Ruling on Abandoning Ḥajj Before or After Entering Iḥrām

Ruling on Abandoning Ḥajj Before or After Entering Iḥrām
Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām

❖ If the Person Has Not Yet Entered Iḥrām​

• If someone intends to perform Ḥajj but has not yet donned iḥrām, nothing is binding upon him if he changes his mind.
• He may continue his journey or return home.
• However, if Ḥajj is already obligatory upon him, he must perform it at the earliest opportunity.
• If an obstacle prevents him from travelling that year, nothing is due upon him—he can perform it later.

❖ If the Person Has Already Entered Iḥrām​

① If He Made a Conditional Clause (Ishtirāt)​

• At the time of entering iḥrām, if he said:
  “If I am prevented from completing Ḥajj, then my exit from iḥrām will be at the place where You (O Allah) stop me,”
• Then if an obstacle occurs, he may exit iḥrām without any penalty.

② If No Condition Was Made​

• If there is hope that the obstacle will soon be removed:
  
  • He should wait and complete his Ḥajj once the obstacle is lifted.
  • If the obstacle is removed before the time of standing at ʿArafah, he should proceed and complete Ḥajj.
  • If the obstacle is removed after the time of ʿArafah and he missed standing there, his Ḥajj is invalid for that year. In this case:
    
    • He should perform an ʿUmrah, exit iḥrām,
    • And if it was an obligatory Ḥajj, he must make it up the following year.
• If there is no hope that the obstacle will soon be removed:
  
  • He should exit iḥrām,
  • And slaughter a sacrificial animal (hadī).

❖ Qur’ānic Basis​

This ruling is based on the general meaning of the verse:


﴿وَأَتِمُّوا الحَجَّ وَالعُمرَةَ لِلَّهِ فَإِن أُحصِرتُم فَمَا استَيسَرَ مِنَ الهَدىِ﴾
“And complete the Ḥajj and ʿUmrah for Allah. But if you are prevented, then (offer) whatever sacrifice is easy (for you).”
(Al-Baqarah 2:196)


وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَاب