The Committed Believer · Hajj & Umrah

Specific Rulings in Hajj & Umrah Practices

Explore rulings on specific actions and intentions during Hajj and Umrah rituals.

9 questions · Medium · about 5 minutes

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1. If Hajj is obligatory for a wife and she meets its conditions, may her husband forbid her from going?

  • No, he may not forbid her, and she may go even without his permission. (correct answer)
  • Yes, she must obey him even if she has not done the obligatory Hajj.
  • Yes, unless she promises to return quickly.
  • No, but only if she travels without any mahram.

Why

If a woman has not yet performed the obligatory Hajj and she meets the conditions, including having a mahram and sufficient means, her husband does not have the right to prevent her. If he refuses permission, she may still go for the obligatory Hajj, unless she fears serious harm such as divorce, in which case she is excused. Voluntary Hajj is different: she should not go for nafl Hajj without her husband’s permission.

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2. If a husband gave permission for his wife’s voluntary Hajj, when may he retract that permission?

  • Before she enters ihram. (correct answer)
  • After she enters ihram.
  • Only after asking Islamic authorities.
  • Never, because all Hajj travel is obligatory.

Why

A woman may not travel for Hajj or any other purpose without a mahram. For voluntary Hajj, she also needs her husband’s permission, because his rights are obligatory and voluntary Hajj is not. If he gave permission for nafl Hajj, he may retract it before she enters ihram; once she has entered ihram, he may not retract permission. The source also advises the husband to treat his wife kindly and not prevent worship without a valid shar‘i reason.

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3. What is the ruling on deliberately breaking Hajj rules while relying on fidyah to make up for it?

  • It is a serious transgression against Allah’s limits. (correct answer)
  • It is encouraged because fidyah is an alternative path.
  • It is permissible as long as the pilgrim can afford sacrifices.
  • It is acceptable if the pilgrim intends to repent later.

Why

Fidyah is not a license to deliberately omit obligations or commit prohibited actions during Hajj and ‘umrah. A pilgrim must honour the symbols of Allah, learn the rulings, fulfil obligations, and avoid prohibited matters. If someone falls short and fidyah becomes due, that may expiate the specific violation, but deliberately planning to violate the rules while relying on fidyah is blameworthy and requires repentance and seeking forgiveness.

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4. What should someone do if the iqamah for prayer is given while they are performing tawaf?

  • Pray, then resume tawaf from where they left off. (correct answer)
  • Start tawaf over in every case.
  • Ignore the prayer and continue tawaf.
  • Wait until the next day to complete the remaining circuits.

Why

Continuity between the circuits of tawaf is a condition for validity according to the strongest view cited. However, a brief interruption for a valid reason, such as the obligatory prayer, does not harm the tawaf. The person prays, then returns and continues from where they left off. If the interruption is lengthy without a valid excuse, such as leaving for an hour or two, then the earlier circuits are invalid and tawaf must be restarted.

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5. Which condition is required for tawaf to be complete?

  • Performing seven complete circuits, each starting and ending at the Black Stone. (correct answer)
  • Offering a sacrifice after tawaf.
  • Being accompanied by a group of pilgrims.
  • Performing tawaf only at a specific hour of the day.

Why

Tawaf has several conditions, including Islam, intention, covering the ‘awrah, purity according to the relevant scholarly discussion, seven complete circuits, keeping the Ka‘bah on one’s left, going around the entire Ka‘bah, doing it within al-Masjid al-Haram, and beginning from the Black Stone. If even one step is missing from the seven circuits, tawaf is not complete and cannot be fixed by a sacrifice. The two rak‘ahs after tawaf are Sunnah and not obligatory according to the correct view cited.

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6. If someone forms the intention for tawaf a few steps after the green marker but is still approximately in line with the Black Stone, what is the ruling?

  • There is no problem, and the tawaf is valid. (correct answer)
  • The tawaf is invalid in every scholarly view.
  • The person must offer a sacrifice.
  • The person must always count that circuit as invalid.

Why

Scholars differed over whether a specific intention for tawaf is required when coming in line with the Black Stone, or whether the general intention for Hajj or ‘umrah is enough. Even according to the stricter view, if someone formed the intention a few steps after the green marker but was still approximately in line with the Black Stone, there is no problem because that alignment is approximate. The more likely correct view cited is that a specific intention for tawaf is not essential when tawaf is part of Hajj or ‘umrah, because the general intention includes its rituals. The person should avoid waswasah.

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7. What is the ruling on delaying tawaf al-ifaadah and doing one tawaf for both ifaadah and wadaa‘ when leaving Makkah?

  • It is permissible, but one must not leave for one’s city before completing the rituals and tawaf al-wadaa‘. (correct answer)
  • It is forbidden in every case.
  • It is recommended for all pilgrims even without need.
  • It is only allowed for residents of Makkah.

Why

Tawaf al-ifaadah is an essential pillar of Hajj, and the pilgrim does not fully exit ihram until it is done. It is permissible to delay tawaf al-ifaadah and do one tawaf for both ifaadah and wadaa‘ when leaving Makkah. However, if a person has completed the rituals, they may not leave Makkah for Jeddah or any other city before tawaf al-wadaa‘. If tawaf al-ifaadah remains and they leave for their own city before completing the rituals and tawaf al-wadaa‘, then a sacrifice is due. If they only go somewhere that is not their city for a need and then return to complete tawaf before departing, there is no blame.

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8. What is the ruling on intentionally killing game while in ihram?

  • It is forbidden and requires an offering equivalent to what was killed. (correct answer)
  • It is allowed if done for food.
  • It is allowed outside the sanctuary while in ihram.
  • It is always without expiation, even when intentional.

Why

Killing game while in ihram is forbidden. If it is done intentionally, the Qur’anic penalty is an offering brought to the Ka‘bah of an edible animal equivalent to what was killed. If someone does an ihram prohibition out of forgetfulness, ignorance, or coercion, no expiation is due, but once the person remembers, learns, or is no longer forced, they must stop the prohibited action. Cutting trees is a separate matter connected to the Haram sanctuary, not to ihram itself.

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9. What is the ruling on kissing one's wife with desire while in ihram?

  • It is prohibited and requires a compensatory sacrifice. (correct answer)
  • It is permissible if done inside a hotel.
  • It is obligatory to show affection during Hajj or 'umrah.
  • It is allowed with no fidyah as long as intercourse does not occur.

Why

Kissing one's wife with desire while in ihram is prohibited, because it comes under actions that lead to intercourse, which must be avoided in ihram. The one who does that must offer a compensatory sacrifice. Kissing without desire, such as out of compassion, farewell, greeting, or congratulation, does not require fidyah and is not haram. In the case discussed, the husband had already exited ihram and the kiss was without desire, so nothing was due, though it would have been better to avoid putting his wife in an uncomfortable situation while she was still in ihram.

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A note on these answers

These questions are for learning and self-testing. Explanations are drawn from the sources linked on each question and are not a fatwa. For a ruling on your own circumstances, please consult a qualified scholar.

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