Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

The Hajj

The Acts of the Hajj

At the beginning, in order to make it easier for the reader to follow the opinions of the five schools of fiqh about various aspects of Hajj, we shall briefly outline their sequence as ordained by the Shari'ah.

The Hajj pilgrim coming from a place distant from Mecca assumes ihram1 from the miqat2 on his way, or from a point parallel to the closest miqat, and starts reciting the talbiyah.3 In this there is no difference between one performing ‘Umrah mufradah or any of the three types of Hajj (i.e. tamattu, ifrad, qiran). However, those who live within the haram4 of Mecca assume ihram from their houses.'5

On sighting the Holy Ka'bah, he recites takbir اللَّهِ أَكْبَر (i.e. ‘God is the greatest') and tahlil لا إله إلا الله (i.e. ‘There is no god except Allah') which is mustahabb6 (desirable, though not obligatory). On entering Mecca, he takes a bath, which is again mustahabb. After entering al‑Masjid al‑Haram, first he greets the Black Stone (al‑Hajar al‑'Aswad) ‑ if possible kisses it, otherwise makes a gesture with his hand - then makes the tawaf (seven fold circumambulation of the Ka'bah) of the first entry, which is mustahabb for one performing Hajj al‑'ifrad or Hajj al-qiran. Then he offers the two raka'at of the tawaf, again greets the Black Stone if he can, and leaves al‑Masjid al‑Haram. After this, he remains in the state of ihram in Mecca. On the day of tarwiyah, i.e. the eighth day of the month of Dhu al‑Hijjah, or if he wants a day earlier, he goes forth towards ‘Arafat.

If the pilgrim has come for ‘Umrah mufradah or Hajj al-tamattu; he performs the tawaf of the entry, which is obligatory (wajib) for him, and prays the two raka'at of the tawaf. Then he performs the sa’y between Safa and Marwah, and, following it, the halq (complete head shave) or taqsir7 (partial shortening of the hair of the head). Then he is relieved of the state of ihram and its related restrictions, and things prohibited in ihram become permissible for him, including sexual intercourse.8 Then he proceeds from Mecca after assuming ihram for a second time, early enough to be present at the wuquf (halt) at ‘Arafat (referred to as ‘mawqif; i.e. the place of halting) at noontime on the ninth of Dhu al‑Hijjah. Assumption of ihram on the day of tarwiyah, i.e. eighth Dhu al‑Hijjah, is preferable.

The Hajj pilgrim, irrespective of the type of Hajj he intends to perform, turns towards ‘Arafat, passing through Mina. The period of the wufuq at ‘Arafat is, for the Hanafi, Shafi’i, and Maliki schools, from the noon of the ninth until the day break of the tenth; for the Hanbali school, from the daybreak of the ninth until the daybreak of the tenth; and for the Imamiyyah, from noon until sunset on the ninth, and in exigency until the daybreak of the tenth.9 The pilgrim offers invocations (dua') at ‘Arafat, preferably (istihbaban) in an imploring manner.

Then he turns towards Muzdalifah (also called al‑Mash'ar al‑Haram), where he offers the Maghrib and Isha' prayers on the night of the ‘Id (i.e. the tenth of Dhu al‑Hijjah). Offering the two prayers immediately after one another is considered mustahabb by all the five schools. According to the Hanafi, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools, it is obligatory to spend this night (i.e. the night of the ‘Id) at Muzdalifah; for the Imamiyyah, it is not obligatory but preferable. After the daybreak, he makes the wuquf at al‑Mash'ar al‑Haram, which is wajib for the Imamiyyah and mustahabb for other schools. And at Muzdalifah, preferably, he picks up seven pebbles to be thrown at Mina.

After this, he turns towards Mina before sunrise on the day of ‘Id. There he performs the ritual throwing of stones, called ramy, at Jamarat al‑‘Aqabah, no matter which of the three kinds of Hajj he is performing. The ramy is performed between sunrise and sunset, preferably (istihbaban)

accompanied by takbir and tasbi سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ (i.e. proclaiming God's glory by saying ‘How far God is from every imperfection!').

Then if a non‑Meccan on Hajj al-tamattu; he should slaughter the sacrificial animal (a camel, cow or a sheep), by agreement of all the five schools. However, it is not obligatory for one on Hajj al‑'ifrad; again by consensus of all the five schools. For one on Hajj al-qiran, the sacrifice is obligatory from the viewpoint o the four Sunni schools, and for the Imamiyyah it is not obligatory except when the pilgrim brings the sacrificial animal (al‑hady) along with him at the time of assuming ihram.

For a Meccan performing Hajj al-tamattu; the sacrifice is obligatory from the viewpoint of the Imamiyyah school, but not according to the four Sunni schools.

After this, he performs the halq or taqsir, irrespective of the kind of Hajj he is performing. After halq or taqsir, everything except sexual intercourse becomes permissible for him according to the Hanbali, Shafi'i and Hanafi schools, and according to the Maliki and Imamiyyah schools, everything except intercourse and perfume.

Then he returns to Mecca on the same day, i.e. the day of the ‘Id, performs the tawaf al‑ziyarah, prays its related two raka'at, regardless of which kind of Hajj he is performing. After this, according to the four Sunni schools, he is free from all restrictions including that of sexual intercourse. Then he performs the sa’y between Safa and Marwah if on Hajj al-tamattu; by agreement of all the five schools. For the Imamiyyah school, the sa’y after tawaf al‑ziyarah is also obligatory for one performing Hajj al-qiran and Hajj al‑'ifrad. But for other schools, it is not obligatory if the pilgrim had performed the sa’y after the tawaf of first entry, otherwise it is.

For the Imamiyyah, it is obligatory for all the types of Hajj to perform another tawaf after this sa’y. Without this tawaf, called tawaf al-nisa; one is not relieved of the interdiction of abstinence from intercourse.

Then the pilgrim returns to Mina on the same day, i.e. the tenth, where he sleeps on the night of the eleventh, performs the threefold throwing of stones (ramy al jamarat) during the interval from the noon until the sunset of the eleventh‑ by consensus of all the five schools. For the Imamiyyah, the ramy is permissible after sunrise and before noon. After this, on the day of the twelfth, he does what he had done the day before. All the legal schools agree that he may now depart from Mina before sunset. And if he stays there until sunset, he is obliged to spend the night of the thirteenth there and to perform the threefold ramy on the day of thirteenth.

After the ramy, he returns to Mecca, before or after noon. On entering Mecca, he performs another tawaf, tawaf al‑wada’ (the tawaf of farewell), which is mustahabb for the Imamiyyah and Maliki schools and obligatory for the non‑Meccans from the viewpoint of the remaining three. Here the acts of the Hajj come to conclusion.

The Conditions (Shurut) that make the Hajj Obligatory (Wajib)

The conditions (shurut) which make the Hajj obligatory (wajib) for a Muslim are: maturity (bulugh), sanity (‘aql), and ‘capability' (istita'ah).

The Proviso of Bulugh

The Hajj is not obligatory for children, regardless of whether a child is of the age of discretion (mumayyiz) or not (ghayr mumayyiz). For a mumayyiz child, the Hajj is voluntary and valid. However, it does not relieve him/her of the obligation to perform the obligatory Hajj (called hijjat al‑'Islam) later as an adult possessing istita'ah; this, in case he/she does not attain adulthood before the wuquf. On this all the five schools of fiqh are in agreement.

It is permissible for the guardian (wali) of a ghayr mumayyiz child to take him along on the Hajj pilgrimage. In that case, he puts on the child the dress of ihram; instructs him to say the talbiyah, if the child can say it well, or otherwise says it himself on the child's behalf; and is cautious lest the child commits some act unlawful (haram) for the pilgrims (hujjaj). The accompanying guardian also tells him to perform every act that the child can perform himself, and what he cannot, the guardian performs it on the child's behalf.

The schools of fiqh differ on two questions relating to the Hajj of a mumayyiz child: firstly, whether his Hajj is valid, irrespective of the permission of the guardian; secondly, whether he is relieved of the obligation of Hajj if he attains adulthood before mawqif. According to the Imamiyyah, Hanbali, and Shafi'i schools, the guardian's permission is a provision for the ihram to be valid. According to Abu Hanifah, the idea of validity is inapplicable to the child's Hajj, even if mumayyiz, and regardless of whether he obtains the permission of the guardian or not; because, according to him, there is nothing to a child's Hajj except its significance as an exercise (Fath al‑Bari, al‑Mughni, al‑Tadhkirah).

According to the Imamiyyah, Hanbali and Shafi’i schools, if the child attains adulthood before mawqif, his obligatory duty of Hajj (hijjat al‑'Islam) is thereby fulfilled. And according to Imamiyyah and Maliki schools, the duty is fulfilled if he renews ihram (as an adult), otherwise not; which means that he should start the Hajj all over again from the beginning. (al‑Tadhkirah)

Insanity

Basically the condition of insanity relieves a person of all duties. Even if he was to perform the Hajj, and presumably in the way expected of a sane person, it would not fulfil his obligatory duty were he to return to sanity. If his insanity is periodic, when regained for a sufficiently long interval it is wajib for him to perform the Hajj with all its conditions and in all its details. However, if the interval of sanity is not sufficient to perform all the acts of the Hajj, he is quit of the obligation.

Istita’ah

All the five schools of fiqh agree that istita’ah is a requirement for the Hajj duty to become obligatory as mentioned by the Qu’ranic verse:

مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا

(“… whoever is able to make his way there” )10 .

However, there is disagreement about the meaning of istita’ah. In hadith it has been defined as consisting of "al‑zad wa al‑rahilah". ‘Al‑rahilah' implies the expenses of to and fro journey to Mecca, and ‘al‑zad' stands for the expenses required for transport, food, lodging, passport fees, and the like. Moreover, the funds needed to meet such expenses must come out of the surplus after paying one's debts, after arranging for one's family's livelihood, meeting the requirements of one's source of income (such as land for a farmer, tools for a craftsman, capital for a tradesman, and so on), and without compromising the security of his life, property and honour.

All schools agree about it except the Malikis, who say that the duty of Hajj is obligatory for anyone who can walk. The Malikis also do not consider the necessity of providing for the living expenses of the family. Rather, they consider it compulsory for one to sell off his essential means of life, such as land, livestock, tools, and even books and unessential clothes. (al‑Fiqh ‘ala al‑madhahib al‑'arba’ah).

If a person upon whom the Hajj duty is not obligatory due to absence of istita'ah, takes upon himself the burden and performs the Hajj, in case he attains istita'ah afterwards, is his first Hajj sufficient or should he perform the Hajj once again? According to the Maliki and Hanafi schools, yes, repetition is not compulsory. According to the Hanbali school, yes, but a duty left unattended, such as an unpaid debt, must be discharged.

According to the Imamiyyah school, it does not suffice the obligation of Hajj if he attains istita'ah afterwards, because the provisional is inseparable from the provision both in its presence and its absence. The Hajj performed before the attainment of istita'ah is considered supererogatory (nafl). Later, with its realization, repetition of the Hajj becomes obligatory.

Immediacy (al-Fawr)

The Imamiyyah, the Maliki, and the Hanbali schools consider the obligation (wujub) of the Hajj duty to be immediately applicable (fawri); i.e. it is not permissible to delay it from the moment of its possibility. It is sinful to delay, though the Hajj performed with delay is correct and fulfils the obligation. The author of al-Jawahir says:

The immediacy of the obligation of Hajj means that it is necessary to take initiative to perform the Hajj in the first year of attaining istita'ah, and failing that at one's next earliest opportunity....Thereafter, there is no doubt about the sinfulness of the delay if one were to forgo the first opportunity in the case of absence of another.

According to the Shafi’i school, the obligation of Hajj is not immediate (upon attainment of istita'ah); rather one may delay it and perform it when he wishes.11 According to Abu Yusuf, the Hajj is an immediate obligation. Muhammad ibn al‑Hasan considers delay (tarakhi) permissible. Abu Hanifah has no explicit text on the matter, though some of his contemporaries state that he implicitly believes in the immediacy of the obligation.

Secondary Issues Related to Istita’ah

Women and the Hajj

Are there any additional conditions for women with regard to performance of the Hajj? All the five schools agree that it is not required that a woman should obtain the husband's permission for the obligatory Hajj duty, nor may he prevent her from undertaking it. However, there is a difference of opinion about whether the Hajj is obligatory upon her or not if she does not find a husband or a mahram12 to accompany her on the journey.

According to the Imamiyyah, Maliki and Shafi’i schools, the mahram's company or that of the husband is not at all a condition, regardless of whether she is young or old, married or unmarried; since the mahram's company is a means of her safety, not an end in itself. Accordingly, we have two cases: either she feels confident of her security on the journey, or she doesn't. In the first case, the Hajj is obligatory upon her and the mahram's company is irrelevant. In the second case, she lacks the requirement of istita'ah, in spite of the mahram's company.

Accordingly, there is no essential difference between a man and a woman in this respect.

According to the Hanbali and Hanafi schools, the company of the husband or mahram is a provision for the woman's Hajj, even if she were old. It is not permissible for her to perform the Hajj without his company. The Hanafi school further stipulates the condition that her location should be at a distance of three days' journey from Mecca.

Bequest (al‑Badhl)

Al‑Mughni, a text of Hanbali fiqh, states: "If a person bequeaths money to another, it is not binding upon him to accept it, and it does not make the recipient mustati’ (possessing istita'ah), irrespective of whether the bequeathed is a relative or a stranger, regardless of whether the bequest suffices for the expenses of the journey and food. According to al‑Shafi’i, if the bequest is made by one's son, enough to enable him to undertake the Hajj journey, the Hajj becomes obligatory. This is because it enables him to perform the Hajj without having to bear a stranger's favour or without any accompanying encumbrance or harm.

According to the Imamiyyah school, if the bequest is an unconditional gift made without the provision of performing the Hajj by the recipient, the Hajj is not binding, irrespective of who makes the bequest. But if the bequest is made with the condition that one perform the Hajj, the acceptance of the bequest is binding and may not be rejected, even if the bequest is made by a stranger; since it makes him mustati ‘ to undertake the pilgrimage.

Marriage

What if one has only enough money either to get married or to perform the Hajj? Which of them is prior? The Hanafi text Fath al‑qadir (vol. II, "Bab al‑Hajj") mentions this question being put to Abu Hanifah, who, in his reply, considered that priority lies with the Hajj. The generality (itlaq) of this answer in which he gives priority to the Hajj, taking into consideration that marriage is obligatory under certain conditions, allows us to conclude that for Abu Hanifah delay in Hajj is not permissible.

According to the Shafi'i, Hanbali and Imamiyyah scholars, marriage has priority if there is likelihood of distress (haraj) or difficulty (mashaqqah)in refraining from marriage. In that case priority does not lie with the Hajj. (Kifayat al‑'akhbar, al‑Mughni, al‑‘Urwat al‑wuthqa)

Khums and Zakat

Payment of the khums and zakat has priority over the Hajj. The condition of istita'ah is not realized until both are paid off, like other kinds of debts.

Istita'ah by Chance

If someone travels to a place in the vicinity of the holy city of Mecca, on business or for some other purpose, and his stay continues until the Hajj season, and if it is possible for him to reach the Holy Ka'bah, he thereby becomes mustati’. And if he were to return home without performing the Hajj, by consensus of all the schools, he is not relieved of the obligation.

Istinabah (Deputation)

The Islamic duties (‘ibadat) are divisible into three categories, depending on a duty's nature whether it mainly involves bodily acts or financial expenditure.

1. The purely bodily ‘ibadat are those which, like fasting (sawm) and prayer (salat), do not involve any financial aspect. According to the four Sunni schools, such duties cannot in any circumstance be delegated to a proxy (na'ib), either on behalf of a living or a dead person. But according to the Imamiyyah school, taking a na'ib is permissible on behalf of a dead person, though not for a living person, to perform sawm and salat for him, and under all circumstances.

2. The purely financial ‘ibadat are those which do not involve bodily acts, such as khums and zakat. In such ‘ibadat, all legal schools agree, it is permissible to take a na'ib. It is permissible for one to depute another to take out zakat and pay other kind of alms (sadaqat) from his assets.

3. The duties which involve both bodily and financial aspects, such as the Hajj, which requires such bodily acts as tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka'bah), say’ (to and fro movement between Marwah and Safa), ramy (the symbolic throwing of stones), and financial expenditures such as for the journey and its accompanying requirements.

All the five legal schools agree that one who is capable of undertaking the Hajj in person and fulfils all the conditions thereof, should do so himself in person. It is not permissible for him to depute another to undertake it, and if he does so it would not relieve him of his obligation to perform it himself. If he does not do it in his life, according to the Shafi'i, Hanbali and Imamiyyah schools, he is not relieved of the duty because of the preponderance of the financial aspect, and it is obligatory to hire someone to perform the Hajj with a similar expenditure. In case he does not make a will for the Hajj, the amount should be taken out from his undivided heritage.13

According to the Hanafi and Maliki schools, he is relieved of the obligation due to the bodily aspect; but if he mentions it in his will, the expense is taken out from the one third of his inheritance‑‑like all other bequests‑‑and if he doesn't, istinabah is not obligatory.

The Physically Incapable (al-Qadir al-’Ajiz)

One who meets all the financial conditions for the Hajj pilgrimage but is incapable of undertaking it personally due to old age or some incurable disease, all the legal schools agree, is relieved of the obligation of performing the Hajj in person, for God says:

وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ

(... and He has laid no impediment in your religion ....). 14

However, it is obligatory upon him to hire someone to perform the Hajj for him. But if he doesn't, is it a negligence of a duty whose fulfilment continues to remain upon him? All the legal schools, with the exception of the Maliki, agree that it is obligatory upon him to hire someone to perform the Hajj for him. The Maliki says that the Hajj is not obligatory upon one who is incapable of undertaking it in person. (al‑Mughni, al‑Tadhkirah)

Furthermore, if a sick person recovers after deputing someone to perform his Hajj, is it obligatory upon him on recovery to perform the Hajj in person? According to the Hanbali school, another Hajj is not obligatory. But according to the Imamiyyah, Shafi'i and Hanafi schools it is obligatory, because what was fulfilled was the financial obligation, and the bodily obligation has remained unfulfilled.

Istinabah in al-Hajj al-Mustahabb

According to the Imamiyyah and Hanafi legal schools; one who has performed the Hijjat al‑'Islam, if he wants to depute another for a voluntary, mustahabb Hajj, may do so, even if he is capable of undertaking it in person. But according to the Shafi’i school, it is not permissible. There are two narrations from Ahmad ibn Hanbal, one indicating prohibition and the other permission.

According to the Maliki school, it is permissible for an incurable sick person and for one who has performed the obligatory Hajj to hire another for the Hajj. The Hajj so performed is valid, though makruh (reprehensible). It is not considered as the Hajj of the hirer (mustajir) and is counted as the mustahabb Hajj of the hired (ajir).

The hirer gets the reward for providing assistance in the performance of the Hajj and shares the blessings of the prayers offered. When the Hajj is performed for the benefit of a dead person, irrespective of whether he has asked for it in his will or not, it is counted neither as fulfilment of the duty (fard) nor as a supererogatory (nafl) act, nor does it relieve him of the duty of the obligatory Hajj. (al‑Fiqh ‘ala al‑madhahib al‑'arba’ah).

The Conditions for the Na'ib

The na'ib should fulfil the conditions of: bulugh (adulthood), ‘aql (sanity), belief in Islam, exemption from the duty of obligatory Hajj, and ability to perform the Hajj properly. A man may represent a woman and a‑woman may represent a man, even if both the na'ib and the one whom he represents have not performed the Hajj before.15

Should the na'ib commence the journey from his own place or that of the deceased whom he represents, or from one of the mawaqit? According to the Hanafi and Maliki schools, the na'ib should commence the pilgrimage journey from the place of the deceased, if he has not specified the starting point; otherwise according to his wish.

According to the Shafi’i school, the pilgrimage commences from one of the mawaqit; if the deceased person has specified one, then the na'ib must act accordingly, otherwise he is free to choose one of the mawaqit.

According to the Hanbali school, the na'ib must start from the place that the deceased was obliged to begin from if he had performed the Hajj himself, and not from the place of his death. If the deceased person had attained istita'ah at a place to which he had migrated, later returning to his own place, the na'ib should start from the place of migration, not from the deceased person's home, except when the distance (between his home‑town and the place of migration) is less than what is required for qasr in prayers performed by a traveller.16

According to the Imamiyyah school, the Hajj is classified into miqati (i.e. one which starts from one of the mawaqit) and baladi (i.e. one which starts from the town of the deceased). If the deceased has specified one of these two kinds, then the one specified.

If he has not specified, any one of the two may be performed. Otherwise the Hajj is miqati and, if possible, starts from the miqat nearest to Mecca, or else the miqat nearest to the town of the deceased. The cost of al‑Hijjat al‑miqatiyyah is taken out from the undivided legacy in the case of obligatory Hajj, and the expense exceeding the cost of al‑Hijjat al‑miqatiyyah is taken from the one third. (al‑Jawahir)

Delay by the Na'ib

Once the na'ib is hired, it is obligatory for him to act with immediacy. He may not postpone the Hajj beyond the first year. Also, it is not permissible for him to depute another, since the duty is his own. If we do not know that he actually went on the pilgrimage and performed all its essential acts, or if we doubt whether he performed them correctly and properly or not, or whether he failed to fulfil any of its obligatory essentials, then we assume that he acted correctly and properly, unless there is proof to the contrary.

Change of Purpose by the Na'ib (al‑‘Udal)

According to the Hanafi and Imamiyyah schools, if one specifies to the na'ib a particular kind of Hajj; such as Jajj al‑'ifrad, or Hajj al-qiran; then it is not permissible for him to make any change. However, if a particular town was specified as the starting point and the na'ib starts from another town, the purpose of the one who hires him is considered as fulfilled if the said specification was not really intended by the hirer; i.e. if by mentioning the route he meant the Hajj itself, and not the route specifically. (al‑Tadhkirah, al‑Fiqh ‘ala al‑madhahib al‑'arba’ah).

Notes

1. `Ihram' is the state of pilgrim sanctity, which a pilgrim of Hajj or `Umrah assumes on reaching miqat (see note No. 2). A pilgrim in the state of ihram is called muhrim. (Tr.)

2. Miqat (pl. mawaqit) refers to a number of stations outside Mecca from where the pilgrims intending Hajj or `Umrah assume ihram. They are: (1) Dhu al‑Hulayfah (specifically, Masjid al‑Shajarah); (2) Yalamlam; (3) Qarn al‑Manazil; (4) al‑Juhfah; (5) three points situated in the valley of al‑`Aqiq: al‑Maslakh, al‑Ghamrah, and Dhat al‑`Irq. Those pilgrims whose houses are nearer to Mecca than to any of the above mawaqit, assume ihram from their houses. (Tr.)

3. The talbiyah is wajib according to the Imamiyyah, Hanafi, and Maliki schools, and mustahabb according to the Hanbalis. Its time is the moment of beginning of ihram.

4. The area roughly within a radius of six miles, with the Holy Ka'bah at the centre, is called ‘haram’, the sacred and inviolable territory of the sanctuary of the Holy Ka'bah. See the brief discussion under the subheading; "The Limits of the Harams of Mecca and al‑Madinah" in the present article. (Tr.)

5. According to the Imamiyyah school, Hajj al-tamattu` is obligatory for non‑Meccans, and Meccans may choose between Hajj al-qiran and Hajj al‑'ifrad. According to the four Sunni schools, there is no difference between a Meccan and a non‑Meccan with regard to choice of any particular kind of Hajj, except that according to the Hanafi school Hajj al-tamattu` and Hajj al-qiran are makruh for the Meccan.

6. The tawaf of the first entry or the arrival (called tawaf al‑qudum) is mustahabb from the viewpoint of all except the Maliki school, which regards it as obligatory.

7. According to the Imamiyyah school, one is free to choose between halq and taqsir if on `Umrah mufradah'. But a pilgrim on Hajj al-tamattu` is required to perform taqsir. Also according to the Imamiyyah, it is obligatory for one on `Umrah mufradah to perform, after the halq or taqsir, a second tawaf, the tawaf al-nisa', before which sexual intimacy is not permissible to the pilgrim. According to the four Sunni schools, one is free to choose between halq and taqsir in both. They do not require the pilgrim of Hajj or ‘Umrah to perform tawaf al-nisa; and according to the Maliki school halq or taqsir is not obligatory on one performing `Umrah mufradah.

8. According to the Imamiyyah school, the mutamatti` (pilgrim on Hajj al-tamattu' and its conjugate `Umrah) acquires tahlil (i.e. relief from ihram) after taqsir, even when he brings along with him the sacrificial animal (hady). But according to the other schools, the mutamatti` who assumes ihram for `Umrah from the miqat obtains tahlil on halq or taqsir when not accompanied by hady, but if he has brought along with him the hady, he remains in the state of ihram. However, according to them, the pilgrim of `Umrah mufradah obtains tahlil regardless of whether the hady accompanies him or not. The author of al‑Mughni, after making the above statement, says, "I have not come across a contrary opinion on this matter."

9. According to the Imamiyyah school, the halt in Arafat is obligatory for the entire period of time. But according to the other schools, a moment of halt is sufficient. All the legal schools are in agreement that offering the zuhr (noon) and `asr (afternoon) prayers immediately after one another is mustahabb, because the Prophet (S) had done so.

10. The Qur'an, 3:97

11. Although the times have tended to support this opinion, and even though the traditions in favour of immediacy (al‑fawr) of the duty of Hajj are open to criticism and controversy, but it leads towards negligence, and gradually towards abandonment of this sacred rite. Accordingly, the stress on immediacy is preferable, being more conducive from the viewpoint of the necessity to preserve the vitality of the Islamic faith.

12. Mahram is a male relation with whom marriage is not permissible; viz; father, grandfathers, sons, grandsons, brothers, sons and grandsons of one's sister or brother, etc.

13. The Imamiyyah, Shafi'i, and Maliki schools permit hiring another person to perform the Hajj for a fee. The Hanafi and Hanbali schools do not consider it permissible. Nothing more than the expenses of journey, food and lodging may be given to the hired, they say.

14. The Qur'an, 22:78.

15. One who has not performed the Hajj before is called sarurah. According to the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools, if one who has not performed the Hajj before, undertakes it on behalf of another, the Hajj performed is considered his own. But according to the Maliki, Hanafi, and Imamiyyah schools, the Hajj performed depends on his intention (niyyah).

16. The minimum distance required for qasr in zuhr, 'asr and 'isha' prayers is 8 parasangs (approximately 44 km or 27.5 miles). (Tr.)

Al‑‘Umrah

The Meaning of ‘Umrah

The word ‘umrah in common speech "visit", but in the Shari’ah it means paying a visit to the Bayt Allah al‑Haram (the Sacred House of God, i.e. the Holy Ka'bah) in a specific form.

The Kinds of ‘Umrah

The ‘Umrah is of two kinds: the first which is performed independently of the Hajj (called al‑‘Umrat al‑mufradah al‑mustaqillah ‘an al‑Hajj), and the second kind which is performed in conjunction with the Hajj (al‑‘Umrat al‑mundammah ila al‑Hajj). The al‑‘Umrat al‑mufradah, the independent ‘Umrah, all the five legal schools agree, can be performed at all times of the year, though it is meritorious to perform it during the month of Rajab according to the Imamiyyah, and in Ramadan according to the four Sunni schools.

The time of the conjugate ‘Umrah, which is performed before the Hajj and in the course of the same journey by the Hujjaj coming to the Holy Makkah from distant countries, by consensus of all five schools, extends from Shawwal to Dhul Hijjah. However, there is disagreement among legists about the month of Dhul Hijjah, whether the entire month or only the first ten days belong to the Hajj season. Anyone who performs the conjugate ‘Umrah is considered relieved of the obligation to perform the al‑‘Umrat al‑mufradah by those who believe in its being obligatory.

Difference Between the Two Kinds of ‘Umrah

The Imamiyyah scholars make a distinction between al‑‘Umrat al‑mufradah and ‘Umrat al‑tamattu’, citing the following reasons:

1. The Tawaf al-nisa' (to be explained later) is obligatory in al‑‘Umrat al‑mufradah, not in the ‘Umrat al‑tamattu; and according to some jurists is forbidden.

2. The time of ‘Umrat al‑tamattu’ extends from the first of the month of Shawwal to the ninth of Dhu al‑Hijjah, whereas al‑‘Umrat al‑mufradah can be performed at all times of the year.

3. The pilgrim (mu'tamir) performing the ‘Umrat al‑tamattu’ is required to shorten his hair (al‑taqsir), whereas the mu’tamir of al‑‘Umrat al‑mufradah can choose between shortening his hair or completely shaving his head (al‑halq), as shall be explained later.

4. The ‘Umrat al‑tamattu’ and the Hajj occur in the same year, which is not the case with al‑‘Umrat al‑mufradah.

Karrarah, in his book al‑Din wa al‑Hajj ‘ala al‑madhahib al‑'arba'ah, says that, according to the Maliki and Shafi’i schools, for the mu'tamir of al‑‘Umrat al‑mufradah all things are permissible, even sexual intercourse, after the shortening of hair (al‑taqsir) or the head shave (al‑halq), irrespective of whether he brings along with him the sacrificial offering (al‑hady) or not. But according to the Hanbali and Hanafi schools, the mu'tamir gets away with al‑taqsir or al‑halq, if he does not bring the sacrificial offering; otherwise he remains in the state of ihram until he gets through the Hajj and the ‘Umrah on the day of sacrifice (yawm al‑nahr).

The Conditions of the ‘Umrah

The conditions for the ‘Umrah are essentially the same as mentioned in the case of the Hajj.

The Status of ‘Umrah

According to the Hanafi and Maliki schools, the ‘Umrah is not obligatory but a highly recommended sunnah (sunnah mu'akkadah). But according to the Shafi’i and Hanbali schools and the majority of Imamiyyah legists, it is obligatory (wajib) for one who is mustati’, and desirable (mustahabb) for one who is not mustati: In support, they cite the Qur'anic verse:

وَأَتِمُّوا الْحَجَّ وَالْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ

(Perform the Hajj and the ‘Umrah for Allah. )1

(Fiqh al‑Sunnah, vol. V; al‑Fiqh ‘ala al‑madhahib al‑'arba’ah; al‑Jawahir; al‑Mughni)2

The Acts of the ‘Umrah

According to al‑Fiqh ‘ala al‑madhahib al‑'arba’ah, whatever is wajib or sunnah for the Hajj is also wajib and sunnah for the ‘Umrah. But the ‘Umrah does differ from the Hajj in certain respects: there is no specific time for performing the ‘Umrah; it does not involve the halt (wuquf) in the plain of ‘Arafat; neither the departure thenceforth to al‑Muzdalifah; nor the ramy al‑jamarat.3

The Imamiyyah book al‑Jawahir mentions that: "The obligatory acts (af'al or a'mal) of the Hajj are twelve: ihram; the wuquf at ‘Arafat; the wuquf at al‑Mash'ar al‑Haram; the entry into Mina; the ramy; the dhibh (sacrifice); its related taqsir or halq; the tawaf (the sevenfold circumambulation of the Ka'bah), and its related raka'at (units of the length of prayers); the sa’y; the tawaf al-nisa', and its related raka'at. The obligatory acts of al‑‘Umrat al‑mufradah are eight: niyyah (intention); ihram4 ; tawaf and its related raka'at; the sa’y; the taqsi; the tawaf al-nisa'; and its related raka'at."

This indicates that all the legal schools agree that the acts of the Hajj exceed those of the ‘Umrah by the acts associated with the wuquf. Moreover, the Imamiyyah school considers it obligatory for the performer of the al‑‘Umrat al‑mufradah to perform a second tawaf, the tawaf al-nisa'. Similarly the Maliki school differs from others in considering halq or taqsir as non‑obligatory for al‑‘Umrat al‑mufradah.

Two Subsidiary Issues

1. The obligation (wujub) of al‑‘Umrat al‑mufradah is not connected with the istita’ah for the Hajj. If, supposedly, it is possible for a person to go to Mecca at a time other than that of the Hajj and not possible at the time of the Hajj, then the ‘Umrah instead of the Hajj becomes obligatory for him. If he dies without performing it, its expense is taken out from his heritage."5

Similarly, if one has istita'ah for Hajj al‑'ifrad instead of the ‘Umrah, it becomes obligatory upon him; because each of them is independent of the other. This applies to al‑‘Umrat al‑mufradah. As to ‘Umrat al‑tamattu’, which shall be explained later, its wujub depends upon that of the Hajj, since it is a part of it.

2. According to the Imamiyyah, it is not permissible for one intending to enter the Holy Mecca to cross the miqat or enter its haram (sacred precincts) without getting into the state of ihram, even if he has performed the Hajj and the ‘Umrah many times before. Only when the exit and entry recur several times during month, or when after entering the city as a muhrim he goes out and re‑enters for a second time in less than thirty days, it is not obligatory. Therefore, ihram with respect to entry into Mecca is comparable to the wudu' before touching the Holy Qur'an. This clearly demonstrates the baselessness of the lie that the Shi’ah do not consider al‑Bayt al‑Haram as sacred, and that they pretend to perform the Hajj for the sake of polluting the holy sanctuaries. (!)

According to Abu Hanifah, it is not permissible to go beyond the miqat and enter the haram without ihram, but entry into the remaining area is permissible without ihram. Malik does not agree with this, and two opinions are ascribed to al‑Shafi'i on the matter.

This much of discussion about the ‘Umrah is sufficient for throwing light upon it, so that the reader may grasp its difference with the Hajj, though only in some aspects. What we shall say later will offer further clarification.

Notes

1. The Qur'an, 2:196.

2. According to al‑Mughni, Ahmad ibn Hanbal did not consider the ‘Umrah as being obligatory for Meccans, for the reason that the most important act of the ‘Umrah is tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka'bah) which they do and it suffices them.

3. In the book al‑Fiqh 'ala al‑madhahib al‑'arba’ah, it is the author's want to give the text followed by a commentary and notes. In the text, he states the points of consensus of all the four Sunni schools, the different position of each is given in the commentary. What we have quoted here is taken from the text, not from the commentary.

4. According to al‑Din wa al‑Hajj 'ala al‑madhahib al‑'arba'ah, by Karrarah, one of the things which distinguishes the ‘Umrah from the Hajj is that its ihram is not assumed from any of the mawaqit specified for the Hajj. From the Imamiyyah viewpoint, there is no difference between the miqat for one performing ‘Umrah and the miqat for one on Hajj with regard to ihram.

5. The Imamiyyah author of al‑Madarik says: "The better known and sounder of opinions is that the obligation of ‘Umrah is independent of the obligation of Hajj." The author of al‑Jawahir states, "The statements of fuqaha' are not free of confusion... the one which appears sounder is that those who live far away from Mecca are relieved of the obligation of ‘Umrah mufradah, and that which is obligatory upon them is 'Umrat al‑tamattu; whose wujub is related to that of Hajj.

The Forms of Hajj

All the five legal schools agree that there are three kinds of Hajj: tamattu’, qiran, and ifrad. They also agree that by Hajj al-tamattu’ is meant performance of the acts of the ‘Umrah during the months of the Hajj. The acts of the Hajj itself are performed after getting through the ‘Umrah. They also agree that by Hajj al‑'ifrad is meant performing the Hajj first and then, after getting through the acts of the Hajj, getting into the state of ihram for performing the ‘Umrah and its related acts. The four Sunni legal schools agree that the meaning of the Hajj al-qiran is to get into ihram for the Hajj and the ‘Umrah together. Then the talbiyyah uttered by the pilgrim is لبيك اللهم بحج وعمرة .

According to the Imamiyyah school, the Hajj al-qiran and Hajj al‑‘ifrad are one and the same. There is no difference between them except when the pilgrim performing the Hajj al-qiran brings the hady at the time of assuming the ihram. Then it is obligatory upon him to offer what he has brought. But one who performs the Hajj al‑‘ifrad has essentially no obligation to offer the hady.

In brief, the Imamiyyah do not consider it permissible to interchange two different ihram's,1 or to perform the Hajj and the ‘Umrah with a single niyyah (intention) under any condition; but the other legal schools permit it in Hajj al-qiran. They say that it has been named ‘al‑qiran' because it involves union between the Hajj and the ‘Umrah. But the Imamiyyah say that it is because of the additional feature of the hady accompanying the pilgrim at the time of ihram.2

According to the four Sunni legal schools, it is permissible for the pilgrim, Meccan or non‑Meccan, to choose from any of the three forms of the Hajj: al‑tamattu; al‑qiran, or al‑'ifrad, without involving any karahah (reprehensibility). Only Abu Hanifah considers Hajj al-tamattu’ and Hajj al-qiran as makruh for the Meccan.

The four Sunni legal schools also differ as to which of the three kinds of Hajj is superior to the others. The best according to the Shafi’i school is al‑‘ifrad, and al‑tamattu’ is superior to al‑qiran. According to the Hanafi school, al‑qiran has greater merit than the other two. The best according to the Maliki school is al‑‘ifrad, and according to the Hanbali and Imamiyyah schools is al‑tamattu’.

According to the Imamiyyah school, Hajj al-tamattu’ is obligatory upon one living at a distance of over forty‑eight miles from Mecca, and he may not choose any other kind except in emergency. The Hajj al-qiran and Hajj al‑‘ifrad are performable by the people of Mecca and those living around it within a distance of forty‑eight miles, and it is not permissible for them to perform except one of these two kinds. The Imamiyyah base their argument on this verse of the Qur'an:

فَمَنْ تَمَتَّعَ بِالْعُمْرَةِ إِلَى الْحَجِّ فَمَا اسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ الْهَدْيِ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ فِي الْحَجِّ وَسَبْعَةٍ إِذَا رَجَعْتُمْ تِلْكَ عَشَرَةٌ كَامِلَةٌ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ أَهْلُهُ حَاضِرِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ

…if any one wishes to continue the 'umra on to the hajj, He must make an offering, such as he can afford, but if he cannot afford it, He should fast three days during the hajj and seven days on his return, Making ten days in all. This is for those whose household is not in (the precincts of) the Sacred Mosque…..(2:196)

Moreover, according to the Imamiyyah school, it is not permissible for one obliged to perform the Hajj al-tamattu’ to change over to something else, except for the problem of shortage of time available, or, in the case of women, due to impending menses. In those cases it is permissible to change either to al‑qiran or al‑‘ifrad on condition that the ‘Umrah is performed after the Hajj. The limit of the shortage of time is failure to be present at the wuquf in ‘Arafat until noon.

For one whose duty is al‑qiran or al‑‘ifrad, such as the natives of Mecca or those from its surrounding region, it is not permissible to change to al‑tamattu’, except in exigency (such as the fear of impending menses). After explaining this position of the Imamiyyah school, the author of al‑Jawahir says, "I have not come across any different opinion on this matter."

And all the five legal schools agree that the hady is not compulsory for one performing Hajj al‑'ifrad, though better if performed voluntarily.

Notes

1. According to al‑Jawahir, al‑Madarik, al‑Hada'iq and other Imamiyyah works on fiqh, it is not permissible for one already in the state of ihram to assume ihram for another purpose, until he completes all the acts of the rite (Hajj or ‘Umrah) for which he had assumed ihram.

2. Ibn 'Aqil is alone among Imamiyyah legists in agreeing with the Sunni legists in that the acts of both the Hajj and the ‘Umrah may be performed with a single ihram in Hajj al-qiran.