❖ What Should a Weak and Elderly Person Do If Unable to Perform ʿUmrah? ❖
Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
❖ Question:
If a very elderly person enters the state of iḥrām for ʿUmrah but upon reaching Makkah becomes too weak to perform it, what should he do in such a situation?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
If a very aged person enters iḥrām for ʿUmrah and, after reaching the Sacred House, becomes physically unable to perform the rites, then the following rulings apply in light of the Sharīʿah:
➊ Remain in the State of Iḥrām
If he did not make any condition (sharṭ) at the time of entering iḥrām, then:
— He must remain in the state of iḥrām
— Until he recovers and becomes capable of completing the ʿUmrah rites
➋ If a Condition Was Made
If, at the time of entering iḥrām, he made the following conditional statement:
“If I am prevented by any obstacle, I will exit iḥrām at the point where I am stopped.”
Then:
— He may exit iḥrām immediately
— No ʿUmrah, farewell ṭawāf, or any other obligation will be binding upon him
➌ If No Condition Was Made and Recovery Is Not Expected
If:
— No such condition was made, and
— There is no hope of recovering from his physical weakness or incapacity,
Then:
— He may exit iḥrām
— And if able, he must sacrifice an animal as fidyah (compensation)
➍ Qur’anic Evidence
﴿وَأَتِمُّوا الحَجَّ وَالعُمرَةَ لِلَّهِ فَإِن أُحصِرتُم فَمَا استَيسَرَ مِنَ الهَدىِ وَلا تَحلِقوا رُءوسَكُم حَتّى يَبلُغَ الهَدىُ مَحِلَّهُ﴾
(Sūrat al-Baqarah, 2:196)
Translation:
“And complete the Ḥajj and ʿUmrah for Allah. But if you are prevented (from completing them), then offer what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And do not shave your heads until the offering reaches the place of sacrifice.”
➎ Prophetic Example
When Rasūlullāh ﷺ was prevented from performing ʿUmrah at Ḥudaybiyyah:
— He slaughtered sacrificial animals,
— And exited the state of iḥrām
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
