Some Rules Concerning the Hajj

God has made clear in the Quran the status of the pilgrim who continues the Umra into the Hajj.

"If any one wishes to continue the `Umra into 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 tile precincts of the Sacred House. And fear God and know that God is strict in punishment".

This implies three things:

Firstly, that the Muslim who wishes to continue the Umra into the Hajj and relieve himself of the restrictions of consecration from the end of his hastening between Safa and Marwa till he assumes Ihram for the Hajj, must make an offering of at least a sheep, and at most a camel. He is not to offer it until he enters into the Jhram for the hajj, and not in the period in between `Umra and Hajj. In fact, he is not called Mutamatti' until he actually continues the `Umra into the Hajj, and not before.

If he is unable to make an offering, or he cannot afford it, he has to fast three days during the period of the Hajj, i.e. while he is a Muhrim. The fasting is to start on the 8th of Dhu'l-Hijja and go on till the end of the halt on Mount Arafat.

If he is incapable of fasting these three days, he has to put it off until the end of the days of al-Tashriq, then fast three days before proceeding to the Tawaf al-Ifada.
After his return home he has to fast seven days more, so as to complete ten days fasting in accordance with the directions of Allah in the above verse of the Quran.
This offering or fasting as a substitute for the period during which he frees himself from Ihram for the Hajj is to be observed only by those whose household is not in the precincts of Mecca - in other words it does not apply to the inhabitants of Mecca itself.

If the Muhrim finds himself faced with any unforeseen difficulty or emergency, he has to comply with God's words:

"But if ye are prevented (from completing it), send an offering for sacrifice, such as you are capable of."

Under such obstacles one may include the blocking of one's way by the enemy. This hap pened to the Prophet when he set out of Madina with some of the companions intending to per form the `Umra. The infidels stood in his way', and he was unable to proceed. He thus slaughtered the camel he meant for sacrifice with his companions to Madina.

In the category of these hindrances one may consider physical disability resulting from illness, accidents, and unexpected difficulties such as loss of one's way, running short of provision for the journey, imprisonment or the failure of the ship to reach port in due time.
.In all these cases the Muhrim has to make an offering, abandon his Ihram, return home and put off his Hajj for a future date.
If a Muhrim is forced to shave his head during the state of Ihram because of scalp illness or severe headache, he can do so provided that he observes the following directions of Allah "And if any of you is ill or has an ailment in his scalp (necessitating shaving) he should in compensation, either fast, or feed the poor, or offer sacrifice."

Thus, according to the explanation of the Prophet, the Muhrim has to fast three days, or offer a sacrifice to the poor, or feed six separate poor people.
If, through reasons of health, one is obliged to wear sewn or tightly tailored clothing for fear of cold or heat, he has to observe the rules followed by the Muhrim who suffers from scalp disease. Thus he is to fast three days, or offer a sacrifice, or feed six different poor persons.
The pilgrim has to drink as much as he can from the blessed waters of Zamzam, a well in the Sacred House.