Category Archives: Hajj and Umrah

Issues related to Hajj and Umrah (pilgrimage to Makkah).

The Actual Footprints of Ibrahim at the Ka’bah?

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What is “Maqaam Ibrahim”? And are they the Actual Footprints of Ibrahim (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace)?
Imam Ibn Kathir (may Allah have Mercy on him) mentioned:
The Maqaam is the rock Ibrahim (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) would stand upon to build the Ka’bah. When the walls became high Isma’il (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) brought his father Ibrahim (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) the rock so he could stand upon it, and he would pass him the stones. Every time one side was completed they would move to the other side with the rock, Ibrahim (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) would stand upon it (& build the high parts of the walls on each side).
The footprints of Ibrahim (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) were clear in the rock, and the Arabs knew of them in Jaahiliyyah.
Thereafter, the Muslims witnessed them too (once Islam was revealed). It is narrated from Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه who stated: “I saw the Maqaam and in it the imprints of the toes and soles of the feet of Ibrahim (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace), however, people constantly wiping the imprints (despite it not being legislated) have eroded them.
Source: Tafseer of Ibn Katheer (2:125)
Shaikh Ibn ul-‘Uthaymeen was asked, “Are the imprints in Maqaam Ibrahim his actual footsteps?” The shaikh replied: Continue reading →

Women Traveling for Hajj In Groups Without Any Male Family Members

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In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

QUESTION: If I came for Hajj in the company of a group of ladies, without any mahram (male family member) of mine, while I am more than 50 years old, is my Hajj considered correct?

ANSWER by Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allah have Mercy on him): 

It is not permissible for a Muslim lady to perform Hajj without a mahram (male family member). The Prophet (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) said, “No woman may travel without a mahram accompanying her.” [1]

Some of the scholars held that it is permissible to perform Hajj in a group of trustworthy women without any mahram, yet Continue reading →

The Ruling on Forging Vaccination Records in Order to Avoid the Vaccine

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In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever-Merciful…

The following is a question posed to Shaykh Dr. Arafat bin Hassan al-Muhammadi (may Allah bless and preserve him) [1], on a topic which many genuinely confused Muslims may be considering due to the heavy amount of misinformation spread on social media. The reader will note that our senior scholars and their top students continue to offer sober and consistent advice about how Muslims are to return these important matters back to the scholars who are qualified to deal with matters of global safety and urgent concerns which affect the religion, health, and safety of millions of Muslims. May Allah allow this advice to reach receptive hearts.

QUESTION: May Allah be kind to you, dear virtuous shaykh, there is a questioner from France who asks: Our shaykh -may Allah bless you-, the French government has passed a law that requires vaccinations against Coronavirus for many segments of the population. Restrictions will prevent people from entering many public places, traveling, and other things, unless a person can show medical records which confirm that he, the bearer of the records, is fully vaccinated. Due to what people share from some news sources and social media outlets regarding these vaccinations, that they are potentially harmful to one’s health, or that they are a worldwide conspiracy to wipe out mankind, some people are considering ways to avoid this vaccination, like paying money to someone who would provide him with forged documents, or conspiring with a doctor to lie and say that he is fully vaccinated.

So the question then, our shaykh -may Allah bless you- is: What is the ruling on doing this? And we would like you to direct some advice to Continue reading →

15 Points of Advice for Those Intending to Perform ‘Umrah

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In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

The following 15 points have been summarized from some beneficial advice given to an ‘Umrah group recently. Listen to the more detailed original recording here (including an evidence-based discussion of each point).

1. Be sincere to Allaah and purify your intentions. ‘Umrah like any other act of worship is required to be done sincerely for Allaah alone.

2. Sincerity cannot be attained except by shunning riyaa’ (showing off), so do not take pictures of yourself (‘Umrah selfies) in the middle of an act of worship.

3. ‘Umrah is an opportunity to connect to your Lord, so do not change it into a social media event and ruin your act of worship by ‘humble-bragging’ (using apparently humble language to actually show off where you are or Continue reading →

Menstrual Cycle Starts After Beginning an ‘Umrah – What to do

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In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

When a woman has begun her rites of ‘Umrah by entering into a state of ihraam, what does she do if she gets her menses before she manages to complete her ‘Umrah?

The great scholar, Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have Mercy on him) said:

فإذا حاضت المرأة قبل أن تبدأ بالعمرة فإنها تبقى في مكة حتى تطهر، ثم تطوف وتسعى وتقصّر،.

When a woman gets her menses before beginning the ‘Umrah (after assuming ihram), she is to remain in Makkah until she becomes pure (i.e. her menstrual cycle ends), after which she is to make tawaaf (around the Ka’bah), perform Sa’ee (between Safaa and Marwah), and shorten her hair.

فإن دعت الحاجة عند سفرها إلى الطائف أو جدة أو غيرهما، سافرت وهي على إحرامها ترجع حتى تؤدي طواف العمرة وسعيها

If some necessity related to her trip requires her to go to Taif, Jeddah, or elsewhere, she may travel there, remaining in a state of ihraam until she returns to perform the tawaaf and sa’ee of ‘Umrah.

إلا إن كانت قد قالت عند الإحرام، “فإن حبسني حابس فمحلي حيث حبستني”، ثم أصابها الحيض، فلها التّحلل، يعني إذا أصابها عذر، حبسني حابس، يعني: عذرًا كالحيض، فإنها تحلّ ولا شيء عليها، أو أصابها مرض

This is unless Continue reading →

Hadeeth Study: The Best Supplication for the Day of ‘Arafah

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In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever-Merciful…

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) said:

خير الدعاء دعاء يوم عرفة، وخير ما قلت أنا والنبيون من قبلي: لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير

“The best supplication is the one made on the Day of ‘Arafah. The best thing ever said by me and the previous prophets is: There is no deity worthy of worship other than Allah, who is alone, having no partner. His is the dominion, and to Him belongs all praise. He is, of everything, All-Capable.”

The hadeeth was collected by Imam at-Tirmithee and others, and it has been authenticated by the scholars. [1]

14 Points of Benefit Derived From or Related to the Hadeeth:

1 – The Day of ‘Arafah is the ninth day of the month of Thul-Hijjah. The Day of ‘Arafah this year (1445) is Saturday, June 15, 2024. The following day is ‘Eed al-Adh-haa, the second of the two annual holidays in Islam. [2]

2 – The best day of the year to supplicate to Allah is the Day of ‘Arafah, while the best night for supplication is Laylat al-Qadr in Ramadhan. The Day of ‘Arafah is found within the best ten days of the year, the first ten of Thul-Hijjah, while Laylat al-Qadr is found in the best ten nights of the year, the last ten nights of Ramdhaan. While supplications in general may be made during both great opportunities, both have Continue reading →

Common Acts of Religious Excessiveness (Ghuluww): Overplanning Hajj

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In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful…

Allaah says, addressing the Jews and Christians – an important admonition that Muslims are required to also heed and live by:

يا أهل الكتاب لا تغلوا في دينكم
“O people of the Book!  Do not go overboard in your religion!” [1]

His Messenger (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) said:

إياكم والغلو فإنما أهلك من كان قبلكم الغلو
“Be warned against ghuluww (religious excessiveness), since that which destroyed the people who came before you was ghuluww!” [2]

To help fulfill this Prophetic order, this series of brotherly reminders highlights some everyday manifestations of religious excessiveness that Muslims may commonly fall into, so that we can be on guard against them and warn others of them.

Overplanning Hajj

Hajj is a one-time obligation on all adult Muslims, those who have the ability to perform it – both physically and financially. Continue reading →

Hajj Without a Tasreeh (Government Issued “Hajj Permit”)

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In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful: May He raise the rank of His honest and noble Messenger, and grant him peace…

Speaking to students of Imam Muhammad ibn Su’ood University in Riyadh before the Hajj of 1429 (2008) the Muftee, Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Aal ash-Shaykh (may Allaah preserve him), answered a question about making Hajj without a tasreeh (“Hajj Pass” or “Hajj Permit”).  The following is Imam University’s official write-up of his words: Continue reading →