Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … The wording of this hadith, “Akhbaratna Umm Qays,” in Majma‘ al-Zawa’id, as referenced from Musnad Ahmad, appears as: “Khayran ya Umm Qays,” and the wording in the narration of Sunan al-Bayhaqi is also the same, and the meaning is also correct with these words. It seems that the original wording was indeed “Khayran ya Umm Qays,” but a scribe made a mistake and wrote “Akhbaratna Umm Qays.” And Allah knows best what is correct. We have translated according to these words. The legal issue mentioned in this hadith is correct based on the previous hadith. The issue mentioned in the last two ahadith is one from which almost all the pilgrims are heedless, except whom Allah wills, and it is astonishing that in all the pocket-sized books distributed in the Haramain Sharifain on the topic of Hajj and ‘Umrah, this issue is not mentioned. And that issue is: After stoning the Jamrah ‘Aqabah, all the restrictions of ihram are lifted except for the conjugal relationship between husband and wife, but if a person is unable to perform the Tawaf al-Ifadah until the evening, then all the restrictions of ihram are re-imposed until he completes this tawaf. The most difficult restriction among these is that one must remove the shalwar kameez or ordinary clothes and wear the two sheets of ihram, because the pilgrims’ belongings are usually at their residences or in Mina. It is better that if a person suspects that he may not be able to complete the Tawaf al-Ifadah before evening, he should keep the ihram sheets with him, or better yet, not remove the ihram clothing at all until he has performed the tawaf. In the last two ahadith, the word “masa’” is used, which we have translated as “evening.” In reality, this word applies to the time from after the sun’s zenith until complete darkness. Hafiz Ibn Hajar said: It appears that in these ahadith, what is meant is the early part of the night. And the beginning of the night is from sunset. The first part of hadith number (4544) strengthens Hafiz Ibn Hajar’s inclination, and also, in the narration of Tahawi for hadith number (4544m), the wording is: The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: ((Man lam yufid ila al-bayti min ‘ashiyyati hadhihi falyada‘ al-thiyab wa al-tib.)) … “Whoever is unable to perform the tawaf on the ‘ashiyyah of this day, then he should remove his clothes and abstain from perfume.” Here, “‘ashiyyah” refers to the time from the sun’s zenith until sunset. And Allah knows best what is correct.

Tawaf al-Ifadah is a pillar (rukn) of Hajj. The best way to perform it is to do so after stoning the Jamrah ‘Aqabah, offering the sacrifice, and shaving the head (hajamat), and before the sun passes its zenith, just as the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did. The Tawaf al-Ziyarah should be performed as soon as possible; due to an excuse, this tawaf can be delayed until sunset on the 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah. After this tawaf, a person becomes completely lawful (halal), meaning he may also have conjugal relations with his wife.