This excerpt is taken from the book Masnoon Hajj o Umrah published by Maktaba Darussalam Research Center.
Months of Hajj:
The command of the Almighty is: [اَلۡحَجُّ اَشۡہُرٌ مَّعۡلُوۡمٰتٌ]
The months of Hajj are appointed.
Reference: Al-Baqarah:197
The months of Hajj are:
① Shawwal
② Dhu al-Qi'dah
③ The first ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah.
Ihram for Hajj can only be donned in these months, whereas Ihram for Umrah can be donned at any time throughout the year.
Issue:
Some consider performing Umrah on the Day of Arafah, the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah, and the days of Tashreeq [13,12,11] to be disliked. This is baseless; there is no evidence prohibiting Umrah on these days.
Conditions of Hajj:
① Being a Muslim,
② Being sane and adult,
③ Being healthy and fit,
④ Having the means (financial capability),
⑤ The route being safe, i.e., free from any obstacles.
For women, in addition to these conditions, there are two more conditions:
[1]: Accompaniment of husband or mahram.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Jaza' al-Sayd, Hadith:1862
Besides the husband, with whom can a woman travel, and who are called mahram?
The mahrams according to blood relation are as follows:
Father, grandfather, son, grandson, brother, nephew (brother's son), nephew (sister's son), maternal uncle, paternal uncle, and uncle from father's side.
◈ According to breastfeeding (rada’ah), meaning the woman whose milk she has drunk, due to this also the mentioned relations will become forbidden for her, i.e., they will also be her mahrams. For example: the husband of the breastfeeding mother will be considered the father of the woman who drank the milk. Similarly, her sons will be her brothers, her brother's sons will be nephews, her sister's sons will be nephews, and they will be her mahrams. Additionally, the breastfeeding mother's brother will be a maternal uncle, and her husband's brother will be a paternal uncle, and they will be mahrams.
◈ In in-law relationships, the father-in-law [husband's father], the husband's [from the first wife] son, and the woman's son-in-law are mahram. The fundamental definition of mahram is that with whom a woman can never marry, such as: father, son, father-in-law, son-in-law, etc. These are relationships with whom marriage is never possible. That is why a brother-in-law is not mahram because a relationship with the brother-in-law can occur if his wife, who is the woman's sister, passes away or if they separate through divorce or khula. Similarly, the husband's elder brother and younger brother are also not mahram because a woman can marry them if her husband dies or if they separate through divorce or khula. There is no command for a woman to observe purdah from a mahram; therefore, the command to observe purdah applies to brother-in-law, younger brother-in-law, and elder brother-in-law because they are not mahram.
The second condition for a woman's Hajj is:
[2]. Not being in the state of 'Iddah'. The details of [Iddah] are as follows:
① The widow's 'iddah after the husband's death is four months and ten days [according to the lunar calendar].
② In the case of pregnancy, the 'iddah after divorce is until childbirth.
③ In the case of menstruation, the 'iddah after divorce is three menstrual cycles.
④ In the case of no menstruation for any reason, the 'iddah after divorce is three lunar months.
There are three types of 'iddah:
① The 'iddah of a woman who has been divorced once or twice.
② The 'iddah of a woman who has received a final (bain) divorce.
③ The 'iddah of a woman whose husband has passed away.
① A woman who has received the first or second divorce and is observing her waiting period (iddah), which is three menstrual cycles, three months, or until delivery. The ruling for her is that she should remain in her husband's house during the iddah because the first and second divorces are revocable divorces (ṭalāq rajʿī), meaning the husband has the right to reconcile during the iddah. The benefit of staying in the house is that perhaps he may regret his action and reconcile. That is why Allah Almighty has said: [لَا تُخۡرِجُوۡہُنَّ مِنۡۢ بُیُوۡتِہِنَّ وَ لَا یَخۡرُجۡنَ]
Do not send them away from their houses, nor shall they themselves leave.
Reference: At-Talaq:1
It is obvious that this revocable divorced woman cannot go for Hajj during her iddah.
② A woman who is irrevocably divorced, meaning she has received three divorces at different times. Such a third divorce is called an irrevocable divorce (ṭalāq bā'inah or ṭalāq baṭṭah), which means that after this divorce, her relationship with her husband is completely terminated; now neither reconciliation nor marriage is possible. [حَتّٰی تَنۡکِحَ زَوۡجًا غَیۡرَہٗ]
Until she marries another husband besides him.
Reference: Al-Baqarah:230
Such a woman can go for Hajj; there is no evidence to prevent her.
③ The third woman is the one who is observing the waiting period of widowhood, meaning her husband has passed away, and her waiting period is 4 months and 10 days. Based on some indications, some scholars opine that this woman can go for Hajj.
Reference: Ahkam al-Nisa:2/447, authored by Mustafa al-Adawi, published by Dar Ibn Affan, Cairo, Egypt:1999
But the majority of scholars' opinion is that this woman should first complete her waiting period and then go for Hajj the following year if other conditions are fulfilled. This opinion is more correct and preferable.
① Making the intention for Hajj ② Standing at Arafah ③ Tawaf al-Ziyarah ④ Sa’i between Safa and Marwah
If even one of these four pillars is missed, the Hajj will not be valid.
① Assuming Ihram from the Miqat [making the intention of Ihram and wearing the Ihram clothing.]
② Spending the night of the 9th and 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah in Muzdalifah.
③ Shaving or trimming the hair of the head.
④ Spending at least the first two nights of the Days of Tashreeq, i.e., the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah, in Mina.
⑤ Stoning the three Jamaraat.
⑥ Farewell Tawaf. However, women who are menstruating or in postnatal bleeding are exempted from this; they are permitted to leave their country without performing Farewell Tawaf, provided they have performed Tawaf al-Ziyarah on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah.
Explanation:
If someone is performing Hajj al-Qiran or Hajj al-Tamattu, then sacrifice is also obligatory on them.
Nowadays, pills are available to temporarily stop menstruation. Scholars have permitted their use upon a doctor's advice. Therefore, if using these pills eliminates the risk of menstruation and prevents the difficulties that arise during Tawaf al-Qudum and Tawaf al-Ziyarah due to menstruation throughout the Hajj journey, then their use is permissible, provided they are not harmful to health. Hence, consultation with a doctor is necessary.
Except for the mentioned matters, all other Hajj rituals are Sunnah.
Warnings
◈ If a pilgrim is unable to perform any pillar of Hajj, their Hajj is invalid, and they must perform Hajj again.
◈ Whoever abandons any obligatory or mandatory duty of Hajj, according to the preferred opinion, should repent and seek forgiveness; there is no harm in this.
Reference: Al-Mawsu'ah Al-Fiqhiyyah Al-Muyassarah: 295/4
◈ A person who cannot perform the sacrifice should fast [3] days during the days of Hajj and [7] days after returning home.
A person who, for any reason, cannot perform any Sunnah of Hajj will not have to pay any fidyah (compensation).
There are three types of Hajj:
① Qiran
② Tamattu'
③ Ifrad
Hajj Qiran:
Linguistically, Qiran means "to combine."
The one who performs Hajj Qiran makes the intention for both Hajj and Umrah at the time of entering Ihram. Both are performed in a single Ihram [intention], meaning there is no permissible break between them. Therefore, it is called Qiran. Performing a sacrifice is obligatory in this type.
Issue: The Holy Prophet ﷺ performed only one Hajj in his lifetime, and that was Qiran.
Hajj Tamattu':
Linguistically, Tamattu' means "to enjoy" or "to benefit."
The one performing Hajj Tamattu' puts on the Ihram for Umrah at the Miqat (designated place). After completing Umrah, he removes the Ihram and enjoys the state of being lawful, meaning he becomes permissible, and on the 8th of Dhu al-Hijjah, he again puts on the Ihram for Hajj from Makkah. This is why it is called Hajj Tamattu'. In this type, offering a sacrifice is obligatory.
Hajj Ifrad:
The meaning of Ifrad is to do something "alone" or "solely."
The one performing Hajj Ifrad puts on the Ihram only for Hajj from the Miqat and intends only Hajj. Therefore, it is called Hajj Ifrad. In this, offering a sacrifice is not obligatory.
Although all three types of Hajj are permissible and valid in Islam, performing any one of them fulfills the Islamic obligation for a Muslim. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself performed Hajj Qiran. However, later he expressed a desire to perform Hajj Tamattu and also instructed the companions to change their intentions to Hajj Tamattu. Those companions who did not change their intentions after his command were met with his displeasure.
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Al-Hajj, Hadith:1211
Since the Prophet ﷺ had a sacrifice with him, he could not change his intention. Therefore, among these three types, performing Hajj Tamattu is the most virtuous.
Hajj Badal:
This means performing Hajj on behalf of another person, and it is permissible provided that the one performing Hajj Badal has already performed his own Hajj. The person on whose behalf the Hajj is being performed must be deceased or extremely ill and unable to travel under any circumstances.
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood, Al-Manasik, Hadith:1811
The person performing Hajj on behalf of someone else should, before entering Ihram, take the name of the person on whose behalf he is performing Hajj, that is, while repeating the words of Ihram, at the end say "عن" and then mention that person's name, for example: اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ حَجًّا عَنْ.......
Issue: If, by chance, he forgets to mention the name or forgets the name itself, the intention alone is sufficient. Similarly, there is no difference in the method of performing Hajj.
Issue: Like Hajj on behalf of another, Umrah can also be performed on behalf of someone else, provided that the person has not already performed his own Umrah. Also, there is no difference in the method of performing Umrah.
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood, Al-Manasik, Hadith:1810
Hajj of Children:
Minor children can also perform Hajj. The reward and merit of their Hajj will go to the parents.
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Al-Hajj, Hadith:1336
No expiation or ransom is required for any mistake made by children: The Prophet ﷺ said:
The pen is lifted from three persons: one who is asleep until he wakes up, a child until he reaches puberty, and a mad person until his madness ends.
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood, Al-Hudood, Hadith:4403
Performing Hajj at a young age does not remove the obligation:
If a child performs Hajj before reaching puberty, the obligation is not lifted. Upon reaching puberty and having the means, they must perform Hajj again.
Reference: Al-Mu'jam al-Awsat by Al-Tabarani: 353/3, Hadith: 2752
