The Method of Umrah
Since 2012-11-29
The Method of Umrah followed by Verdicts to Umrah Performers
The Method of Umrah followed by Verdicts to Umrah Performers
Method of Umrah
All the praises and thanks be to Allah alone, and peace and blessings of Allah be upon the last and seal of the Prophets, and upon all his family and companions.
This is a brief about the deeds of umrah ceremonies. Following is the description to the reader:
1- If the one who wants to perform Umrah reaches the miqat (the assigned point where ihram (consecration) takes place), it is recommendable for him to have a bath and wash himself .Women also do the same even if she is in menses or childbed. But she does not perform circumambulation until she becomes purified and has a bath. A man perfumes his body, but not the consecration clothes. If taking a bath in the miqat is not possible, so there is nothing wrong for him. It is recommendable to take a bath upon arriving to Mecca, before circumambulation, if possible.
2- A man takes off all his sewn clothes and wears a below-waist cloth and an above-waist cloth, they are better to be white and clean, and he is to uncover his face. As for women, they are to concentrate in their ordinary clothes, which are not of fame or adorned.
3- He then intends starting the ceremonies in his heart, and says by tongue: “labbayka umrah (Here I come for umrah)”, or “labbayka allahuma umrah (O Allah here I come for umrah)”. If a muhrim (a man in a state of ihram) is afraid that he may not be able to complete his ceremonies, that he is ill, or that he is afraid from an enemy or the like, it is lawful for him to stipulate upon starting the ceremonies and says “If a stopper confines me, so I will finish my ceremonies where You stop me”, for the Hadith of Dubâ’ah bint Az-Zubair, may Allah be pleased with her, in which she said, “O Messenger of Allah! “I want to perform pilgrimage and I feel sick”. He, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, said: “Intend to perform pilgrimage and stipulate that “I will finish my ceremonies at any place where You stop me”, [Agreed upon its authentication]
«يا رسول الله ! إني أريد الحج، وأنا شاكية. فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: حجي، واشترطي أن محلي حيث حبستني» متفق عليه
He then recites the talbiya loudly such as the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, that is: “((Labbaika Allahumma Labbaik, Labbaika la sharika Laka labbaik, Inna-l-hamda wan-ni’mata Laka walmulk, La sharika Lak) which means: here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am. You have no partner. Here I am. Surely all praise, grace and dominion is yours, and you have no partner.))” [Agreed upon]
«لبيك اللهم لبيك، لبيك لا شريك لك لبيك، إن الحمد والنعمة لك والملك ، لا شريك لك» متفق عليه
He increases saying the talbiya as well as the remembrances and supplicates to Allah Almighty much. When he arrives to the Sacred Mosque, it is a Sunnah to enter first by his right leg and says: “In the name of Allah, and prayers and peace of Allah be upon the Messenger of Allah. I seek refuge with Allah the Great, with His noble Face and His old sovereignty from the expelled Satan. O Allah! Open to me the gates of Your Mercy”, such as all other mosques. He is then to be occupied with talbiya until he reaches the Ka’abah.
4- Upon reaching the Ka’abah he stops talbiya. He then goes to and turns his face to the Black Stone. He receives it by his right hand and kisses it if possible; he should not harm people by crowding. He says upon receiving it: “bism-allah wa allahu-akbar (In the name of Allah and Allah is the Greatest)”, or: “allahu-akbar (Allah is the Greatest)”. If it is difficult to kiss it so he can receive it with his hand, a stick or the alike and kiss what he receives it with. If it is difficult to receive it, he points to it and says: “Allah is the greatest” and he does not kiss what he points with. The terms of right circumambulation: A circumambulator must be purified from both kinds of impurities (the greater and the minor), as circumambulation is like praying, however, speaking is permitted.
5- He is to make the House to his left side, and to circumambulate seven times around it. If he is parallel to the Yemenite Corner, he is to receive it by his right hand, if possible, and says: “In the name of Allah and Allah is the Greatest” and does not kiss it. If it is difficult to receive it, he is to leave it and to continue his circumambulation, without pointing to it or saying Allah is the Greatest, because this has not been mentioned about the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him. As for the Black Stone, whenever he is parallel to it he is to receive and kiss it and to say “Allah is the Greatest” – as we mentioned before- or he is to point to it and say “Allah is the Greatest”. Pacing is preferable- that is: to walk quickly with close steps – in all the first three rounds of the arrival circumambulation, especially for men.
It is preferable for a man to put the middle of his above-waist cloth under his right shoulder and its ends over his left shoulder in the arrival circumambulation, in all rounds. It is preferable to increase remembrances and supplications with whatever easily comes to mind in all rounds. There is no special invoking or remembrance in circumambulation. He is rather to invoke and remember Allah by whatever easy of remembrances and supplications. He is to say between the two corners, {Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire!} [Surat Al-Baqarah 2:201]
{رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ} البقرة: 201
Transliteration: rabbana atinafee alddunya hasanatan wafee alakhiratihasanatan waqina AAathaba alnnari
In each round, because this is proven from the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him. He is to end the seventh round by receiving and kissing the Black Stone, if possible, or pointing to it and saying Allah is the Greatest, according to the aforementioned details. After finishing circumambulation he is to wear his above-waist cloth by putting it over his shoulders and the two ends over his chest.
6- He is then to pray two prayer units behind the Maqâm (place of Ibrâhîm) [or the stone on which Ibrâhîm stood while he was building the Ka’bah], if possible. If he is not able, he can pray at anywhere in the Mosque. He is to recite in them after Al-Fâtiha: {Say: (O Muhammad to these Mushrikûn and Kâfirûn): “O Al-Kafirûn (disbelievers in Allâh, in His Oneness, in His Angels, in His Books, in His Messengers, in the Day of Resurrection, and in Al-Qadar)!} [Surat Al-Kâfirun], in the first prayer unit,
{قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ} الكافرون: 1
Transliteration: Qul ya ayyuha alkafiroona
and, {Say (O Muhammad): “He is Allâh, (the) One} [Surat Al-Ikhlâs] in the second prayer unit.
{قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ} الإخلاص: 1
Transliteration: Qul huwa Allahu ahadun
This is the best, but if he recites others, so there is nothing wrong in that. After finishing the two prayer units, he is to go to the Black Stone to receive it with his right hand, if possible.
7- He is then to get out to as-Safâ to ascend or stand at it, but ascending is better, if possible. He is to recite in the beginning of the first round the words of Allah Almighty, {Verily! As-Safâ and Al-Marwah (two mountains in Makkah) are of the Symbols of Allâh.} [Surat Al-Baqarah 2:158]
{إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ} البقرة: 158
Transliteration: Inna alssafa waalmarwata min shaAAairi Allahi
It is preferable to turn his face to the qiblah above as-Safa. He is to praise Allah and says Allah is the Greatest and says, “There is no god but Allah”, and “Allah is the Greatest. There is no god but Allah alone. He has no partners. To Him belongs dominion, and to Him belongs all praise, and He is Over all things Competent. There is no god but Allah alone, He has fulfilled His Promise, and has granted victory to His servant, and has defeated the parties Alone.” He is then to invoke Allah with what is possible while raising his hands. He is to repeat such remembrance and invoking (three times).
He is then to descend and move to al-Marwah, until he reaches the first flag, so he is to walk quickly, until he reaches the second flag. As for women, it is not lawful for them to walk quickly, as they are not to be exposed. He is then to walk and ascend or stand at al-Marwa. Ascending is better, if possible. He is to say and do over al-Marwa, as what he said and did over as-Safa, except reciting the mentioned verse, as this is lawful upon ascending as-Safa in the first round only, as a following to the Sunnah of the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him. He is then to descend and walk in the place of walking, and hurries in the place of hurrying, until he reaches as-Safa. He is to do that seven times, as his going is a round and his returning is a round. If he performs these round riding, so there is nothing wrong in that, especially when necessary. It is preferable to increase remembrance and invoking during his walking with whatever easily comes to his mind, and to be purified from both kinds of ritual impurities. If he walks while he is ritually impure so it is satisfactory.
8- When he finishes walking, he is to have his hair cut or shaved, but shaving is better. If his coming to Mecca is near the time of pilgrimage, then cutting is better for him, to have the rest of his hair shaved in pilgrimage. A woman collects her hair and cut a hairbreadth or less. If a muhrim fulfils that, so his umrah is complete. All praises and thanks be to Allah. Everything which was forbidden for him due to consecration is now lawful.
May Allah help us and all our Muslim brothers to understand and adhere to His religion, and may He accept from all of us, He –the Almighty- is Generous.
Prayers and peace of Allah be upon His Slave and Messenger, Muhammad and upon all his family and companions and all his followers to the Day of Resurrection.
Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia
The Chairman of the Board of Senior Scholars and the Administration of Scientific Research and Issuing Fatwas
Sheikh Abdulaziz ibn-Abdullah ibn-Baz
Remarks about Some Mistakes Committed by Umrah Performers:
My Muslim Brother: There are some mistakes committed by umrah performers, some are related to consecration, some are related to circumambulation, some are related to hastening between as-Safa and al-Marwah, and others are related to cutting and shaving the hair. I desired to mention them in order to avoid committing them. I summarize them as following:
First: Mistakes related to consecration:
1- Some umrah performers coming by air delays consecration until they land at Jeddah airport. They consecrate from there after passing the miqat which they pass in their way. This is not allowed, as they have to consecrate at the miqat which they pass or are parallel to by air. If they do not consecrate, so they have to offer a sacrifice, as a compensation for such obligation, to be slaughtered in Mecca and distributed to the poor there.
2- Some women assume a special cloth colour for consecration, such as the green and white, for example. The right for a woman is to wear whatever cloth she wishes, provided that it is not an adorned cloth.
3- Some women think that consecration for umrah is just wearing the consecration clothing. The right is that consecration for umrah or pilgrimage is the intention for consecration.
4- Many people think that talbiya is in pilgrimage only. The right is that it is in umrah also.
5- After consecration, some women put on their head something like a turban or the like so that their veil (which covers the face) would not touch their faces. This is unnecessary exaggeration with no evidence.
6- Some people believe that consecration has a special prayer. The right is that there is no prayer for consecration. It can be, however, after an obligatory prayer, if possible; or he can pray two prayer units, with the intention of the non-obligatory prayer of the ablution, and then he can consecrate after it.
7- Some people put the middle of his above-waist cloth under his right shoulder and its ends over his left shoulder from the beginning of consecration until the end of umrah. The right is that it starts with the arrival circumambulation until its end only.
8- As for women also, some women, when they pass the miqat, while she intends to perform umrah or pilgrimage, and while she is in menses or that menstruation has just come to her, she does not consecrate as she or her custodian believes that purification is a must for consecration. So, she passes the miqat without consecration, which is a clear mistake as menstruation does not prevent consecration. A woman in menses consecrates and does as a pilgrim does, without circumambulating, as she delays it until she becomes purified.
Second: Mistakes Related to Circumambulation:
1- Saying the intention loudly, such as saying: O Allah I intend to circumambulate round Your Sacred House seven rounds as umrah circumambulation. This is not allowed; as the place of the intention is the heart and pronouncing it is considered a heresy.
2- Some umrah performers kiss the Yemenite Corner. That is wrong, as the Yemenite Corner is received by hand only without kissing it. The Black Stone is received and kissed, if possible, or pointed to in crowd. The other corners are neither received nor kissed.
3- Some people observe some booklets that contain specific invocations for each round, which is not legal, because this is not mentioned about the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him. The right is that a circumambulator can supplicate with whatever he wishes, say some legal general remembrances, or recite the Quran.
4- Some people take a reader (circumambulation reader) who instructs them with invocations in circumambulation and hastening between as-Safa and al-Marwah, which confuses people. They also have thus performed a heresy, which is the collective invocation. It is legal for each person to supplicate for himself, without raising his voice.
5- Some people compete to receive and kiss the Black Stone, which is not legal.
6- One of the mistakes committed by some circumambulators is that they circumambulate in crowd inside Ismael’s precinct, so they enter from the door of the precinct to the opposite door and let the rest of the precinct to their right side, which is a great mistake by which circumambulation is not right, as they have, in fact, circumambulated around only a part of the House, not all of it.
7- In addition, some circumambulators, upon reaching the parallel line to the Black Stone, stand and say Allah is the Greatest three times. They have to say Allah is the Greatest only one time while they are walking, in order not to cause crowd.
8- One of the mistakes committed by some circumambulators is that if they are not able to receive the Yemenite Corner, they point to it and say Allah is the Greatest. The right is that if they are not able to receive it, they do not point to it and do not say Allah is the Greatest when they are parallel to it.
9. One of the mistakes committed by some circumambulators is that if they break wind during circumambulation, they get out, perform ablution and they return and continue circumambulation. The right is that they restart circumambulation from the beginning.
10- One of the mistakes committed by some circumambulators is that after finishing circumambulation, they stand aside and raise their hands with supplications. This is contradictory to the Sunnah and the guidance of the ancestors.
Third: Mistakes related to hastening between as-Safa and al-Marwah:
1- Mentioning the verse, {Verily! As-Safâ and Al-Marwah (two mountains in Makkah) are of the Symbols of Allâh} [Surat Al-Baqarah 2:158], at the beginning of each round.
{إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ} البقرة: 158
Transliteration: Inna alssafa waalmarwata min shaAAairi Allahi
This is wrong. The right is to recite it one time only upon approaching as-Safa after coming from circumambulation.
2- Upon ascending as-Safa and al-Marwah, some people face the Ka’abah and say Allah is the Greatest three times, raising their hands to say “amen” as they do in prayers, and then they descend. This is contradictory to the Sunnah of the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him. The Sunnah is to raise the hands such as in invoking.
3- Some people hasten in the whole space between as-Safa and al-Marwah. This is contradictory to the Sunnah. Haste is between the two flags only while walking is in the rest of the distance.
Fourth: Mistakes Related to Shaving and Cutting the hair:
1- Some people have some of their hair cut. This is not enough. Umrah in such way is not fulfilled. It is necessary to have the hair cut from all the head, as cutting replaces shaving, and shaving is for the whole head. It is not said for the one who has a part of his hair cut that he has his hair cut .It is said that he has some of his hair cut.
Prohibitions of Consecration
- Sexual intercourse and its consequences
- Preparation with desire, kissing and looking with a desire and all sexual intercourse preparations
- Shaving of the head or pubic hair or clipping the nails
- Undertaking a marriage contract
- Betrothing a woman
- Killing or helping in killing game or cutting the trees and green plants of the Sanctuary
- Putting on perfume after consecration
- Men wearing of chemises, burnooses, trousers, turbans and slippers
- Men covering their heads with something sticking to it such as a skullcap, turban and a head cloth
- Women wearing of niqab (veils that cover their faces).
- Wearing gloves for both men and women
The one who does such prohibitions forgetfully or by ignorance, there is no sin in that. However, the one who does that intentionally must offer expiation for that. He is to choose from fasting three days, feeding six poor persons from the poor of the Sanctuary or slaughtering a sheep that to be distributed to the poor of the Sanctuary.
Important Verdicts for Umrah Performers
These are some verdicts in which umrah performed are interested for His Eminence sheikh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, may Allah protect him. May Allah benefit by it and make them useful for all Muslims.
Question: We would like to know the verdict of the one who passes the miqat without consecrating?
Answer: the one who passes the miqat without consecrating has one of two conditions:
He may intend to perform pilgrimage or umrah, then he must return to it to consecrate for the ceremony he intends to, pilgrimage or umrah. If he does not do that, then he has quit performing an obligation. Scholars say that he has to offer a ransom that is a sacrifice to be slaughtered in Mecca and distributed to the poor there.
If he passes the miqat without the intention of performing pilgrimage or umrah, then there is nothing wrong for him, whether he has not been to Mecca for a long or short time. If we obligate him to consecrate from miqat, in such perspective, then pilgrimage or umrah is a must for him more than one time. It is proven about the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, that pilgrimage is obligatory only for one time in the lifetime of a person; more than one time is optional. This is the more correct opinion of scholars. The one who passes the miqat without consecrating, .i.e. he does not want to perform a pilgrimage or umrah, then there is nothing wrong for him. It is not necessary for him to consecrate from the miqat.
Question: We want to know the pillars of umrah?
Answer: Scholars say: There are three pillars for umrah: Consecration, circumambulation and hastening between as-Safa and al-Marwah. There are two obligations for it: Consecration is to be done from the miqat, and shaving or cutting the hair. Any other thing is an optional Sunnah.
Question: When is a man to put the middle of his above-waist cloth under his right shoulder and its ends over his left shoulder? Is it from the miqat or at the beginning of the arrival circumambulation? Is he to cover his shoulders before or after the two prayer units of circumambulation? Is putting the middle of his above-waist cloth under his right shoulder and its ends over his left shoulder lawful in circumambulation only or in both circumambulation and hastening between as-Safa and al-Marwah? What is the verdict of the one who leaves putting the middle of his above-waist cloth under his right shoulder and its ends over his left shoulder?
Answer: Putting the middle of the above-waist cloth under the right shoulder and its ends over the left shoulder is optional Sunnah especially in the arrival circumambulation. It is not obligatory. If a man does not do that, so there is nothing wrong for him. It is lawful only in circumambulation. If he finishes circumambulation, so before praying the two prayer units of circumambulation, he covers his shoulders. Doing this is in all the seven rounds, unlike pacing, which is only in the first three rounds.
Question: is pacing in the first three rounds of arrival circumambulation special for men or general for both women and men? Is pacing for the whole round or just a part of it?
Answer: Pacing is special for men. It is not lawful for women neither to pace nor to haste between the two flags in the Running Place (between as-Safa and al-Marwah). Pacing -which is special for the first three rounds of circumambulation- is done for the whole round; i.e. starting from the Black Stone till reaching the Black Stone again, as this is the last deed of the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, in the farewell pilgrimage. As for the umrah of make-up, the companions were pacing from the Stone to the Yemenite Corner, and walking between the two Corners to enrage Quraish. Quraish people were in the northern side of Ka’bah. If the Companions were not seen by them, they were walking. But the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, in the farewell pilgrimage paced the whole rounds; i.e. all the first three rounds (of circumambulation).
Question: Specify to us the place where one prays the two prayer units of circumambulation?
Answer: It is a Sunnah to pray the two prayer units of circumambulation behind the maqâm, to make it between him and the House. If he approaches the maqâm, this is then better. If this is not possible, so it is rewarded to pray them away from it. The important matter is to make the maqâm between him and the House. If this is not possible also, he prays anywhere in the Mosque and there is nothing wrong in that.
Question: What is the lawful invoking for circumambulators between the Yemenite Corner and the Black Stone?
Answer: The lawful invocation is {Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire!} [Surat Al-Baqarah 2:201]
{رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ} البقرة: 201
Transliteration: rabbana atinafee alddunya hasanatan wafee alakhiratihasanatan waqina AAathaba alnnari
As for the rest of the invocation (and make us enter Paradise with the righteous), this is of no origin. The same is (O You the Exalted in Might, the Perpetual Forgiver, and the Lord of ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists)). But if a man is able to say, {Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire!} and does not reach to the Stone due to crowd for example, so he can repeat such invocation again, until he reaches the Black Stone.
Question: What are the legal invocations and remembrances at as-Safa and al-Marwah? Is one to raise his hands upon invoking and saying “Allah is the Greatest”? How to do that? What is the sufficient part to ascend for both as-Safa and al-Marwah? Are women or those who accompany women to haste between the two green flags? Is there a legal invoking during hastening between as-Safa and al-Marwah? What is the philosophy of hasting between the two green flags?
Answer: Such question includes several points. The answer is that it is lawful at as-Safa and al-Marwa for one if he approaches from as-Safa at the beginning of the hastening to read the words of Allah Almighty, {Verily! As-Safâ and Al-Marwah (two mountains in Makkah) are of the Symbols of Allâh} [Surat Al-Baqarah 2:158],
{إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ} البقرة: 158
Transliteration: Inna alssafa waalmarwata min shaAAairi Allahi
start with what Allah has started with .Then, he is to ascend at as-Safa until he sees the House. He is then to raise his hands as in invoking, and say “Allah is the Greatest”. He is then to say, “There is no god but Allah Only, He has no partner. To Him belongs dominion, and to Him belongs all praises and thanks, and He is Over all things Competent. There is no god but Allah Alone. He has fulfilled his Promise, and has granted victory to His servant, and has defeated the parties Alone”. He is then to invoke with whatever he wishes. He is then to repeat the remembrance again, and then to invoke with whatever he wishes. He is then to repeat the remembrance for a third time. He is then to descend and walk to the green flag. If he reaches the green flag he is to haste very quickly to the other flag. He is then to walk normally. Women do not haste between the two flags. The same is for those who accompany women, they do not haste to take care of and protect women. When he comes to al-Marwah, he is not to read, {Verily! As-Safâ and Al-Marwah (two mountains in Makkah) are of the Symbols of Allâh} [Surat Al-Baqarah 2:158]
{إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ} البقرة: 158
Transliteration: Inna alssafa waalmarwata min shaAAairi Allahi
In addition, when he comes to as-Safa at the second time and the following times, he does not read, {Verily! As-Safâ and Al-Marwah (two mountains in Makkah) are of the Symbols of Allâh} [Surat Al-Baqarah 2:158] because this has not been mentioned.
{إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ} البقرة: 158
Transliteration: Inna alssafa waalmarwata min shaAAairi Allahi
He invokes Allah in his hastening with what he loves. He can recite the Quran, remember Allah -Glorified and Exalted. He is also to glorify Allah, to say, “There is no god but Allah” and, “Allah is the Greatest”. Upon reaching al-Marwah he is to ascend it and to do the same as what he did over as-Safa.
As for the sufficient part of ascending both as-Safa and al-Marwah, it is to ascend until seeing the House; i.e. Ka’bah. This can be achieved by any degree of ascending. Ascending is an optional Sunnah, it is not obligatory. It is obligatory, however, to achieve what is between as-Safa and al-Marwah. The philosophy of hasting between the two flags is following the Sunnah of the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, and remembering the condition of the mother of Isma’il. When she was going to the valley – between the two flags- she was hasting to notice her son Isma’il. The story is detailed at “Sahih al-Bukhari”.
Question: Can I have my hair cut at al-Marwah after finishing the hastening? Is it sufficient to have a part of the hair cut or shaved. What can a bald or a hair-shaved person do? Is it allowed for the person who performs hastening or a circumambulator to have rest if he is fatigued during the hastening or the circumambulation? What is better: shaving or cutting the hair, and what is the evidence?
Answer: if a man who perform umrah finishes the hastening, he is to have his hair cut or shaved. Shaving is better as it shows more glorification to Allah and as the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, prayed three times for those who have their hair shaved and one time for those who have their hair cut. The one who is bald or that he has previously had his hair shaved, shaving or cutting is not applied for him because he has no hair. This is clear for the bald because his hair does not grow. As for the one who has his hair shaved, it can be said that he has to wait until it grows the least, then he can have his hair shaved.
Having a part of the hair shaved or cut is not sufficient, as Allah –Almighty- has said, {(some) having your heads shaved, and (some) having your head hair cut short,} [Surat Al-Fath 48:27]
{مُحَلِّقِينَ رُءُوسَكُمْ وَمُقَصِّرِينَ} الفتح: 37
Transliteration: muhalliqeena ruoosakum wamuqassireena
Shaving or cutting must be for the whole head. The best and most comprehensive cut is that by the hair shavers used by people nowadays as they cause comprehensive and level cut. They are better than scissors. Our saying that shaving is better is for men. As for women they only have to have their hair cut.
If a performer of the hastening or circumambulation feels fatigued he is to sit down, and there is nothing wrong in that. But it is to be noticed that he is not to sit for a long time. He is to sit for some time until he gets rested and relaxed, then he continuous again. If he needs a second, third of fourth sitting, so there is nothing wrong in that.
Question: What is the verdict of wiping the face by hands after invoking over as-Safa and al-Marwah or after invoking in general?
Answer: The right opinion is that wiping the face by hands after invoking is not legal, because nothing is proven about the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, concerning that.
Question: What is the verdict of breaching an obligation of pilgrimage or umrah?
Answer: If a man breaches anything intentionally, so he is a sinner and has to offer a sacrifice, as scholars say, a sheep to be slaughtered and distributed in Mecca. If he does not do that on purpose, he is then not sinned. But he has to offer a sacrifice, to be slaughtered in Mecca and distributed to the poor, as he leaves an obligatory deed that has a substitute. As the origin is not done, so the substitute becomes obligatory. This is the opinion of scholars for the one who leaves an obligatory deed, that he has to offer a sacrifice to be slaughtered in Mecca and distributed to the poor.
Question: Is it allowed for a woman in menses to enter the Sacred Mosque? What can she do if she feels the flow of the menstrual blood during circumambulation?
Answer: She is not allowed to enter the Sacred Mosque, unless she only passes by it. Staying to perform circumambulation, listening to remembrances, to the glorifications of Allah or to the saying “There is no god but Allah” is not allowed. If she feels the flow of the menstrual blood during circumambulation, she continuous circumambulation as long as she is not sure that there is menstruation. If she is sure that there is menstruation, she must leave and wait until she becomes purified. If she becomes purified, she starts performing circumambulation all over again.
Question: Is the farewell circumambulation for the one who performs umrah in Ramadan or other than Ramadan obligatory? What is the more cautious in that?
Answer: The right opinion is that the farewell circumambulation for the one who performs umrah in Ramadan or other than Ramadan is obligatory. But if a man wants to leave as soon as he finishes his umrah, then the first circumambulation is enough.
Question: What is the verdict for the one who becomes in menses after reaching Mecca, while her family wants to travel from Mecca? Are they to wait or travel whether it is the travel that allows prayer shortening or not?
Answer: If she becomes in menses before performing circumambulation, then she stays until she becomes purified and performs circumambulation and completes umrah, unless if she stipulates upon consecration that “If a stopper confines me, so I will finish my ceremonies where You stop me”. In such case, she disengages herself from consecration and goes with her family, and there is nothing wrong for her.
Question: what is the verdict of uncovering the face of a performer of pilgrimage or umrah with the presence of marriageable people?
Answer: This is forbidden for her. A woman is not allowed to uncover her face in the presence of marriageable people either in pilgrimage, umrah or others.
Question: What is the verdict of women’s wearing of a yashmak or a veil during consecration?
Answer: as for yashmak, the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, forbade women to wear niqab during consecration, so veil is of a greater reason. Therefore, a woman covers her face totally with her head cover if there are marriageable people around her. If there are no marriageable people around her, she uncovers her face.
By His Eminence Sheikh Mohamed ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen
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