Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam Alaikum,

I am living in Jeddah. We (Self & Wive) performed Umrah in Ramadan as well as in shawwal also. That time, there was no planning to go for Hajj. Now we are going for Hajj this year Inshallah. Now my questions are:

1. Can we go for Hajj-E-Ifrad ?

2. If Dam (Penalty) imposed on us. What is the time frame? can we give dam after three four months?

Please need your help immediately to clarify our doubts.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Hajj ifrad urgent

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The ‘Umrah’ pilgrimages which you performed earlier in the months of Ramadan and Shawwal are absolutely distinct and separate from your intention to perform Hajj; and have absolutely no relevance or relation to your Hajj pilgrimage.

Q-1: Can we go for Hajj-E-Ifrad ?

For those living in the vicinity of Makkah (eg. Makkah, Taif, Jeddah, etc.), the ideal and preferred format for them would be to perform their Hajj as ‘Hajj-e-Ifraad’….thus not only ‘can’ you perform ‘Hajj-e-Ifraad’, but it would be better and preferred that you make intention to perform the ‘Hajj-e-Ifraad’ in preference to ‘Qiraan’ or ‘Tamatto’.

Q-2:  If Dam (Penalty) imposed on us. What is the time frame? can we give dam after three four months?

‘Damm’ or penalty of one sacrifice is only imposed if one happens to miss one of the obligatory (wajib) rites of the pilgrimage as a manifestation of atonement for their negligence/transgression unto their Lord Most Gracious.

Respected brother, you have obviously not clarified in your question to us why you believe a ‘damm’ or penalty is due from you….if in your opinion you have to impose a ‘damm’ or penalty only because of your two Umrah pilgrimages prior to your intention for Hajj, or because you intend to perform the ‘Hajj-e-Ifraad’…then your fear is absolutely unfounded, for neither of these acts constitute a ‘damm’ or penalty upon you.

In any case, if one has missed one of the obligatory rites of ‘Hajj’ or ‘Umrah’ and a ‘damm’ or penalty is due from them, one should obviously strive to observe the ‘damm’ as soon as it is possible or convenient for them. If for any genuine reason one is forced to delay, or can afford to offer their prescribed atonement of ‘damm’ only after three or four months, there is no harm or time limit.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan