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:

Assalamu alaikum

Regarding Hajj matters:

I have planned to perform Hajj Inshah ALLAH this year with my parents. I have a few questions regarding that. Please respond in accordance with Quran and Sunnah:

1) Ihram:

After I wear Ihram is it allowed to wear under-clothes like vest underwear. t-shirt?

2) Purity during Hajj:

I have a problem. After I urinate some urine drops will come out after some time. How should I manage during Hajj? Should I perform Wuzu again and again?

3) Ihram restrictions:

I know some Ihram restrictions. What are all the Ihram restrictions?

4) Inshah ALLAH we will leave for Hajj on 29 Zil=Ka'dah (6th Nov. 2010). If I want to trim down my hairs and clip my nails can I do it after wearing Ihram on 20 Zil Ka'dah or I should do it before 29 Zil-Ka'dah?

5) Am I allowed to shave my head hairs before I leave for Hajj - that is on 20 Zil-Ka'dah?

6) During hajj there may be some occassions which my mother or father may not be able to perform. For example throwing stones at Jamrat (Shaytan). Can I throw stones on behalf of my parents although they are their with me for Hajj?In this way what else am I allowed to perform on their behalf to make Hajj easy for them?

7) What if I face Ihtilaam during the days of Hajj? Does this affect the validity of HAjj?

8) If I face Ihtilaam during travel (in Bus) for example and I do not find a way to change clothes (Ihram) or do Ghusl what should I do?

9) What if we fail to kiss Hajr-e-Aswad? Is the Hajj obligation fulfilled?

10) Sometimes an issue may come up when I have to look after the health of my parents and they cannot fulfill some important ritual during Hajj due to health reasons. I this case should I stay with them or go to continue my Hajj?

Brother I will highly appreciate if you answer my above questions as soon as possible. 

Jazak-ALLAH khair.

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Answer:

Various questions regarding hajj

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.

Q-1) Ihram:

After I wear Ihram is it allowed to wear under-clothes like vest underwear. t-shirt?

The ‘ehram’ gear for males consists of two pieces of unstitched clothes. One is not allowed or permitted to wear any under-garments like vests, underwear, t-shirts, etc. when in the state of ‘ehram’….for that would then violate their state of being in the ‘ehram’.

Q-2) Purity during Hajj:

I have a problem. After I urinate some urine drops will come out after some time. How should I manage during Hajj? Should I perform Wuzu again and again?

Respected Brother, the organ of the men, whereby the urine is discharged has a long tube, therefore it is possible that even after one has washed one’s private area clean after relieving themselves; a few drops may remain in the tube which may drop after one gets up or moves. If one is absolutely convinced that some urine drops have fallen after he has cleansed himself, he should wash his private parts and the area of the clothes the urine drops might have touched, do the wudu again and perform the prayers. There is absolutely no need to do the full ‘ghusl’ or bath.

But if one only has a doubt, or constantly doubts whether some drops might have fallen or not, then one should not let the doubt bother him. In Islam, the determination of impurity is not on doubts; but rather on belief and absolute conviction. Everything will be considered pure, unless one has absolutely conviction that an impurity has touched it. If you have only a doubt that urine drops might have leaked, then you should not act on these doubts; but rather act only if you are absolutely convinced that an impurity has touched you or your clothes.

If you are absolutely convinced that a few drops of urine have been discharged, you must wash your private parts and the area of the clothes where the drops might have touched, do the ‘wudu’, and make yourself available for prayers.

Reported Hadrat Ali ibn Abi Taalib (r.a.) , “I used to have a great deal of prostatic fluid flowing, so I asked a man to ask the Prophet (saws) about it (as I was shy to ask him, due to my relationship with him through his daughter). He asked him and the Prophet (saws), said, "Make ablution and wash your penis."

Related by al-Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi.

Al-Athram narrated, "I was bothered by a great deal of madhi (prostatic fluid), so I went to the Prophet (saws), and informed him of this. He (saws) said 'It is sufficient for you to take a handful of water and sprinkle it over (the madhi)."'

Respected brother in Islam, if you have a genuine medical problem with your bladder, then Shariah allows that every time before the prayer wash your private parts, do the wudu and make yourself available for the prayer. If after the ‘wudu’, you still feel or doubt that a few drops of urine might have leaked, then take a handful of water and sprinkle it over the private area and perform the prayer without the least bit of hesitation. The All-Knowing, All-Merciful Lord knows the condition of each of His slaves and it is expected that He will accept your piety and your prayers.

Q-3) Ihram restrictions:

I know some Ihram restrictions. What are all the Ihram restrictions?

The intention one makes to visit the Sacred House of Allah for Umrah or Hajj pilgrimage from one of the appointed starting places or ‘meeqaats’ is known as the ‘ehraam’. Certain things which are lawful, would become unlawful for the person in ehram until one has completed the rites of pilgrimage; for example:

1. The believing men must not wear any sown clothes, but adorn themselves with two unstitched sheets.
2. One must not cut one’s hair, or clip one’s nails, etc.
3. One must not apply perfume.
4. One must abstain from sexual intercourse, or any talks or deeds related to sex.
5. One must abstain from hunting any land or air creatures.
6. Strive to abstain from committing any sin, or lying, or cheating, or fighting, or abusing, etc. (these acts are unlawful always, but one must strive even harder to abstain from them when in the state of ‘ehram’)

Q-4) Inshah ALLAH we will leave for Hajj on 29 Zil=Ka'dah (6th Nov. 2010). If I want to trim down my hairs and clip my nails can I do it after wearing Ihram on 20 Zil Ka'dah or I should do it before 29 Zil-Ka'dah?

The trimming of one’s hair and the clipping of one’s nails is forbidden when one is actually in the state of ‘ehram’ for pilgrimage until one has completed the pilgrimage.

If you intend to leave for Hajj on 29-Dhil Qada, we assume you would be performing the ‘Hajj Tamattu’, whereby you will perform the Umrah immediately upon reaching Makkah, remove the ‘ehram’ after your performance of the Umrah, and enter the state of ‘ehram’ again for Hajj on the 8^th of Dhul Hajja.

You obviously cannot cut your hair or clip your nails when you are in actually in the state of ‘ehram’ for pilgrimage until you have finished the pilgrimage.

Thus, you are at liberty to trim your hair or clip your nails before you enter into the state of ‘ehram’ for Umrah on the 29^th of Dhil Qada, or after you have completed your Umrah pilgrimage until you enter the state of ‘ehram’ again for Hajj on the 8^th of Dhul Hajja.

Q-5) Am I allowed to shave my head hairs before I leave for Hajj - that is on 20 Zil-Ka'dah?

You are obviously at liberty to trim or shave your hair on your head before you enter into the state of ‘ehram’. But it would be best to leave the hair on your head and shave or trim it after you have performed the ‘Umrah’ pilgrimage….as the shaving/trimming of the hair on one’s head is one amongst the rites of pilgrimage for men.

If you were to shave the hair on your head immediately before you leave for Hajj on 20-Dhil Qada, you might not have enough hair growth to shave/trim it again when you perform your Umrah upon reaching Makkah (assuming you intend to perform the ‘Hajj-Tamattu’).

Q-6) During hajj there may be some occassions which my mother or father may not be able to perform. For example throwing stones at Jamrat (Shaytan). Can I throw stones on behalf of my parents although they are their with me for Hajj?In this way what else am I allowed to perform on their behalf to make Hajj easy for them?

There is indeed allowance in Shariah that the aged or the womenfolk may appoint someone else to perform the rite of ‘rami’ (the throwing of pebbles at the Jamarat) in lieu of them….thus you are well within your rights to perform the rites of ‘rami’ for your aged parents.

The other Hajj rite which you can perform for your parents is the offering of the sacrifice. Either you go the abattoir in Muna and fulfill the rite of sacrifice for yourself and your parents, or you can delegate this rite to someone else, if you wish to do so.

All the other rites of Hajj, like adorning the ‘ehram’ for Hajj on the 8^th, then staying the night in Muna, then assembling in the plains of Arafah on the day of the 9^th, then spending the night or a part of the night in Muzdalifah, then performing the ‘tawaaf’ and the ‘sai’ on the 10^th, and then spending either two or three nights in Muna…..must all be performed by one who intends to perform the Hajj themselves.

Q-7) What if I face Ihtilaam during the days of Hajj? Does this affect the validity of HAjj?

If one intentionally releases one’s ‘mani’ or sperm during the Hajj days, one would have violated one of the restrictions of the Hajj and as an atonement one would be required to offer a sacrifice.

The scholars are of the opinion that if one experiences an unintentional ‘wet-dream’ during the Hajj days, they are not obliged to offer a sacrifice as atonement; nor would it invalidate their performance of the Hajj.

Q-8) If I face Ihtilaam during travel (in Bus) for example and I do not find a way to change clothes (Ihram) or do Ghusl what should I do?

There are enough public toilets and bathrooms everywhere in the Hajj season and if for any reason you violate your state of purity, you must perform the ‘ghusl’ or full bath of purification.

There are also enough shops selling the ‘ehram’; and if you fear that you might experience ‘ehtalaam’ during the bus travel, it would be prudent for you to carry an extra pair of the pilgrim garb with you just in case. If you cannot find a spare pilgrim garb to change into, you can wash the pilgrim garb you were wearing at the time of ‘ehtalaam’ and wear it again.

Q-9) What if we fail to kiss Hajr-e-Aswad? Is the Hajj obligation fulfilled?

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 5.125

On seeing the Ka'bah, one should raise his hands and supplicate to Allah for His bounties. Then he should directly proceed to the Black Stone, kiss it quietly or touch it with his hand and kiss the hand. If this is not possible and one cannot reach the Black Stone, one may just point toward it from a distance.

If one can kiss the Black Stone easily, without pushing or hurting his muslim brother in any way, he should follow the Sunnah and kiss the Black Stone; otherwise he may just raise his hand and point towards the Black Stone, when he moves past it. To push, or use force, or hurt any muslim in any way just to kiss to Black Stone would not behove the character of a true believer.

The kissing of the Black Stone is not an obligatory part or rite of the ‘tawaaf’ or the Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage. If one can kiss it easily without pushing or shoving their brother muslims, one may do so; otherwise one should merely raise their hands and point towards it when one moves past it during the ‘tawaaf’.

Q-10) Sometimes an issue may come up when I have to look after the health of my parents and they cannot fulfill some important ritual during Hajj due to health reasons. I this case should I stay with them or go to continue my Hajj?

Abdur Rahman bin Ya'mur reported that the Prophet (saws) ordered an announcer to proclaim "Hajj is (spending the day at) Arafah”

Related by Ahmad and Abu Dawood.

If one performs all the rites of Hajj but does not or is unable to attend even for a part of the day of the 9^th Dhul-Hajjah at Arafah, their Hajj will be invalidated; and if one misses any other rite of Hajj, but has spent even a part of the day of the 9^th at Arafah, their Hajj would be considered valid (but they would be required to offer a sacrifice for any obligatory rite missed or violated).

Respected brother, the health, safety, and the well-being of your parents is of paramount importance, and you should not abandon them whatever the case or circumstance….during the period of Hajj or otherwise. If for any reason you are unable to complete your Hajj rites because you had to take care of your aged parents, you can always perform Hajj in another year…..but if Allah forbid, if something were to happen to your beloved and aged parents because you abandoned them to perform your Hajj rites, you will never be able to replace them!

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