife is the greatest of the prohibited actions in the state of Ihraam. If the pilgrim deliberately had sexual intercourse before the first Tahallul (exit after which everything that was specially forbidden to the person in Ihraam is now permissible again), there are five consequences:

* He would be sinful.

* His Hajj would be invalid.

* He would still be required to complete the rest of the rituals of Hajj.

* He is expected to make up for this Hajj in the next year.

* Along with the aforementioned task, he would also be obliged to pay the Fidyah, which is slaughtering a camel or a cow.

9) Types of Hajj:

There are three types of Hajj: Tamattu’, Qiraan and Ifraad. The best is Tamattu’, because the Prophet commanded thus.

a) Tamattu’ (combination of ‘Umrah and Hajj, with a break in between), refers to ‘Umrah being performed separately during the months of Hajj (i.e., Shawwaal, Thul-Qa‘dah and Thul-Hijjah). When that is done, the pilgrim begins Hajj by entering the state of Ihraam on the day of Tarwiyah (meaning, the 8th day of Thul-Hijjah).

b) Ifraad (Hajj only), entails an intention to solely perform Hajj. When the pilgrim reaches Makkah, he does Tawaaf Al-Qudoom (circumambulation of the Ka’bah upon arrival). It is subsequently prescribed for him to do Sa’y (walking between the two mountains of As-Safa and Al-Marwah) for Hajj.

c) Qiraan (combination of Hajj and ‘Umrah) is when the pilgrim intends to perform both Hajj and ‘Umrah together, after having entered into a state of Ihraam. This is similar to the Ifraad Hajj, except in two aspects:

a) The intention: The pilgrim who performs Ifraad makes the intention for only Hajj, whereas one who does Qiraan, makes it for both Hajj and ‘Umrah.

b) The sacrificial animal (Hady): One who performs Qiraan is commanded to present an animal for sacrifice, whereas the person doing Ifraad Hajj is not required to do so.

10) Uttering Talbiyah (the Hajj chant) collectively, in one tone, as some pilgrims do, is an innovated act in the religion. Neither the Prophet nor his Companions did so. The sound approach is that each pilgrim says it individually.

11) It is not a must for the pilgrim, whether a man or woman, to continue in the same Ihraam garb throughout the course of the pilgrimage. Rather, it is permissible for him or her to change it, as desired. He or she is also allowed to take a bath for cleansing. All of this is not included among the forbidden acts while in a state of Ihraam.

12) Women are permitted to comb their hair and scratch their bodies, provided that one does not deliberately intend to remove [skin or] hair. Asmaa’ bint Abu Bakr related: “We used to cover our faces from men. We also used to comb our hair while we were in the state of Ihraam.” [Al-Haakim, Saheeh]

13) Those who come to perform ‘Umrah by air are required to enter the state of Ihraam, before they land in Jeddah, in the plane when they reach the Meeqaat (sing. of Mawaaqeet: certain stations from where pilgrims are required to start their Ihraam). If a pilgrim wants to stay in Jeddah for one or two days and then go to Makkah, [he must know that] it is better for him to do ‘Umrah first and then return to the city. If he does not do so, he should remain in the state of Ihraam while he is in Jeddah; and, when he finishes his work, he should perform his ‘Umrah. Another option is that he does not initially enter the state of Ihraam. When he concludes his work in Jeddah, he is then required to return to the Meeqaat and don his Ihraam.

Points of Caution for Pilgrims - II