Performing Umrah from Tanʿeem, Tawaf, Conveying Reward to the Deceased, and the Ruling on Soaking the Shroud in Zamzam Water
Source: Fatawa ʿIlmiyyah (Tawdih al-Ahkam), Vol. 2, p. 169
Question:
During a stay in Makkah al-Mukarramah, if a person wishes to perform ʿUmrah, is it necessary to go to Masjid ʿAishah (Tanʿeem) to enter into ihram? My parents and younger sister have passed away. My parents performed Hajj during their lifetime, but my sister did not get the opportunity. While staying in Makkah, can I perform ʿUmrah with the intention of conveying the reward to the deceased? Or can I simply perform Tawaf on their behalf to grant them a reward equal to, or greater than, that of ʿUmrah?
Also, many people, when travelling to Saudi Arabia, soak the shroud (kafan) in Zamzam water. Will wearing such a shroud protect one from the punishment of the grave? Is it permissible according to Islamic teachings to soak the shroud in Zamzam water?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
❖ The most correct opinion is that the ihram for ʿUmrah should be entered into from the miqat.
❖ The ʿUmrah of Sayyidah ʿAishah (RA) from Tanʿeem was a specific and exceptional case, and it is not correct to make it a general rule.
❖ There is no Sharʿi evidence from the Salaf al-Salih or the reliable contemporary scholars of the Hijaz supporting the practice of repeatedly performing Tanʿeem Umrahs.
❖ As indicated in Shaykh ʿAbdul ʿAziz ibn ʿAbdullah ibn Baz’s book al-Tahqiq wal-Idah li-Kathir min Masail al-Hajj wal-ʿUmrah (pp. 18–19), there is no valid Sharʿi justification for the practice of performing multiple Umrahs from Tanʿeem.
Special Case (Women in Menstruation):
❖ If a woman is in a state of menstruation and is unable to perform Tawaf al-Qudum, she may later perform ʿUmrah from Tanʿeem.
❖ This exceptional case is established from the Hadith of Sayyidah ʿAishah (RA).
Best Practice:
❖ Avoid the repeated practice of Tanʿeem Umrahs.
❖ Engage in frequent Tawaf, as Tawaf carries immense reward.
الطواف حول البيت مثل الصلاة إلا أنكم تتكلمون فيه، فمن تكلم فيه فلا يتكلم إلا بخير
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Hajj, Bab Ma Jaʾ fi al-Kalam fi al-Tawaf, Hadith 960)
Translation:
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Tawaf around the Kaʿbah is like prayer, except that you speak in it. So whoever speaks in it, let him speak only good."
This Hadith is Hasan. It has been authenticated by Ibn Khuzaymah (4/222, H. 2739) and Ibn Hibban (al-Mawarid: 998).
Additional Narrations:
❖ Reported through ʿAṭaʾ ibn al-Saʾib from Hammad ibn Salamah, Sufyan al-Thawri, and Sufyan ibn ʿUyaynah.
❖ Imam al-Nasaʾi narrated a similar meaning with an authentic chain in a mawquf form (“from a man who met the Prophet ﷺ”) (5/222, H. 2925).
❖ ʿAbdullah ibn ʿUmar (RA) authentically reported:
اقلوا الكلام في الطواف وإنما أنتم في الصلاة
(Sunan al-Nasaʾi, H. 2926)
Translation:
"Reduce speech during Tawaf, for you are indeed in a state similar to prayer."
For the Deceased:
❖ If you travel outside the miqat and return to Makkah, you may perform ʿUmrah on behalf of your late parents and sister.
فحج عن أبيك واعتمر
(Sunan Abi Dawud: 1810, al-Tirmidhi: 930 – Hasan Sahih, Ibn Majah: 2906, al-Nasaʾi: 2622, 2638, Ibn Khuzaymah: 3040, Ibn Hibban: 961, al-Hakim 1/481 – authenticated on the condition of al-Bukhari and Muslim, agreed by al-Dhahabi, supported by Ahmad ibn Hanbal)
❖ You can also convey reward through frequent Tawaf and supplications for the deceased.
❖ There is no authentic evidence in the Sharʿi sources to justify soaking the shroud in Zamzam water.
❖ Apparently, this practice falls under bidʿah (innovation), so it is better to completely avoid it.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatawa ʿIlmiyyah (Tawdih al-Ahkam), Vol. 2, p. 169Clarification Regarding Performing Umrah from Masjid ʿAishah (Tanʿeem) and Conveying Reward to the Deceased
Question:
During a stay in Makkah al-Mukarramah, if a person wishes to perform ʿUmrah, is it necessary to go to Masjid ʿAishah (Tanʿeem) to enter into ihram? My parents and younger sister have passed away. My parents performed Hajj during their lifetime, but my sister did not get the opportunity. While staying in Makkah, can I perform ʿUmrah with the intention of conveying the reward to the deceased? Or can I simply perform Tawaf on their behalf to grant them a reward equal to, or greater than, that of ʿUmrah?
Also, many people, when travelling to Saudi Arabia, soak the shroud (kafan) in Zamzam water. Will wearing such a shroud protect one from the punishment of the grave? Is it permissible according to Islamic teachings to soak the shroud in Zamzam water?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
(1) Sharʿi Guidance Regarding ʿUmrah
❖ The most correct opinion is that the ihram for ʿUmrah should be entered into from the miqat.
❖ The ʿUmrah of Sayyidah ʿAishah (RA) from Tanʿeem was a specific and exceptional case, and it is not correct to make it a general rule.
❖ There is no Sharʿi evidence from the Salaf al-Salih or the reliable contemporary scholars of the Hijaz supporting the practice of repeatedly performing Tanʿeem Umrahs.
❖ As indicated in Shaykh ʿAbdul ʿAziz ibn ʿAbdullah ibn Baz’s book al-Tahqiq wal-Idah li-Kathir min Masail al-Hajj wal-ʿUmrah (pp. 18–19), there is no valid Sharʿi justification for the practice of performing multiple Umrahs from Tanʿeem.
Special Case (Women in Menstruation):
❖ If a woman is in a state of menstruation and is unable to perform Tawaf al-Qudum, she may later perform ʿUmrah from Tanʿeem.
❖ This exceptional case is established from the Hadith of Sayyidah ʿAishah (RA).
Best Practice:
❖ Avoid the repeated practice of Tanʿeem Umrahs.
❖ Engage in frequent Tawaf, as Tawaf carries immense reward.
الطواف حول البيت مثل الصلاة إلا أنكم تتكلمون فيه، فمن تكلم فيه فلا يتكلم إلا بخير
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Hajj, Bab Ma Jaʾ fi al-Kalam fi al-Tawaf, Hadith 960)
Translation:
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Tawaf around the Kaʿbah is like prayer, except that you speak in it. So whoever speaks in it, let him speak only good."
This Hadith is Hasan. It has been authenticated by Ibn Khuzaymah (4/222, H. 2739) and Ibn Hibban (al-Mawarid: 998).
Additional Narrations:
❖ Reported through ʿAṭaʾ ibn al-Saʾib from Hammad ibn Salamah, Sufyan al-Thawri, and Sufyan ibn ʿUyaynah.
❖ Imam al-Nasaʾi narrated a similar meaning with an authentic chain in a mawquf form (“from a man who met the Prophet ﷺ”) (5/222, H. 2925).
❖ ʿAbdullah ibn ʿUmar (RA) authentically reported:
اقلوا الكلام في الطواف وإنما أنتم في الصلاة
(Sunan al-Nasaʾi, H. 2926)
Translation:
"Reduce speech during Tawaf, for you are indeed in a state similar to prayer."
For the Deceased:
❖ If you travel outside the miqat and return to Makkah, you may perform ʿUmrah on behalf of your late parents and sister.
فحج عن أبيك واعتمر
(Sunan Abi Dawud: 1810, al-Tirmidhi: 930 – Hasan Sahih, Ibn Majah: 2906, al-Nasaʾi: 2622, 2638, Ibn Khuzaymah: 3040, Ibn Hibban: 961, al-Hakim 1/481 – authenticated on the condition of al-Bukhari and Muslim, agreed by al-Dhahabi, supported by Ahmad ibn Hanbal)
❖ You can also convey reward through frequent Tawaf and supplications for the deceased.
(2) Soaking the Shroud in Zamzam Water
❖ There is no authentic evidence in the Sharʿi sources to justify soaking the shroud in Zamzam water.
❖ Apparently, this practice falls under bidʿah (innovation), so it is better to completely avoid it.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
