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ArticlesQuestion:
I will travel for Hajj this year, so when should I assume Ihraam? Does sexual intercourse invalidate Ihraam? Thanks.
Answer:
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
is His slave and Messenger. It is better for anyone seeking to perform Hajj or ‘Umrah to assume Ihraam at the designated Meeqaat in compliance with the practice of the Prophet and his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them. However, it is permissible to assume Ihraam before reaching the Meeqaat and it also does not affect the validity of the Hajj. Ibn Al-Munthir 
said, “Scholars unanimously agreed that anyone who assumes Ihraam before reaching the Meeqaat has actually entered into Ihraam.”
and his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them. However, it is permissible to assume Ihraam before reaching the Meeqaat and it also does not affect the validity of the Hajj. Ibn Al-Munthir said, “Scholars unanimously agreed that anyone who assumes Ihraam before reaching the Meeqaat has actually entered into Ihraam.”After assuming Ihraam, either at the Meeqaat or before reaching it, the pilgrim must avoid all the violations of Ihraam, like having sexual intercourse, applying perfume, wearing form-fitting clothes and the like.
Having sexual intercourse before the first (or minor) termination of Ihraam invalidates Hajj and the one must do the following:
Completed the Hajj one is performing.
Make Hajj up for in the next year.
Slaughter a camel.
The first termination of Ihraam is attained by doing two out of three of the following matter that a person in the state of Ihraam does on the Day of Nahr (10th of Tuhl-Hijjah):
Throwing the pebbles at the Jamrah of Al-‘Aqabah.
Shaving or shortening the hair
Performing Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah (with Sa'y for pilgrims performing Ifraad or Qiraan type and who did not do it, and for pilgrims performing Tamattu' type of Hajj).
Finally, having sexual intercourse after the first termination of Ihraam does not affect the validity of Hajj, but a sacrificial animal must be slaughtered and distributed among the poor residents of Makkah.
Allah Knows best.
